William Ford unfortunately became embarrassed in his pecuniary6 affairs. A heavy judgment7 was rendered against him in consequence of his having become security for his brother, Franklin Ford, residing on Red River, above Alexandria, and who had failed to meet his liabilities. He was also indebted to John M. Tibeats to a considerable amount in consideration of his services in building the mills on Indian Creek8, and also a weaving-house, corn-mill and other erections on the plantation at Bayou B?uf, not yet completed. It was therefore necessary, in order to meet these demands, to dispose of eighteen slaves, myself among the number. Seventeen of them, including Sam and Harry9, were purchased by Peter Compton, a planter also residing on Red River.
[Pg 106]
I was sold to Tibeats, in consequence, undoubtedly10, of my slight skill as a carpenter. This was in the winter of 1842. The deed of myself from Freeman to Ford, as I ascertained11 from the public records in New-Orleans on my return, was dated June 23d, 1841. At the time of my sale to Tibeats, the price agreed to be given for me being more than the debt, Ford took a chattel mortgage of four hundred dollars. I am indebted for my life, as will hereafter be seen, to that mortgage.
I bade farewell to my good friends at the opening, and departed with my new master Tibeats. We went down to the plantation on Bayou B?uf, distant twenty-seven miles from the Pine Woods, to complete the unfinished contract. Bayou B?uf is a sluggish12, winding13 stream—one of those stagnant14 bodies of water common in that region, setting back from Red River. It stretches from a point not far from Alexandria, in a south-easterly direction, and following its tortuous15 course, is more than fifty miles in length. Large cotton and sugar plantations16 line each shore, extending back to the borders of interminable swamps. It is alive with alligators17, rendering18 it unsafe for swine, or unthinking slave children to stroll along its banks. Upon a bend in this bayou, a short distance from Cheneyville, was situated19 the plantation of Madam Ford—her brother, Peter Tanner, a great landholder, living on the opposite side.
On my arrival at Bayou B?uf, I had the pleasure of meeting Eliza, whom I had not seen for several[Pg 107] months. She had not pleased Mrs. Ford, being more occupied in brooding over her sorrows than in attending to her business, and had, in consequence, been sent down to work in the field on the plantation. She had grown feeble and emaciated20, and was still mourning for her children. She asked me if I had forgotten them, and a great many times inquired if I still remembered how handsome little Emily was—how much Randall loved her—and wondered if they were living still, and where the darlings could then be. She had sunk beneath the weight of an excessive grief. Her drooping21 form and hollow cheeks too plainly indicated that she had well nigh reached the end of her weary road.
Ford's overseer on this plantation, and who had the exclusive charge of it, was a Mr. Chapin, a kindly-disposed man, and a native of Pennsylvania. In common with others, he held Tibeats in light estimation, which fact, in connection with the four hundred dollar mortgage, was fortunate for me.
I was now compelled to labor22 very hard. From earliest dawn until late at night, I was not allowed to be a moment idle. Notwithstanding which, Tibeats was never satisfied. He was continually cursing and complaining. He never spoke24 to me a kind word. I was his faithful slave, and earned him large wages every day, and yet I went to my cabin nightly, loaded with abuse and stinging epithets25.
We had completed the corn mill, the kitchen, and so forth26, and were at work upon the weaving-house,[Pg 108] when I was guilty of an act, in that State punishable with death. It was my first fight with Tibeats. The weaving-house we were erecting27 stood in the orchard28 a few rods from the residence of Chapin, or the "great house," as it was called. One night, having worked until it was too dark to see, I was ordered by Tibeats to rise very early in the morning, procure29 a keg of nails from Chapin, and commence putting on the clapboards. I retired30 to the cabin extremely tired, and having cooked a supper of bacon and corn cake, and conversed31 a while with Eliza, who occupied the same cabin, as also did Lawson and his wife Mary, and a slave named Bristol, laid down upon the ground floor, little dreaming of the sufferings that awaited me on the morrow. Before daylight I was on the piazza32 of the "great house," awaiting the appearance of overseer Chapin. To have aroused him from his slumbers33 and stated my errand, would have been an unpardonable boldness. At length he came out. Taking off my hat, I informed him Master Tibeats had directed me to call upon him for a keg of nails. Going into the store-room, he rolled it out, at the same time saying, if Tibeats preferred a different size, he would endeavor to furnish them, but that I might use those until further directed. Then mounting his horse, which stood saddled and bridled34 at the door, he rode away into the field, whither the slaves had preceded him, while I took the keg on my shoulder, and proceeding35 to the weaving-house, broke in the head, and commenced nailing on the clapboards.
