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amazement went through every one; the poor woman clasped her hands, and said, O Lord! and every one involuntarily looked at each other and drew in their breath, as if to prepare for the storm that was about to burst. Legree looked stupefied and confounded; but at last burst forth,What! ye blasted black beast! tell me ye dont think it right to do what I tell ye! What have any of you cussed cattle to do with thinking whats right? Ill put a stop to it! Why, what do ye think ye are? May be ye think yer a gentleman master, Tom, to be a telling your master whats right, and what aint! So you pretend its wrong to flog the gal! I think so, Masr, said Tom; the poor critturs sick and feeble; t would be downright cruel, and its what I never will do, nor begin to. Masr, if you mean to kill me, kill me; but, as to my raising my hand agin any one here, I never shall,Ill die first! Tom spoke in a mild voice, but with a decision that could not be mistaken. Legree shook with anger; his greenish eyes glared fiercely, and his very whiskers seemed to curl with passion; but, like some ferocious beast, that plays with its victim before he devours it, he kept back his strong impulse to proceed to immediate violence, and broke out into bitter raillery. Well, heres a pious dog, at last, let down among us sinners!a saint, a gentleman, and no less, to talk to us sinners about our sins! Powerful holy critter, he must be! Here, you rascal, you make believe to be so pious,didnt you never hear, out of yer Bible, Servants, obey yer masters? Ant I yer master? Didnt I pay down twelve hundred dollars, cash, for all there is inside yer old cussed black shell? Ant yer mine, now, body and soul? he said, giving Tom a violent kick with his heavy boot; tell me! In the very depth of physical suffering, bowed by brutal oppression, this question shot a gleam of joy and triumph through Toms soul. He suddenly stretched himself up, and, looking earnestly to heaven, while the tears and blood that flowed down his face mingled, he exclaimed, No! no! no! my soul ant yours, Masr! You havent bought it,ye cant buy it! Its been bought and paid for, by one that is able to keep it;no matter, no matter, you cant harm me! I cant! said Legree, with a sneer; well see,well see! Here, Sambo, Quimbo, give this dog such a breakin in as he wont get over, this month! The two gigantic negroes that now laid hold of Tom, with fiendish exultation in their faces, might have formed no unapt personification of powers of darkness. The poor woman screamed with apprehension, and all rose, as by a general impulse, while they dragged him unresisting from the place. |
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