It is impossible to conceive of a human creature more wholly desolate1 and forlorn than Eliza, when she turned her footsteps from Uncle Tom's cabin.
Her husband's suffering and dangers, and the danger of her child, all blended in her mind, with a confused and stunning2 sense of the risk she was running, in leaving the only home she had ever known, and cutting loose from the protection of a friend whom she loved and revered3. Then there was the parting from every familiar object,--the place where she had grown up, the trees under which she had played, the groves4 where she had walked many an evening in happier days, by the side of her young husband,--everything, as it lay in the clear, frosty starlight, seemed to speak reproachfully to her, and ask her whither could she go from a home like that?
But stronger than all was maternal6 love, wrought7 into a paroxysm of frenzy8 by the near approach of a fearful danger. Her boy was old enough to have walked by her side, and, in an indifferent case, she would only have led him by the hand; but now the bare thought of putting him out of her arms made her shudder9, and she strained him to her bosom10 with a convulsive grasp, as she went rapidly forward.
The frosty ground creaked beneath her feet, and she trembled at the sound; every quaking leaf and fluttering shadow sent the blood backward to her heart, and quickened her footsteps. She wondered within herself at the strength that seemed to be come upon her; for she felt the weight of her boy as if it had been a feather, and every flutter of fear seemed to increase the supernatural power that bore her on, while from her pale lips burst forth11, in frequent ejaculations, the prayer to a Friend above--"Lord, help! Lord, save me!"
If it were _your_ Harry12, mother, or your Willie, that were going to be torn from you by a brutal13 trader, tomorrow morning,--if you had seen the man, and heard that the papers were signed and delivered, and you had only from twelve o'clock till morning to make good your escape,--how fast could _you_ walk? How many miles could you make in those few brief hours, with the darling at your bosom,--the little sleepy head on your shoulder,--the small, soft arms trustingly holding on to your neck?
For the child slept. At first, the novelty and alarm kept him waking; but his mother so hurriedly repressed every breath or sound, and so assured him that if he were only still she would certainly save him, that he clung quietly round her neck, only asking, as he found himself sinking to sleep,
"Mother, I don't need to keep awake, do I?"
"No, my darling; sleep, if you want to."
"But, mother, if I do get asleep, you won't let him get me?"
"No! so may God help me!" said his mother, with a paler cheek, and a brighter light in her large dark eyes.
"You're _sure_, an't you, mother?"
"Yes, _sure_!" said the mother, in a voice that startled herself; for it seemed to her to come from a spirit within, that was no part of her; and the boy dropped his litle weary head on her shoulder, and was soon asleep. How the touch of those warm arms, the gentle breathings that came in her neck, seemed to add fire and spirit to her movements! It seemed to her as if strength poured into her in electric streams, from every gentle touch and movement of the sleeping, confiding14 child. Sublime15 is the dominion16 of the mind over the body, that, for a time, can make flesh and nerve impregnable, and string the sinews like steel, so that the weak become so mighty17.
The boundaries of the farm, the grove5, the wood-lot, passed by her dizzily, as she walked on; and still she went, leaving one familiar object after another, slacking not, pausing not, till reddening daylight found her many a long mile from all traces of any familiar objects upon the open highway.
She had often been, with her mistress, to visit some connections, in the little village of T----, not far from the Ohio river, and knew the road well. To go thither18, to escape across the Ohio river, were the first hurried outlines of her plan of escape; beyond that, she could only hope in God.
When horses and vehicles began to move along the highway, with that alert perception peculiar19 to a state of excitement, and which seems to be a sort of inspiration, she became aware that her headlong pace and distracted air might bring on her remark and suspicion. She therefore put the boy on the ground, and, adjusting her dress and bonnet20, she walked on at as rapid a pace as she thought consistent with the preservation21 of appearances. In her little bundle she had provided a store of cakes and apples, which she used as expedients22 for quickening the speed of the child, rolling the apple some yards before them, when the boy would run with all his might after it; and this ruse23, often repeated, carried them over many a half-mile.
After a while, they came to a thick patch of woodland, through which murmured a clear brook24. As the child complained of hunger and thirst, she climbed over the fence with him; and, sitting down behind a large rock which concealed25 them from the road, she gave him a breakfast out of her little package. The boy wondered and grieved that she could not eat; and when, putting his arms round her neck, he tried to wedge some of his cake into her mouth, it seemed to her that the rising in her throat would choke her.