[Pg 109]
As the day began to open, Tibeats came out of the house to where I was, hard at work. He seemed to be that morning even more morose36 and disagreeable than usual. He was my master, entitled by law to my flesh and blood, and to exercise over me such tyrannical control as his mean nature prompted; but there was no law that could prevent my looking upon him with intense contempt. I despised both his disposition37 and his intellect. I had just come round to the keg for a further supply of nails, as he reached the weaving-house.
"I thought I told you to commence putting on weather-boards this morning," he remarked.
"Yes, master, and I am about it," I replied.
"Where?" he demanded.
"On the other side," was my answer.
He walked round to the other side, examined my work for a while, muttering to himself in a fault-finding tone.
"Didn't I tell you last night to get a keg of nails of Chapin?" he broke forth again.
"Yes, master, and so I did; and overseer said he would get another size for you, if you wanted them, when he came back from the field."
Tibeats walked to the keg, looked a moment at the contents, then kicked it violently. Coming towards me in a great passion, he exclaimed,
"G—d d—n you! I thought you knowed something."
I made answer: "I tried to do as you told me,[Pg 110] master. I didn't mean anything wrong. Overseer said—" But he interrupted me with such a flood of curses that I was unable to finish the sentence. At length he ran towards the house, and going to the piazza, took down one of the overseer's whips. The whip had a short wooden stock, braided over with leather, and was loaded at the butt39. The lash40 was three feet long, or thereabouts, and made of raw-hide strands41.
At first I was somewhat frightened, and my impulse was to run. There was no one about except Rachel, the cook, and Chapin's wife, and neither of them were to be seen. The rest were in the field. I knew he intended to whip me, and it was the first time any one had attempted it since my arrival at Avoyelles. I felt, moreover, that I had been faithful—that I was guilty of no wrong whatever, and deserved commendation rather than punishment. My fear changed to anger, and before he reached me I had made up my mind fully42 not to be whipped, let the result be life or death.
Winding the lash around his hand, and taking hold of the small end of the stock, he walked up to me, and with a malignant43 look, ordered me to strip.
"Master Tibeats" said I, looking him boldly in the face, "I will not." I was about to say something further in justification44, but with concentrated vengeance45, he sprang upon me, seizing me by the throat with one hand, raising the whip with the other, in the act of striking. Before the blow descended46, however,[Pg 111] I had caught him by the collar of the coat, and drawn47 him closely to me. Reaching down, I seized him by the ankle, and pushing him back with the other hand, he fell over on the ground. Putting one arm around his leg, and holding it to my breast, so that his head and shoulders only touched the ground, I placed my foot upon his neck. He was completely in my power. My blood was up. It seemed to course through my veins48 like fire. In the frenzy49 of my madness I snatched the whip from his hand. He struggled with all his power; swore that I should not live to see another day; and that he would tear out my heart. But his struggles and his threats were alike in vain. I cannot tell how many times I struck him. Blow after blow fell fast and heavy upon his wriggling50 form. At length he screamed—cried murder—and at last the blasphemous51 tyrant52 called on God for mercy. But he who had never shown mercy did not receive it. The stiff stock of the whip warped53 round his cringing54 body until my right arm ached.
Until this time I had been too busy to look about me. Desisting for a moment, I saw Mrs. Chapin looking from the window, and Rachel standing23 in the kitchen door. Their attitudes expressed the utmost excitement and alarm. His screams had been heard in the field. Chapin was coming as fast as he could ride. I struck him a blow or two more, then pushed him from me with such a well-directed kick that he went rolling over on the ground.
Rising to his feet, and brushing the dirt from his[Pg 112] hair, he stood looking at me, pale with rage. We gazed at each other in silence. Not a word was uttered until Chapin galloped56 up to us.
"What is the matter?" he cried out.
"Master Tibeats wants to whip me for using the nails you gave me," I replied.
"What is the matter with the nails?" he inquired, turning to Tibeats.
Tibeats answered to the effect that they were too large, paying little heed57, however, to Chapin's question, but still keeping his snakish eyes fastened maliciously58 on me.
"I am overseer here," Chapin began. "I told Platt to take them and use them, and if they were not of the proper size I would get others on returning from the field. It is not his fault. Besides, I shall furnish such nails as I please. I hope you will understand that, Mr. Tibeats."
Tibeats made no reply, but, grinding his teeth and shaking his fist, swore he would have satisfaction, and that it was not half over yet. Thereupon he walked away, followed by the overseer, and entered the house, the latter talking to him all the while in a suppressed tone, and with earnest gestures.
I remained where I was, doubting whether it was better to fly or abide59 the result, whatever it might be. Presently Tibeats came out of the house, and, saddling his horse, the only property he possessed60 besides myself, departed on the road to Cheneyville.
