strokes。
“Twelve o’clock； well now we’ll see；” said she； turning； and opening the door into the passage…way； and standing as if listening。
“Hark！ What’s that？” said she； raising her finger。
“It’s only the wind；” said Legree。 “Don’t you hear how cursedly it blows？”
“Simon； come here；” said Cassy； in a whisper； laying her hand on his； and leading him to the foot of the stairs： “do you know what that is？ Hark！”
A wild shriek came pealing down the stairway。 It came from the garret。 Legree’s knees knocked together； his face grew white with fear。
“Hadn’t you better get your pistols？” said Cassy； with a sneer that froze Legree’s blood。 “It’s time this thing was looked into； you know。 I’d like to have you go up now； they’re at it。”
“I won’t go！” said Legree； with an oath。
“Why not？ There an’t any such thing as ghosts； you know！ Come！” and Cassy flitted up the winding stairway； laughing； and looking back after him。 “Come on。”
“I believe you are the devil！” said Legree。 “Come back you hag；—come back； Cass！ You shan’t go！”
But Cassy laughed wildly； and fled on。 He heard her open the entry doors that led to the garret。 A wild gust of wind swept down； extinguishing the candle he held in his hand； and with it the fearful； unearthly screams； they seemed to be shrieked in his very ear。
Legree fled frantically into the parlor； whither； in a few moments； he was followed by Cassy； pale； calm； cold as an avenging spirit； and with that same fearful light in her eye。
“I hope you are satisfied；” said she。
“Blast you； Cass！” said Legree。
“What for？” said Cassy。 “I only went up and shut the doors。 What’s the matter with that garret； Simon； do you suppose？” said she。
“None of your business！” said Legree。
“O； it an’t？ Well；” said Cassy； “at any rate； I’m glad I don’t sleep under it。”
Anticipating the rising of the wind； that very evening； Cassy had been up and opened the garret window。 Of course； the moment the doors were opened； the wind had drafted down； and extinguished the light。
This may serve as a specimen of the game that Cassy played with Legree； until he would sooner have put his head into a lion’s mouth than to have explored that garret。 Meanwhile； in the night； when everybody else was asleep； Cassy slowly and carefully acomumulated there a stock of provisions sufficient to afford subsistence for some time； she transferred； article by article； a greater part of her own and Emmeline’s wardrobe。 All things being arranged； they only waited a fitting opportunity to put their plan in execution。
By cajoling Legree； and taking advantage of a good…natured interval； Cassy had got him to take her with him to the neighboring town； which was situated directly on the Red river。 With a memory sharpened to almost preternatural clearness； she remarked every turn in the road； and formed a mental estimate of the time to be ocomupied in traversing it。
At the time when all was matured for action； our readers may； perhaps； like to look behind the scenes； and see the final coup d’etat。
It was now near evening； Legree had been absent； on a ride to a neighboring farm。 For many days Cassy had been unusually gracious and acomommodating in her humors； and Legree and she had been； apparently； on the best of terms。 At present； we may behold her and Emmeline in the room of the latter； busy in sorting and arranging two small bundles。
“There； these will be large enough；” said Cassy。 Now put on your bonnet； and let’s start； it’s just about the right time。”
“Why； they can see us yet；” said Emmeline。
“I mean they shall；” said Cassy； coolly。 “Don’t you know that they must have their chase after us； at any rate？ The way of the thing is to be just this：—We will steal out of the back door； and run down by the quarters。 Sambo or Quimbo will be sure to see us。 They will give chase； and we will get into the swamp； then； they can’t follow us any further till they go up and give the alarm； and turn out the dogs； and so on； and； while they are blundering round； and tumbling over each other； as they always do； you and I will slip along to the creek； that runs back of the house； and wade along in it； till we get opposite the back door。 That will put the dogs all at fault； for scent won’t lie in the water。 Every one will run out of the house to look after us； and then we’ll whip in at the back door； and up into the garret； where I’ve got a nice bed made up in one of the great boxes。 We must stay in that garret a good while； for； I tell you； he will raise heaven and earth after us。 He’ll muster some of those old overseers on the other plantations； and have a great hunt； and they’ll go over every inch of ground in that swamp。 He makes it his boast that nobody ever got away from him。 So let him hunt at his leisure。”
“Cassy； how well you have planned it！” said Emmeline。 “Who ever would have thought of it； but you？”
There was neither pleasure nor exultation in Cassy’s eyes；—only a despairing firmness。
“Come；” she said； reaching her hand to Emmeline。
The two fugitives glided noiselessly from the house； and flitted； through the gathering shadows of evening； along by the quarters。 The crescent moon； set like a silver signet in the western sky； delayed a little the approach of night。 As Cassy expected； when quite near the verge of the swamps that encircled the plantation； they heard a voice calling to them to stop。 It was not Sambo； however； but Legree； who was pursuing them with violent execrations。 At the sound； the feebler spirit of Emmeline gave way； and； laying hold of Cassy’s arm； she said； “O； Cassy； I’m going to faint！”
“If you do； I’ll kill you！” said Cassy； drawing a small； glittering stiletto； and flashing it before the eyes of the girl。
The diversion acomomplished the purpose。 Emmeline did not faint； and sucomeeded in plunging； with Cassy； into a part of the labyrinth of swamp； so deep and dark that it was perfectly hopeless for Legree to think of following them； without assistance。
“Well；” said he； chuckling brutally； “at any rate； they’ve got themselves into a trap now—the baggage！ They’re safe enough。 They shall sweat for it！”
“Hulloa； there！ Sambo！ Quimbo！ All hands！” called Legree； coming to the quarters； when the men and women were just returning from work。 “There’s two runaways in the swamps。 I’ll give five dollars to any nigger as catches ’em。 Turn out the dogs！ Turn out Tiger； and Fury； and the rest！”
The sensation produced by this news was immediate。 Many of the men sprang forward； officiously； to offer their services； either from the hope of the reward； or from that cringing subserviency which is one of the most baleful effects of slavery。 Some ran one way； and some another。 Some were for getting flambeaux of pine…knots。 Some were uncoupling the dogs； whose hoarse； savage bay added not a little to the animation of the scene。
“Mas’r； shall we shoot ’em； if can’t cotch ’em？” said Sambo； to whom his master brought out a rifle。
“You may fire on Cass； if you like； it’s time she was gone to the devil； where she belongs； but the gal； not；” said Legree。 “And now； boys； be spry and smart。 Five dollars for him that gets ’em； and a glass