"No, no, Harry darling! mother can't eat till you are safe! We must go on--on--till we come to the river!" And she hurried again into the road, and again constrained26 herself to walk regularly and composedly forward.
She was many miles past any neighborhood where she was personally known. If she should chance to meet any who knew her, she reflected that the well-known kindness of the family would be of itself a blind to suspicion, as making it an unlikely supposition that she could be a fugitive27. As she was also so white as not to be known as of colored lineage, without a critical survey, and her child was white also, it was much easier for her to pass on unsuspected.
On this presumption28, she stopped at noon at a neat farmhouse29, to rest herself, and buy some dinner for her child and self; for, as the danger decreased with the distance, the supernatural tension of the nervous system lessened30, and she found herself both weary and hungry.
The good woman, kindly31 and gossipping, seemed rather pleased than otherwise with having somebody come in to talk with; and accepted, without examination, Eliza's statement, that she "was going on a little piece, to spend a week with her friends,"--all which she hoped in her heart might prove strictly32 true.
An hour before sunset, she entered the village of T----, by the Ohio river, weary and foot-sore, but still strong in heart. Her first glance was at the river, which lay, like Jordan, between her and the Canaan of liberty on the other side.
It was now early spring, and the river was swollen33 and turbulent; great cakes of floating ice were swinging heavily to and fro in the turbid34 waters. Owing to the peculiar form of the shore on the Kentucky side, the land bending far out into the water, the ice had been lodged35 and detained in great quantities, and the narrow channel which swept round the bend was full of ice, piled one cake over another, thus forming a temporary barrier to the descending36 ice, which lodged, and formed a great, undulating raft, filling up the whole river, and extending almost to the Kentucky shore.
Eliza stood, for a moment, contemplating37 this unfavorable aspect of things, which she saw at once must prevent the usual ferry-boat from running, and then turned into a small public house on the bank, to make a few inquiries38.
The hostess, who was busy in various fizzing and stewing39 operations over the fire, preparatory to the evening meal, stopped, with a fork in her hand, as Eliza's sweet and plaintive40 voice arrested her.
"What is it?" she said.
"Isn't there any ferry or boat, that takes people over to B----, now?" she said.
"No, indeed!" said the woman; "the boats has stopped running."
Eliza's look of dismay and disappointment struck the woman, and she said, inquiringly,
"May be you're wanting to get over?--anybody sick? Ye seem mighty anxious?"
"I've got a child that's very dangerous," said Eliza. "I never heard of it till last night, and I've walked quite a piece today, in hopes to get to the ferry."
"Well, now, that's onlucky," said the woman, whose motherly sympathies were much aroused; I'm re'lly consarned for ye. Solomon!" she called, from the window, towards a small back building. A man, in leather apron41 and very dirty hands, appeared at the door.
"I say, Sol," said the woman, "is that ar man going to tote them bar'ls over tonight?"
"He said he should try, if 't was any way prudent," said the man.
"There's a man a piece down here, that's going over with some truck this evening, if he durs' to; he'll be in here to supper tonight, so you'd better set down and wait. That's a sweet little fellow," added the woman, offering him a cake.
But the child, wholly exhausted42, cried with weariness.
"Poor fellow! he isn't used to walking, and I've hurried him on so," said Eliza.
"Well, take him into this room," said the woman, opening into a small bed-room, where stood a comfortable bed. Eliza laid the weary boy upon it, and held his hands in hers till he was fast asleep. For her there was no rest. As a fire in her bones, the thought of the pursuer urged her on; and she gazed with longing43 eyes on the sullen44, surging waters that lay between her and liberty.
Here we must take our leave of her for the present, to follow the course of her pursuers.
Though Mrs. Shelby had promised that the dinner should be hurried on table, yet it was soon seen, as the thing has often been seen before, that it required more than one to make a bargain. So, although the order was fairly given out in Haley's hearing, and carried to Aunt Chloe by at least half a dozen juvenile45 messengers, that dignitary only gave certain very gruff snorts, and tosses of her head, and went on with every operation in an unusually leisurely46 and circumstantial manner.
