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.Thereupon he walked away, followed by the over-seer, and entered the house, the latter talking to him all thewhile in a suppressed tone, and with earnest gestures.I remained where I was, doubting whether it was better to flyor abide the result, whatever it might be.Presently Tibeatscame out of the house, and, saddling his horse, the only62property he possessed besides myself, departed on the road toChenyville.When he was gone, Chapin came out, visibly excited, tellingme not to stir, not to attempt to leave the plantation on any ac-count whatever.He then went to the kitchen, and callingRachel out, conversed with her some time.Coming back, heagain charged me with great earnestness not to run, saying mymaster was a rascal; that he had left on no good errand, andthat there might be trouble before night.But at all events, heinsisted upon it, I must not stir.As I stood there, feelings of unutterable agony overwhelmedme.I was conscious that I had subjected myself to unimagin-able punishment.The reaction that followed my extreme ebulli-tion of anger produced the most painful sensations of regret.An unfriended, helpless slave what could Ido, what couldI say, to justify, in the remotest manner, the heinous act I hadcommitted, of resenting a white man's contumely and abuse.Itried to pray I tried to beseech my Heavenly Father to sustainme in my sore extremity, but emotion choked my utterance,and I could only bow my head upon my hands and weep.For atleast an hour I remained in this situation, finding relief only intears, when, looking up, I beheld Tibeats, accompanied by twohorsemen, coming down the bayou.They rode into the yard,jumped from their horses, and approached me with largewhips, one of them also carrying a coil of rope."Cross your hands", commanded Tibeats, with the addition ofsuch a shuddering expression of blasphemy as is not decorousto repeat."You need not bind me, Master Tibeats, I am ready to go withyou anywhere", said I.One of his companions then stepped forward, swearing if Imade the least resistance he would break my head he wouldtear me limb from limb he would cut my black throat andgiving wide scope to other similar expressions.Perceiving anyimportunity altogether vain, I crossed my hands, submittinghumbly to whatever disposition they might please to make ofme.Thereupon Tibeats tied my wrists, drawing the ropearound them with his utmost strength.Then he bound myankles in the same manner.In the meantime the other two hadslipped a cord within my elbows, running it across my back,63and tying it firmly.It was utterly impossible to move hand orfoot.With a remaining piece of rope Tibeats made an awkwardnoose, and placed it about my neck."Now, then," inquired one of Tibeats' companions, "whereshall we hang the nigger?"One proposed such a limb, extending from the body of apeach tree, near the spot where we were standing.His com-rade objected to it, alleging it would break, and proposed an-other.Finally they fixed upon the latter.During this conversation, and all the time they were bindingme, I uttered not a word.Overseer Chapin, during the progressof the scene, was walking hastily back and forth on the piazza.Rachel was crying by the kitchen door, and Mrs.Chapin wasstill looking from the window.Hope died within my heart.Surely my time had come.I should never behold the light of an-other day never behold the faces of my children the sweetanticipation I had cherished with such fondness.I should thathour struggle through the fearful agonies of death! Nonewould mourn for me none revenge me.Soon my form wouldbe mouldering in that distant soil, or, perhaps, be cast to theslimy reptiles that filled the stagnant waters of the bayou!Tears flowed down my cheeks, but they only afforded a subjectof insulting comment for my executioners.At length, as they were dragging me towards the tree, Chap-in, who had momentarily disappeared from the piazza, cameout of the house and walked towards us.He had a pistol ineach hand, and as near as I can now recall to mind, spoke in afirm, determined manner, as follows: "Gentlemen, I have a fewwords to say.You had better listen to them.Whoever movesthat slave another foot from where he stands is a dead man.Inthe first place, he does not deserve this treatment.It is ashame to murder him in this manner.I never knew a morefaithful boy than Platt.You, Tibeats, are in the fault yourself.You are pretty much of a scoundrel, and I know it, and yourichly deserve the flogging you have received.In the nextplace, I have been overseer on this plantation seven years, and,in the absence of William Ford, am master here.My duty is toprotect his interests, and that duty I shall perform.You are notresponsible-you are a worthless fellow.Ford holds a mortgageon Platt of four hundred dollars.If you hang him he loses his64debt.Until that is canceled you have no right to take his life.You have no right to take it any way.There is a law for theslave as well as for the white man.You are no better than amurderer."As for you," addressing Cook and Ramsay, a couple of over-seers from neighboring plantations, "as for you begone! If youhave any regard for your own safety, I say, begone."Cook and Ramsay, without a further word, mounted theirhorses and rode away.Tibeats, in a few minutes, evidently infear, and overawed by the decided tone of Chapin, sneaked offlike a coward, as he was, and mounting his horse, followed hiscompanions.I remained standing where I was, still bound, with the ropearound my neck.As soon as they were gone, Chapin calledRachel, ordering her to run to the field, and tell Lawson tohurry to the house without delay, and bring the brown mulewith him, an animal much prized for its unusual fleetness.Presently the boy appeared."Lawson," said Chapin, "you must go to the Pine Woods.Tellyour master Ford to come here at once  that he must notdelay a single moment.Tell him they are trying to murderPlatt.Now hurry, boy.Be at the Pine Woods by noon if you killthe mule."Chapin stepped into the house and wrote a pass.When he re-turned, Lawson was at the door, mounted on his mule [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]