When he was gone, Chapin came out, visibly excited,[Pg 113] telling me not to stir, not to attempt to leave the plantation on any account whatever. He then went to the kitchen, and calling Rachel out, conversed with her some time. Coming back, he again charged me with great earnestness not to run, saying my master was a rascal61; that he had left on no good errand, and that there might be trouble before night. But at all events, he insisted upon it, I must not stir.
As I stood there, feelings of unutterable agony overwhelmed me. I was conscious that I had subjected myself to unimaginable punishment. The reaction that followed my extreme ebullition of anger produced the most painful sensations of regret. An unfriended, helpless slave—what could I do, what could I say, to justify62, in the remotest manner, the heinous63 act I had committed, of resenting a white man's contumely and abuse. I tried to pray—I tried to beseech64 my Heavenly Father to sustain me in my sore extremity65, but emotion choked my utterance66, and I could only bow my head upon my hands and weep. For at least an hour I remained in this situation, finding relief only in tears, when, looking up, I beheld67 Tibeats, accompanied by two horsemen, coming down the bayou. They rode into the yard, jumped from their horses, and approached me with large whips, one of them also carrying a coil of rope.
"Cross your hands," commanded Tibeats, with the addition of such a shuddering68 expression of blasphemy69 as is not decorous to repeat.
[Pg 114]
One of his companions then stepped forward, swearing if I made the least resistance he would break my head—he would tear me limb from limb—he would cut my black throat—and giving wide scope to other similar expressions. Perceiving any importunity71 altogether vain, I crossed my hands, submitting humbly72 to whatever disposition they might please to make of me. Thereupon Tibeats tied my wrists, drawing the rope around them with his utmost strength. Then he bound my ankles in the same manner. In the meantime the other two had slipped a cord within my elbows, running it across my back, and tying it firmly. It was utterly73 impossible to move hand or foot. With a remaining piece of rope Tibeats made an awkward noose74, and placed it about my neck.
"Now, then," inquired one of Tibeats' companions, "where shall we hang the nigger?"
One proposed such a limb, extending from the body of a peach tree, near the spot where we were standing. His comrade objected to it, alleging75 it would break, and proposed another. Finally they fixed76 upon the latter.
During this conversation, and all the time they were binding77 me, I uttered not a word. Overseer Chapin, during the progress of the scene, was walking hastily back and forth on the piazza. Rachel was crying by the kitchen door, and Mrs. Chapin was still[Pg 115] looking from the window. Hope died within my heart. Surely my time had come. I should never behold78 the light of another day—never behold the faces of my children—the sweet anticipation79 I had cherished with such fondness. I should that hour struggle through the fearful agonies of death! None would mourn for me—none revenge me. Soon my form would be mouldering80 in that distant soil, or, perhaps, be cast to the slimy reptiles81 that filled the stagnant waters of the bayou! Tears flowed down my cheeks, but they only afforded a subject of insulting comment for my executioners.
CHAPIN RESCUES SOLOMON FROM HANGING.
At length, as they were dragging me towards the tree, Chapin, who had momentarily disappeared from the piazza, came out of the house and walked towards us. He had a pistol in each hand, and as near as I can now recall to mind, spoke in a firm, determined82 manner, as follows:
"Gentlemen, I have a few words to say. You had better listen to them. Whoever moves that slave another foot from where he stands is a dead man. In the first place, he does not deserve this treatment. It is a shame to murder him in this manner. I never knew a more faithful boy than Platt. You, Tibeats, are in the fault yourself. You are pretty much of a scoundrel, and I know it, and you richly deserve the flogging you have received. In the next place, I have been overseer on this plantation seven years, and, in the absence of William Ford, am master here. My duty is to protect his interests, and that duty I shall[Pg 116] perform. You are not responsible—you are a worthless fellow. Ford holds a mortgage on Platt of four hundred dollars. If you hang him he loses his 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 the slave as well as for the white man. You are no better than a murderer.
"As for you," addressing Cook and Ramsay, a couple of overseers from neighboring plantations, "as for you—begone! If you have any regard for your own safety, I say, begone."
Cook and Ramsay, without a further word, mounted their horses and rode away. Tibeats, in a few minutes, evidently in fear, and overawed by the decided83 tone of Chapin, sneaked84 off like a coward, as he was, and mounting his horse, followed his companions.
I remained standing where I was, still bound, with the rope around my neck. As soon as they were gone, Chapin called Rachel, ordering her to run to the field, and tell Lawson to hurry to the house without delay, and bring the brown mule with him, an animal much prized for its unusual fleetness. Presently the boy appeared.
"Lawson," said Chapin, "you must go to the Pine Woods. Tell your master Ford to come here at once—that he must not delay a single moment. Tell him they are trying to murder Platt. Now hurry, boy. Be at the Pine Woods by noon if you kill the mule."