For some singular reason, an impression seemed to reign47 among the servants generally that Missis would not be particularly disobliged by delay; and it was wonderful what a number of counter accidents occurred constantly, to retard49 the course of things. One luckless wight contrived50 to upset the gravy51; and then gravy had to be got up _de novo_, with due care and formality, Aunt Chloe watching and stirring with dogged precision, answering shortly, to all suggestions of haste, that she "warn't a going to have raw gravy on the table, to help nobody's catchings." One tumbled down with the water, and had to go to the spring for more; and another precipitated52 the butter into the path of events; and there was from time to time giggling54 news brought into the kitchen that "Mas'r Haley was mighty oneasy, and that he couldn't sit in his cheer no ways, but was a walkin' and stalkin' to the winders and through the porch."
"Sarves him right!" said Aunt Chloe, indignantly. He'll get wus nor oneasy, one of these days, if he don't mend his ways. _His_ master'll be sending for him, and then see how he'll look!"
"He'll go to torment55, and no mistake," said little Jake.
"He desarves it!" said Aunt Chloe, grimly; "he's broke a many, many, many hearts,--I tell ye all!" she said, stopping, with a fork uplifted in her hands; "it's like what Mas'r George reads in Ravelations,--souls a callin' under the altar! and a callin' on the Lord for vengeance56 on sich!--and by and by the Lord he'll hear 'em--so he will!"
Aunt Chloe, who was much revered in the kitchen, was listened to with open mouth; and, the dinner being now fairly sent in, the whole kitchen was at leisure to gossip with her, and to listen to her remarks.
"Sich'll be burnt up forever, and no mistake; won't ther?" said Andy.
"I'd be glad to see it, I'll be boun'," said little Jake.
"Chil'en!" said a voice, that made them all start. It was Uncle Tom, who had come in, and stood listening to the conversation at the door.
"Chil'en!" he said, "I'm afeard you don't know what ye're sayin'. Forever is a _dre'ful_ word, chil'en; it's awful to think on 't. You oughtenter wish that ar to any human crittur."
"We wouldn't to anybody but the soul-drivers," said Andy; "nobody can help wishing it to them, they 's so awful wicked."
"Don't natur herself kinder cry out on 'em?" said Aunt Chloe. "Don't dey tear der suckin' baby right off his mother's breast, and sell him, and der little children as is crying and holding on by her clothes,--don't dey pull 'em off and sells 'em? Don't dey tear wife and husband apart?" said Aunt Chloe, beginning to cry, "when it's jest takin' the very life on 'em?--and all the while does they feel one bit, don't dey drink and smoke, and take it oncommon easy? Lor, if the devil don't get them, what's he good for?" And Aunt Chloe covered her face with her checked apron, and began to sob48 in good earnest.
""ray for them that 'spitefully use you, the good book says," says Tom.
"Pray for 'em!" said Aunt Chloe; "Lor, it's too tough! I can't pray for 'em."
"It's natur, Chloe, and natur 's strong," said Tom, "but the Lord's grace is stronger; besides, you oughter think what an awful state a poor crittur's soul 's in that'll do them ar things,--you oughter thank God that you an't _like_ him, Chloe. I'm sure I'd rather be sold, ten thousand times over, than to have all that ar poor crittur's got to answer for."
"So 'd I, a heap," said Jake. "Lor, _shouldn't_ we cotch it, Andy?"
Andy shrugged57 his shoulders, and gave an acquiescent58 whistle.
"I'm glad Mas'r didn't go off this morning, as he looked to," said Tom; "that ar hurt me more than sellin', it did. Mebbe it might have been natural for him, but 't would have come desp't hard on me, as has known him from a baby; but I've seen Mas'r, and I begin ter feel sort o' reconciled to the Lord's will now. Mas'r couldn't help hisself; he did right, but I'm feared things will be kinder goin' to rack, when I'm gone Mas'r can't be spected to be a pryin' round everywhar, as I've done, a keepin' up all the ends. The boys all means well, but they 's powerful car'less. That ar troubles me."
The bell here rang, and Tom was summoned to the parlor59.
"Tom," said his master, kindly, "I want you to notice that I give this gentleman bonds to forfeit60 a thousand dollars if you are not on the spot when he wants you; he's going today to look after his other business, and you can have the day to yourself. Go anywhere you like, boy."
"Thank you, Mas'r," said Tom.
