？” And Legree clenched his fist； and shook it； as if he had something in his hands that he could rend in pieces。
But； then； Tom was a faithful； valuable servant； and； although Legree hated him the more for that； yet the consideration was still somewhat of a restraint to him。
The next morning； he determined to say nothing； as yet； to assemble a party； from some neighboring plantations； with dogs and guns； to surround the swamp； and go about the hunt systematically。 If it sucomeeded； well and good； if not； he would summon Tom before him； and—his teeth clenched and his blood boiled—then he would break the fellow down； or—there was a dire inward whisper； to which his soul assented。
Ye say that the interest of the master is a sufficient safeguard for the slave。 In the fury of man’s mad will； he will wittingly； and with open eye； sell his own soul to the devil to gain his ends； and will he be more careful of his neighbor’s body？
“Well；” said Cassy； the next day； from the garret； as she reconnoitred through the knot…hole； “the hunt’s going to begin again； today！”
Three or four mounted horsemen were curvetting about； on the space in front of the house； and one or two leashes of strange dogs were struggling with the negroes who held them； baying and barking at each other。
The men are； two of them； overseers of plantations in the vicinity； and others were some of Legree’s associates at the tavern…bar of a neighboring city； who had come for the interest of the sport。 A more hard…favored set； perhaps； could not be imagined。 Legree was serving brandy； profusely； round among them； as also among the negroes； who had been detailed from the various plantations for this service； for it was an object to make every service of this kind； among the negroes； as much of a holiday as possible。
Cassy placed her ear at the knot…hole； and； as the morning air blew directly towards the house； she could overhear a good deal of the conversation。 A grave sneer overcast the dark； severe gravity of her face； as she listened； and heard them divide out the ground； discuss the rival merits of the dogs； give orders about firing； and the treatment of each； in case of capture。
Cassy drew back； and； clasping her hands； looked upward； and said； “O； great Almighty God！ we are all sinners； but what have we done； more than all the rest of the world； that we should be treated so？”
There was a terrible earnestness in her face and voice； as she spoke。
“If it wasn’t for you； child；” she said； looking at Emmeline； “I’d go out to them； and I’d thank any one of them that would shoot me down； for what use will freedom be to me？ Can it give me back my children； or make me what I used to be？”
Emmeline； in her child…like simplicity； was half afraid of the dark moods of Cassy。 She looked perplexed； but made no answer。 She only took her hand； with a gentle； caressing movement。
“Don’t！” said Cassy； trying to draw it away； “you’ll get me to loving you； and I never mean to love anything； again！”
“Poor Cassy！” said Emmeline； “don’t feel so！ If the Lord gives us liberty； perhaps he’ll give you back your daughter； at any rate； I’ll be like a daughter to you。 I know I’ll never see my poor old mother again！ I shall love you； Cassy； whether you love me or not！”
The gentle； child…like spirit conquered。 Cassy sat down by her； put her arm round her neck； stroked her soft； brown hair； and Emmeline then wondered at the beauty of her magnificent eyes； now soft with tears。
“O； Em！” said Cassy； “I’ve hungered for my children； and thirsted for them； and my eyes fail with longing for them！ Here！ here！” she said； striking her breast； “it’s all desolate； all empty！ If God would give me back my children； then I could pray。”
“You must trust him； Cassy；” said Emmeline； “he is our Father！”
“His wrath is upon us；” said Cassy； “he has turned away in anger。”
“No； Cassy！ He will be good to us！ Let us hope in Him；” said Emmeline；—“I always have had hope。”
The hunt was long； animated； and thorough； but unsucomessful； and； with grave； ironic exultation； Cassy looked down on Legree； as； weary and dispirited； he alighted from his horse。
“Now； Quimbo；” said Legree； as he stretched himself down in the sitting…room； “you jest go and walk that Tom up here； right away！ The old cuss is at the bottom of this yer whole matter； and I’ll have it out of his old black hide； or I’ll know the reason why！”
Sambo and Quimbo； both； though hating each other； were joined in one mind by a no less cordial hatred of Tom。 Legree had told them； at first； that he had bought him for a general overseer； in his absence； and this had begun an ill will； on their part； which had increased； in their debased and servile natures； as they saw him becoming obnoxious to their master’s displeasure。 Quimbo； therefore； departed； with a will； to execute his orders。
Tom heard the message with a forewarning heart； for he knew all the plan of the fugitives’ escape； and the place of their present concealment；—he knew the deadly character of the man he had to deal with； and his despotic power。 But he felt strong in God to meet death； rather than betray the helpless。
He sat his basket down by the row； and； looking up； said； “Into thy hands I commend my spirit！ Thou hast redeemed me； oh Lord God of truth！” and then quietly yielded himself to the rough； brutal grasp with which Quimbo seized him。
“Ay； ay！” said the giant； as he dragged him along； ye’ll cotch it； now！ I’ll boun’ Mas’r’s back ’s up high！ No sneaking out； now！ Tell ye； ye’ll get it； and no mistake！ See how ye’ll look； now； helpin’ Mas’r’s niggers to run away！ See what ye’ll get！”
The savage words none of them reached that ear！—a higher voice there was saying； “Fear not them that kill the body； and； after that； have no more that they can do。” Nerve and bone of that poor man’s body vibrated to those words； as if touched by the finger of God； and he felt the strength of a thousand souls in one。 As he passed along； the trees。 and bushes； the huts of his servitude； the whole scene of his degradation； seemed to whirl by him as the landscape by the rushing ear。 His soul throbbed；—his home was in sight；—and the hour of release seemed at hand。
“Well； Tom！” said Legree； walking up； and seizing him grimly by the collar of his coat； and speaking through his teeth； in a paroxysm of determined rage； “do you know I’ve made up my mind to KILL you？”
“It’s very likely； Mas’r；” said Tom； calmly。
“I have；” said Legree； with a grim； terrible calmness； “done—just—that—thing； Tom； unless you’ll tell me what you know about these yer gals！”
Tom stood silent。
“D’ye hear？” said Legree； stamping； with a roar like that of an incensed lion。 “Speak！”
“I han’t got nothing to tell； Mas’r；” said Tom； with a slow； firm； deliberate utterance。
“Do you dare to tell me； ye old black Christian； ye don’t know？” said Legree。
Tom was silent。
“Speak！” thundered Legree； striking him furiously。 Do you know anything？”
“I know； Mas’r； but I can’t tell anything。 I can die！”
Legree drew in a long breath； and； suppressing his rage； took Tom by the arm； and； approaching his face almost to his； said； i