Chapin stepped into the house and wrote a pass. When he returned, Lawson was at the door, mounted[Pg 117] on his mule. Receiving the pass, he plied38 the whip right smartly to the beast, dashed out of the yard, and turning up the bayou on a hard gallop55, in less time than it has taken me to describe the scene, was out of sight.
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收听单词发音
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1
Ford
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| n.浅滩，水浅可涉处；v.涉水，涉过 | |
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chattel
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| n.动产；奴隶 | |
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plantation
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| n.种植园，大农场 | |
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discomfiture
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| n.崩溃；大败；挫败；困惑 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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6
pecuniary
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| adj.金钱的；金钱上的 | |
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7
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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9
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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10
undoubtedly
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| adv.确实地，无疑地 | |
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ascertained
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
sluggish
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| adj.懒惰的，迟钝的，无精打采的 | |
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winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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stagnant
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| adj.不流动的，停滞的，不景气的 | |
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tortuous
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| adj.弯弯曲曲的，蜿蜒的 | |
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plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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alligators
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| n.短吻鳄( alligator的名词复数 ) | |
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rendering
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| n.表现，描写 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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20
emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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21
drooping
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| adj. 下垂的，无力的 动词droop的现在分词 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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epithets
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| n.（表示性质、特征等的）词语( epithet的名词复数 ) | |
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forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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erecting
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| v.使直立，竖起( erect的现在分词 )；建立 | |
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28
orchard
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| n.果园，果园里的全部果树，(美俚)棒球场 | |
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procure
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| vt.获得，取得，促成；vi.拉皮条 | |
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retired
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| adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的 | |
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conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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slumbers
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| 睡眠，安眠( slumber的名词复数 ) | |
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bridled
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| 给…套龙头( bridle的过去式和过去分词 )； 控制； 昂首表示轻蔑（或怨忿等）； 动怒，生气 | |
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proceeding
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| n.行动，进行，(pl.)会议录，学报 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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plied
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| v.使用（工具）( ply的过去式和过去分词 )；经常供应（食物、饮料）；固定往来；经营生意 | |
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39
butt
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| n.笑柄；烟蒂；枪托；臀部；v.用头撞或顶 | |
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40
lash
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| v.系牢；鞭打；猛烈抨击；n.鞭打；眼睫毛 | |
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41
strands
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| n.（线、绳、金属线、毛发等的）股( strand的名词复数 )；缕；海洋、湖或河的)岸；（观点、计划、故事等的）部份v.使滞留，使搁浅( strand的第三人称单数 ) | |
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42
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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43
malignant
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| adj.恶性的，致命的；恶意的，恶毒的 | |
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44
justification
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| n.正当的理由；辩解的理由 | |
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45
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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46
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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47
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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48
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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49
frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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50
wriggling
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| v.扭动，蠕动，蜿蜒行进( wriggle的现在分词 )；（使身体某一部位）扭动；耍滑不做，逃避（应做的事等）；蠕蠕 | |
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51
blasphemous
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| adj.亵渎神明的，不敬神的 | |
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52
tyrant
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| n.暴君，专制的君主，残暴的人 | |
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53
warped
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| adj.反常的；乖戾的；（变）弯曲的；变形的v.弄弯，变歪( warp的过去式和过去分词 )；使（行为等）不合情理，使乖戾， | |
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54
cringing
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| adj.谄媚，奉承 | |
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55
gallop
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| v./n.(马或骑马等)飞奔；飞速发展 | |
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56
galloped
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| （使马）飞奔，奔驰( gallop的过去式和过去分词 )； 快速做[说]某事 | |
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57
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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maliciously
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| adv.有敌意地 | |
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abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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60
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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61
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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62
justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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63
heinous
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| adj.可憎的，十恶不赦的 | |
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beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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65
extremity
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| n.末端，尽头；尽力；终极；极度 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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68
shuddering
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| v.战栗( shudder的现在分词 )；发抖；（机器、车辆等）突然震动；颤动 | |
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69
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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70
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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importunity
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| n.硬要，强求 | |
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humbly
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| adv. 恭顺地，谦卑地 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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74
noose
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| n.绳套，绞索（刑）；v.用套索捉；使落入圈套；处以绞刑 | |
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alleging
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| 断言，宣称，辩解( allege的现在分词 ) | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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mouldering
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| v.腐朽( moulder的现在分词 )；腐烂，崩塌 | |
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81
reptiles
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| n.爬行动物，爬虫( reptile的名词复数 ) | |
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82
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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83
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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84
sneaked
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| v.潜行( sneak的过去式和过去分词 )；偷偷溜走；（儿童向成人）打小报告；告状 | |
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