"And mind yourself," said the trader, "and don't come it over your master with any o' yer nigger tricks; for I'll take every cent out of him, if you an't thar. If he'd hear to me, he wouldn't trust any on ye--slippery as eels61!"
"Mas'r," said Tom,--and he stood very straight,--"I was jist eight years old when ole Missis put you into my arms, and you wasn't a year old. `Thar,' says she, `Tom, that's to be _your_ young Mas'r; take good care on him,' says she. And now I jist ask you, Mas'r, have I ever broke word to you, or gone contrary to you, 'specially62 since I was a Christian63?"
Mr. Shelby was fairly overcome, and the tears rose to his eyes.
"My good boy," said he, "the Lord knows you say but the truth; and if I was able to help it, all the world shouldn't buy you."
"And sure as I am a Christian woman," said Mrs. Shelby, "you shall be redeemed64 as soon as I can any bring together means. Sir," she said to Haley, "take good account of who you sell him to, and let me know."
"Lor, yes, for that matter," said the trader, "I may bring him up in a year, not much the wuss for wear, and trade him back."
"I'll trade with you then, and make it for your advantage," said Mrs. Shelby.
"Of course," said the trader, "all 's equal with me; li'ves trade 'em up as down, so I does a good business. All I want is a livin', you know, ma'am; that's all any on us wants, I, s'pose."
Mr. and Mrs. Shelby both felt annoyed and degraded by the familiar impudence65 of the trader, and yet both saw the absolute necessity of putting a constraint66 on their feelings. The more hopelessly sordid67 and insensible he appeared, the greater became Mrs. Shelby's dread68 of his succeeding in recapturing Eliza and her child, and of course the greater her motive69 for detaining him by every female artifice70. She therefore graciously smiled, assented71, chatted familiarly, and did all she could to make time pass imperceptibly.
At two o'clock Sam and Andy brought the horses up to the posts, apparently72 greatly refreshed and invigorated by the scamper73 of the morning.
Sam was there new oiled from dinner, with an abundance of zealous74 and ready officiousness. As Haley approached, he was boasting, in flourishing style, to Andy, of the evident and eminent75 success of the operation, now that he had "farly come to it."
"Your master, I s'pose, don't keep no dogs," said Haley, thoughtfully, as he prepared to mount.
"Heaps on 'em," said Sam, triumphantly76; "thar's Bruno--he's a roarer! and, besides that, 'bout77 every nigger of us keeps a pup of some natur or uther."
"Poh!" said Haley,--and he said something else, too, with regard to the said dogs, at which Sam muttered,
"I don't see no use cussin' on 'em, no way."
"But your master don't keep no dogs (I pretty much know he don't) for trackin' out niggers."
Sam knew exactly what he meant, but he kept on a look of earnest and desperate simplicity78.
"Our dogs all smells round considable sharp. I spect they's the kind, though they han't never had no practice. They 's _far_ dogs, though, at most anything, if you'd get 'em started. Here, Bruno," he called, whistling to the lumbering79 Newfoundland, who came pitching tumultuously toward them.
"You go hang!" said Haley, getting up. "Come, tumble up now."
Sam tumbled up accordingly, dexterously80 contriving81 to tickle82 Andy as he did so, which occasioned Andy to split out into a laugh, greatly to Haley's indignation, who made a cut at him with his riding-whip.
"I 's 'stonished at yer, Andy," said Sam, with awful gravity. "This yer's a seris bisness, Andy. Yer mustn't be a makin' game. This yer an't no way to help Mas'r."
"I shall take the straight road to the river," said Haley, decidedly, after they had come to the boundaries of the estate. "I know the way of all of 'em,--they makes tracks for the underground."
"Sartin," said Sam, "dat's de idee. Mas'r Haley hits de thing right in de middle. Now, der's two roads to de river,--de dirt road and der pike,--which Mas'r mean to take?"
Andy looked up innocently at Sam, surprised at hearing this new geographical84 fact, but instantly confirmed what he said, by a vehement85 reiteration86.
"Cause," said Sam, "I'd rather be 'clined to 'magine that Lizy 'd take de dirt road, bein' it's the least travelled."
Haley, notwithstanding that he was a very old bird, and naturally inclined to be suspicious of chaff88, was rather brought up by this view of the case.
"If yer warn't both on yer such cussed liars89, now!" he said, contemplatively as he pondered a moment.
