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At last, about twelve oclock, Sam appeared triumphant, mounted on Jerry, with Haleys horse by his side, reeking with sweat, but with flashing eyes and dilated nostrils, showing that the spirit of freedom had not yet entirely subsided. Hes cotched! he exclaimed, triumphantly. If t hadnt been for me, they might a bust themselves, all on em; but I cotched him! You! growled Haley, in no amiable mood. If it hadnt been for you, this never would have happened. Lord bless us, Masr, said Sam, in a tone of the deepest concern, and me that has been racin and chasin till the sweat jest pours off me! Well, well! said Haley, youve lost me near three hours, with your cursed nonsense. Now lets be off, and have no more fooling. Why, Masr, said Sam, in a deprecating tone, I believe you mean to kill us all clar, horses and all. Here we are all just ready to drop down, and the critters all in a reek of sweat. Why, Masr wont think of startin on now till arter dinner. Masrs hoss wants rubben down; see how he splashed hisself; and Jerry limps too; dont think Missis would be willin to have us start dis yer way, no how. Lord bless you, Masr, we can ketch up, if we do stop. Lizy never was no great of a walker. Mrs. Shelby, who, greatly to her amusement, had overheard this conversation from the verandah, now resolved to do her part. She came forward, and, courteously expressing her concern for Haleys accident, pressed him to stay to dinner, saying that the cook should bring it on the table immediately. Thus, all things considered, Haley, with rather an equivocal grace, proceeded to the parlor, while Sam, rolling his eyes after him with unutterable meaning, proceeded gravely with the horses to the stable- yard. Did yer see him, Andy? did yer see him? and Sam, when he had got fairly beyond the shelter of the barn, and fastened the horse to a post. O, Lor, if it warnt as good as a meetin, now, to see him a dancin and kickin and swarin at us. Didnt I hear him? Swar away, ole fellow (says I to myself ); will yer have yer hoss now, or wait till you cotch him? (says I). Lor, Andy, I think I can see him now. And Sam and Andy leaned up against the barn and laughed to their hearts content. Yer oughter seen how mad he looked, when I brought the hoss up. Lord, hed a killed me, if he durs to; and there I was a standin as innercent and as humble. Lor, I seed you, said Andy; ant you an old hoss, Sam? Rather specks I am, said Sam; did yer see Missis up stars at the winder? I seed her laughin. Im sure, I was racin so, I didnt see nothing, said Andy. Well, yer see, said Sam, proceeding gravely to wash down Haleys pony, I se quired what yer may call a habit o bobservation, Andy. Its a very portant habit, Andy; and I commend yer to be cultivatin it, now yer young. Hist up that hind foot, Andy. Yer see, Andy, its bobservation makes all de difference in niggers. Didnt I see which way the wind blew dis yer mornin? Didnt I see what Missis wanted, though she never let on? Dat ars bobservation, Andy. I spects its what you may call a faculty. Faculties is different in different peoples, but cultivation of em goes a great way. I guess if I hadnt helped your bobservation dis mornin, yer wouldnt have seen your way so smart, said Andy. Andy, said Sam, yous a promisin child, der ant no manner o doubt. I thinks lots of yer, Andy; and I dont feel no ways ashamed to take idees from you. We oughtenter overlook nobody, Andy, cause the |
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