The pensive90, reflective tone in which this was spoken appeared to amuse Andy prodigiously93, and he drew a little behind, and shook so as apparently to run a great risk of failing off his horse, while Sam's face was immovably composed into the most doleful gravity.
"Course," said Sam, "Mas'r can do as he'd ruther, go de straight road, if Mas'r thinks best,--it's all one to us. Now, when I study 'pon it, I think de straight road de best, _deridedly_."
"She would naturally go a lonesome way," said Haley, thinking aloud, and not minding Sam's remark.
"Dar an't no sayin'," said Sam; "gals94 is pecular; they never does nothin' ye thinks they will; mose gen'lly the contrary. Gals is nat'lly made contrary; and so, if you thinks they've gone one road, it is sartin you'd better go t' other, and then you'll be sure to find 'em. Now, my private 'pinion96 is, Lizy took der road; so I think we'd better take de straight one."
This profound generic97 view of the female sex did not seem to dispose Haley particularly to the straight road, and he announced decidedly that he should go the other, and asked Sam when they should come to it.
"A little piece ahead," said Sam, giving a wink98 to Andy with the eye which was on Andy's side of the head; and he added, gravely, "but I've studded on de matter, and I'm quite clar we ought not to go dat ar way. I nebber been over it no way. It's despit lonesome, and we might lose our way,--whar we'd come to, de Lord only knows."
"Nevertheless," said Haley, "I shall go that way."
"Now I think on 't, I think I hearn 'em tell that dat ar road was all fenced up and down by der creek99, and thar, an't it, Andy?"
Andy wasn't certain; he'd only "hearn tell" about that road, but never been over it. In short, he was strictly noncommittal.
Haley, accustomed to strike the balance of probabilities between lies of greater or lesser100 magnitude, thought that it lay in favor of the dirt road aforesaid. The mention of the thing he thought he perceived was involuntary on Sam's part at first, and his confused attempts to dissuade101 him he set down to a desperate lying on second thoughts, as being unwilling102 to implicate103 Liza.
When, therefore, Sam indicated the road, Haley plunged104 briskly into it, followed by Sam and Andy.
Now, the road, in fact, was an old one, that had formerly105 been a thoroughfare to the river, but abandoned for many years after the laying of the new pike. It was open for about an hour's ride, and after that it was cut across by various farms and fences. Sam knew this fact perfectly106 well,--indeed, the road had been so long closed up, that Andy had never heard of it. He therefore rode along with an air of dutiful submission107, only groaning108 and vociferating occasionally that 't was "desp't rough, and bad for Jerry's foot."
"Now, I jest give yer warning," said Haley, "I know yer; yer won't get me to turn off this road, with all yer fussin'--so you shet up!"
"Mas'r will go his own way!" said Sam, with rueful submission, at the same time winking109 most Portentously110 to Andy, whose delight was now very near the explosive point.
Sam was in wonderful spirits,--professed to keep a very brisk lookout,--at one time exclaiming that he saw "a gal95's bonnet" on the top of some distant eminence111, or calling to Andy "if that thar wasn't `Lizy' down in the hollow;" always making these exclamations112 in some rough or craggy part of the road, where the sudden quickening of speed was a special inconvenience to all parties concerned, and thus keeping Haley in a state of constant commotion113.
After riding about an hour in this way, the whole party made a precipitate53 and tumultuous descent into a barn-yard belonging to a large farming establishment. Not a soul was in sight, all the hands being employed in the fields; but, as the barn stood conspicuously114 and plainly square across the road, it was evident that their journey in that direction had reached a decided83 finale.
"Wan't dat ar what I telled Mas'r?" said Sam, with an air of injured innocence115. "How does strange gentleman spect to know more about a country dan de natives born and raised?"
"You rascal116!" said Haley, "you knew all about this."
"Didn't I tell yer I _knowd_, and yer wouldn't believe me? I telled Mas'r 't was all chet up, and fenced up, and I didn't spect we could get through,--Andy heard me."
It was all too true to be disputed, and the unlucky man had to pocket his wrath117 with the best grace he was able, and all three faced to the right about, and took up their line of march for the highway.
In consequence of all the various delays, it was about three-quarters of an hour after Eliza had laid her child to sleep in the village tavern118 that the party came riding into the same place. Eliza was standing87 by the window, looking out in another direction, when Sam's quick eye caught a glimpse of her. Haley and Andy were two yards behind. At this crisis, Sam contrived to have his hat blown off, and uttered a loud and characteristic ejaculation, which startled her at once; she drew suddenly back; the whole train swept by the window, round to the front door.
A thousand lives seemed to be concentrated in that one moment to Eliza. Her room opened by a side door to the river. She caught her child, and sprang down the steps towards it. The trader caught a full glimpse of her just as she was disappearing down the bank; and throwing himself from his horse, and calling loudly on Sam and Andy, he was after her like a hound after a deer. In that dizzy moment her feet to her scarce seemed to touch the ground, and a moment brought her to the water's edge. Right on `ehind they came; and, nerved with strength such as God gives only to the desperate, with one wild cry and flying leap, she vaulted119 sheer over the turbid current by the shore, on to the raft of ice beyond. It was a desperate leap--impossible to anything but madness and despair; and Haley, Sam, and Andy, instinctively120 cried out, and lifted up their hands, as she did it.
The huge green fragment of ice on which she alighted pitched and creaked as her weight came on it, but she staid there not a moment. With wild cries and desperate energy she leaped to another and still another cake; stumbling--leaping--slipping-springing upwards121 again! Her shoes are gone--her stockings cut from her feet--while blood marked every step; but she saw nothing, felt nothing, till dimly, as in a dream, she saw the Ohio side, and a man helping122 her up the bank.
"Yer a brave gal, now, whoever ye ar!" said the man, with an oath.
Eliza recognized the voice and face for a man who owned a farm not far from her old home.
"O, Mr. Symmes!--save me--do save me--do hide me!" said Elia.
"Why, what's this?" said the man. "Why, if 'tan't Shelby's gal!"
"My child!--this boy!--he'd sold him! There is his Mas'r," said she, pointing to the Kentucky shore. "O, Mr. Symmes, you've got a little boy!"
"So I have," said the man, as he roughly, but kindly, drew her up the steep bank. "Besides, you're a right brave gal. I like grit123, wherever I see it."
When they had gained the top of the bank, the man paused.
"I'd be glad to do something for ye," said he; "but then there's nowhar I could take ye. The best I can do is to tell ye to go _thar_," said he, pointing to a large white house which stood by itself, off the main street of the village. "Go thar; they're kind folks. Thar's no kind o' danger but they'll help you,--they're up to all that sort o' thing."
"The Lord bless you!" said Eliza, earnestly.
"No 'casion, no 'casion in the world," said the man. "What I've done's of no 'count."
"And, oh, surely, sir, you won't tell any one!"
"Go to thunder, gal! What do you take a feller for? In course not," said the man. "Come, now, go along like a likely, sensible gal, as you are. You've arnt your liberty, and you shall have it, for all me."
The woman folded her child to her bosom, and walked firmly and swiftly away. The man stood and looked after her.
"Shelby, now, mebbe won't think this yer the most neighborly thing in the world; but what's a feller to do? If he catches one of my gals in the same fix, he's welcome to pay back. Somehow I never could see no kind o' critter a strivin' and pantin', and trying to clar theirselves, with the dogs arter 'em and go agin 'em. Besides, I don't see no kind of 'casion for me to be hunter and catcher for other folks, neither."
So spoke91 this poor, heathenish Kentuckian, who had not been instructed in his constitutional relations, and consequently was betrayed into acting124 in a sort of Christianized manner, which, if he had been better situated125 and more enlightened, he would not have been left to do.
Haley had stood a perfectly amazed spectator of the scene, till Eliza had disappeared up the bank, when he turned a blank, inquiring look on Sam and Andy.
"That ar was a tolable fair stroke of business," said Sam.
"The gal 's got seven devils in her, I believe!" said Haley. "How like a wildcat she jumped!"
"Wal, now," said Sam, scratching his head, "I hope Mas'r'll 'scuse us trying dat ar road. Don't think I feel spry enough for dat ar, no way!" and Sam gave a hoarse126 chuckle127.
"_You_ laugh!" said the trader, with a growl128.
"Lord bless you, Mas'r, I couldn't help it now," said Sam, giving way to the long pent-up delight of his soul. "She looked so curi's, a leapin' and springin'--ice a crackin'--and only to hear her,--plump! ker chunk129! ker splash! Spring! Lord! how she goes it!" and Sam and Andy laughed till the tears rolled down their cheeks.
"I'll make ye laugh t' other side yer mouths!" said the trader, laying about their heads with his riding-whip.
Both ducked, and ran shouting up the bank, and were on their horses before he was up.
"Good-evening, Mas'r!" said Sam, with much gravity. "I berry much spect Missis be anxious 'bout Jerry. Mas'r Haley won't want us no longer. Missis wouldn't hear of our ridin' the critters over Lizy's bridge tonight;" and, with a facetious130 poke92 into Andy's ribs131, he started off, followed by the latter, at full speed,--their shouts of laughter coming faintly on the wind.
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desolate
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| adj.荒凉的，荒芜的；孤独的，凄凉的；v.使荒芜，使孤寂 | |
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stunning
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| adj.极好的；使人晕倒的 | |
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revered
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| v.崇敬，尊崇，敬畏( revere的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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maternal
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| adj.母亲的，母亲般的，母系的，母方的 | |
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wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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frenzy
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| n.疯狂，狂热，极度的激动 | |
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9
shudder
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| v.战粟，震动，剧烈地摇晃；n.战粟，抖动 | |
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10
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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11
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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12
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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13
brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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14
confiding
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| adj.相信人的，易于相信的v.吐露（秘密，心事等）( confide的现在分词 )；（向某人）吐露（隐私、秘密等） | |
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15
sublime
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| adj.崇高的，伟大的；极度的，不顾后果的 | |
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16
dominion
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| n.统治，管辖，支配权；领土，版图 | |
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17
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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18
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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19
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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20
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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21
preservation
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| n.保护，维护，保存，保留，保持 | |
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22
expedients
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| n.应急有效的，权宜之计的( expedient的名词复数 ) | |
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23
ruse
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| n.诡计，计策；诡计 | |
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24
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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25
concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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26
constrained
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| adj.束缚的,节制的 | |
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27
fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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28
presumption
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| n.推测，可能性，冒昧，放肆，[法律]推定 | |
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29
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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30
lessened
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| 减少的，减弱的 | |
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31
kindly
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| adj.和蔼的，温和的，爽快的；adv.温和地，亲切地 | |
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32
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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33
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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34
turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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35
lodged
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| v.存放( lodge的过去式和过去分词 )；暂住；埋入；（权利、权威等）归属 | |
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36
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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37
contemplating
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| 深思，细想，仔细考虑( contemplate的现在分词 )； 注视，凝视； 考虑接受（发生某事的可能性）； 深思熟虑，沉思，苦思冥想 | |
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38
inquiries
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| n.调查( inquiry的名词复数 )；疑问；探究；打听 | |
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39
stewing
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| 炖 | |
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40
plaintive
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| adj.可怜的，伤心的 | |
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41
apron
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| n.围裙；工作裙 | |
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42
exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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43
longing
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| n.（for）渴望 | |
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44
sullen
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| adj.愠怒的，闷闷不乐的，(天气等)阴沉的 | |
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45
juvenile
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| n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的 | |
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46
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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47
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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48
sob
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| n.空间轨道的轰炸机；呜咽，哭泣 | |
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49
retard
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| n.阻止，延迟；vt.妨碍，延迟，使减速 | |
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50
contrived
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| adj.不自然的，做作的；虚构的 | |
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51
gravy
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| n.肉汁；轻易得来的钱，外快 | |
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52
precipitated
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| v.（突如其来地）使发生( precipitate的过去式和过去分词 )；促成；猛然摔下；使沉淀 | |
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53
precipitate
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| adj.突如其来的；vt.使突然发生；n.沉淀物 | |
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54
giggling
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| v.咯咯地笑( giggle的现在分词 ) | |
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55
torment
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| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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56
vengeance
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| n.报复，报仇，复仇 | |
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57
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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58
acquiescent
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| adj.默许的，默认的 | |
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59
parlor
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| n.店铺，营业室；会客室，客厅 | |
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60
forfeit
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| vt.丧失；n.罚金，罚款，没收物 | |
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61
eels
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| abbr. 电子发射器定位系统（=electronic emitter location system） | |
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62
specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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63
Christian
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| adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒 | |
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64
redeemed
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| adj. 可赎回的，可救赎的 动词redeem的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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65
impudence
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| n.厚颜无耻；冒失；无礼 | |
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66
constraint
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| n.(on)约束，限制；限制(或约束)性的事物 | |
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67
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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68
dread
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| vt.担忧，忧虑；惧怕，不敢；n.担忧，畏惧 | |
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69
motive
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| n.动机，目的；adv.发动的，运动的 | |
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70
artifice
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| n.妙计，高明的手段；狡诈，诡计 | |
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71
assented
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| 同意，赞成( assent的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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72
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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73
scamper
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| v.奔跑，快跑 | |
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74
zealous
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| adj.狂热的，热心的 | |
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75
eminent
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| adj.显赫的，杰出的，有名的，优良的 | |
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76
triumphantly
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| ad.得意洋洋地；得胜地；成功地 | |
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77
bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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78
simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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79
lumbering
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| n.采伐林木 | |
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80
dexterously
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| adv.巧妙地，敏捷地 | |
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81
contriving
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| （不顾困难地）促成某事( contrive的现在分词 )； 巧妙地策划，精巧地制造（如机器）； 设法做到 | |
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82
tickle
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| v.搔痒，胳肢；使高兴；发痒；n.搔痒，发痒 | |
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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
geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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85
vehement
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| adj.感情强烈的；热烈的；(人)有强烈感情的 | |
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86
reiteration
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| n. 重覆, 反覆, 重说 | |
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87
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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88
chaff
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| v.取笑，嘲笑；n.谷壳 | |
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89
liars
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| 说谎者( liar的名词复数 ) | |
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90
pensive
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| a.沉思的,哀思的,忧沉的 | |
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91
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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92
poke
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| n.刺，戳，袋；vt.拨开，刺，戳；vi.戳，刺，捅，搜索，伸出，行动散慢 | |
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93
prodigiously
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| adv.异常地，惊人地，巨大地 | |
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94
gals
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| abbr.gallons （复数）加仑（液量单位）n.女孩，少女( gal的名词复数 ) | |
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95
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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96
pinion
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| v.束缚；n.小齿轮 | |
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97
generic
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| adj.一般的，普通的，共有的 | |
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98
wink
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| n.眨眼，使眼色，瞬间；v.眨眼，使眼色，闪烁 | |
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99
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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100
lesser
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| adj.次要的，较小的；adv.较小地，较少地 | |
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101
dissuade
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| v.劝阻，阻止 | |
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102
unwilling
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| adj.不情愿的 | |
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103
implicate
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| vt.使牵连其中，涉嫌 | |
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104
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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105
formerly
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| adv.从前，以前 | |
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106
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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107
submission
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| n.服从，投降；温顺，谦虚；提出 | |
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108
groaning
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| adj. 呜咽的, 呻吟的 动词groan的现在分词形式 | |
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109
winking
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| n.瞬眼，目语v.使眼色( wink的现在分词 )；递眼色（表示友好或高兴等）；（指光）闪烁；闪亮 | |
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110
portentously
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111
eminence
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| n.卓越，显赫；高地，高处；名家 | |
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112
exclamations
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| n.呼喊( exclamation的名词复数 )；感叹；感叹语；感叹词 | |
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113
commotion
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| n.骚动，动乱 | |
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114
conspicuously
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| ad.明显地，惹人注目地 | |
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115
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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116
rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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117
wrath
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| n.愤怒，愤慨，暴怒 | |
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118
tavern
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| n.小旅馆，客栈；小酒店 | |
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119
vaulted
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| adj.拱状的 | |
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120
instinctively
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| adv.本能地 | |
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121
upwards
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| adv.向上，在更高处...以上 | |
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122
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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123
grit
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| n.沙粒，决心，勇气；v.下定决心，咬紧牙关 | |
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124
acting
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| n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的 | |
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125
situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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126
hoarse
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| adj.嘶哑的，沙哑的 | |
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127
chuckle
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| vi.／n.轻声笑，咯咯笑 | |
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128
growl
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| v.（狗等）嗥叫，（炮等）轰鸣；n.嗥叫，轰鸣 | |
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129
chunk
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| n.厚片，大块，相当大的部分（数量） | |
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130
facetious
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| adj.轻浮的，好开玩笑的 | |
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131
ribs
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| n.肋骨( rib的名词复数 )；（船或屋顶等的）肋拱；肋骨状的东西；（织物的）凸条花纹 | |
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