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er。
Having got them fairly on board； and the boat being off； he came round； with that air of efficiency which ever characterized him； to take a review of them。 Stopping opposite to Tom； who had been attired for sale in his best broadcloth suit； with well…starched linen and shining boots； he briefly expressed himself as follows：
“Stand up。”
Tom stood up。
“Take off that stock！” and； as Tom； encumbered by his fetters； proceeded to do it； he assisted him； by pulling it； with no gentle hand； from his neck； and putting it in his pocket。
Legree now turned to Tom’s trunk； which； previous to this； he had been ransacking； and； taking from it a pair of old pantaloons and dilapidated coat； which Tom had been wont to put on about his stable…work； he said； liberating Tom’s hands from the handcuffs； and pointing to a recess in among the boxes；
“You go there； and put these on。”
Tom obeyed； and in a few moments returned。
“Take off your boots；” said Mr。 Legree。
Tom did so。
“There；” said the former； throwing him a pair of coarse； stout shoes； such as were common among the slaves； “put these on。”
In Tom’s hurried exchange； he had not forgotten to transfer his cherished Bible to his pocket。 It was well he did so； for Mr。 Legree； having refitted Tom’s handcuffs； proceeded deliberately to investigate the contents of his pockets。 He drew out a silk handkerchief； and put it into his own pocket。 Several little trifles； which Tom had treasured； chiefly because they had amused Eva； he looked upon with a contemptuous grunt； and tossed them over his shoulder into the river。
Tom’s Methodist hymn…book； which； in his hurry； he had forgotten； he now held up and turned over。
Humph！ pious； to be sure。 So； what’s yer name；—you belong to the church； eh？”
“Yes； Mas’r；” said Tom； firmly。
“Well； I’ll soon have that out of you。 I have none o’ yer bawling； praying； singing niggers on my place； so remember。 Now； mind yourself；” he said； with a stamp and a fierce glance of his gray eye； directed at Tom； “I’m your church now！ You understand；—you’ve got to be as I say。”
Something within the silent black man answered No！ and； as if repeated by an invisible voice； came the words of an old prophetic scroll； as Eva had often read them to him；—“Fear not！ for I have redeemed thee。 I have called thee by name。 Thou art Mine！”
But Simon Legree heard no voice。 That voice is one he never shall hear。 He only glared for a moment on the downcast face of Tom； and walked off。 He took Tom’s trunk； which contained a very neat and abundant wardrobe； to the forecastle； where it was soon surrounded by various hands of the boat。 With much laughing； at the expense of niggers who tried to be gentlemen； the articles very readily were sold to one and another； and the empty trunk finally put up at auction。 It was a good joke； they all thought； especially to see how Tom looked after his things； as they were going this way and that； and then the auction of the trunk； that was funnier than all； and ocomasioned abundant witticisms。
This little affair being over； Simon sauntered up again to his property。
“Now； Tom； I’ve relieved you of any extra baggage； you see。 Take mighty good care of them clothes。 It’ll be long enough ’fore you get more。 I go in for making niggers careful； one suit has to do for one year； on my place。”
Simon next walked up to the place where Emmeline was sitting； chained to another woman。
“Well； my dear；” he said； chucking her under the chin； “keep up your spirits。”
The involuntary look of horror； fright and aversion； with which the girl regarded him； did not escape his eye。 He frowned fiercely。
“None o’ your shines； gal！ you’s got to keep a pleasant face； when I speak to ye；—d’ye hear？ And you； you old yellow poco moonshine！” he said； giving a shove to the mulatto woman to whom Emmeline was chained； “don’t you carry that sort of face！ You’s got to look chipper； I tell ye！”
“I say； all on ye；” he said retreating a pace or two back； “look at me；—look at me；—look me right in the eye；—straight； now！” said he； stamping his foot at every pause。
As by a fascination； every eye was now directed to the glaring greenish…gray eye of Simon。
“Now；” said he； doubling his great； heavy fist into something resembling a blacksmith’s hammer； “d’ye see this fist？ Heft it！” he said； bringing it down on Tom’s hand。 “Look at these yer bones！ Well； I tell ye this yer fist has got as hard as iron knocking down niggers。 I never see the nigger； yet； I couldn’t bring down with one crack；” said he； bringing his fist down so near to the face of Tom that he winked and drew back。 “I don’t keep none o’ yer cussed overseers； I does my own overseeing； and I tell you things is seen to。 You’s every one on ye got to toe the mark； I tell ye； quick；—straight；—the moment I speak。 That’s the way to keep in with me。 Ye won’t find no soft spot in me； nowhere。 So； now； mind yerselves； for I don’t show no mercy！”
The women involuntarily drew in their breath； and the whole gang sat with downcast； dejected faces。 Meanwhile； Simon turned on his heel； and marched up to the bar of the boat for a dram。
“That’s the way I begin with my niggers；” he said； to a gentlemanly man； who had stood by him during his speech。 “It’s my system to begin strong；—just let ’em know what to expect。”
“Indeed！” said the stranger； looking upon him with the curiosity of a naturalist studying some out…of…the…way specimen。
“Yes； indeed。 I’m none o’ yer gentlemen planters； with lily fingers； to slop round and be cheated by some old cuss of an overseer！ Just feel of my knuckles； now； look at my fist。 Tell ye； sir； the flesh on ’t has come jest like a stone； practising on nigger—feel on it。”
The stranger applied his fingers to the implement in question； and simply said；
“’T is hard enough； and； I suppose；” he added； “practice has made your heart just like it。”
“Why； yes； I may say so；” said Simon； with a hearty laugh。 “I reckon there’s as little soft in me as in any one going。 Tell you； nobody comes it over me！ Niggers never gets round me； neither with squalling nor soft soap；—that’s a fact。”
“You have a fine lot there。”
“Real；” said Simon。 “There’s that Tom； they telled me he was suthin’ uncommon。 I paid a little high for him； tendin’ him for a driver and a managing chap； only get the notions out that he’s larnt by bein’ treated as niggers never ought to be； he’ll do prime！ The yellow woman I got took in on。 I rayther think she’s sickly； but I shall put her through for what she’s worth； she may last a year or two。 I don’t go for savin’ niggers。 Use up； and buy more； ’s my way；…makes you less trouble； and I’m quite sure it comes cheaper in the end；” and Simon sipped his glass。
“And how long do they generally last？” said the stranger。
“Well； donno； ’cordin’ as their constitution is。 Stout fellers last six or seven years； trashy ones gets worked up in two or three。 I used to； when I fust begun； have considerable trouble fussin’ with ’em and trying to make ’em hold out；—doctorin’ on ’em up when they’s sick； and givin’ on ’em clothes and blankets； and what not； tryin’ to keep ’em all sort o’ decent and comfortable。 Law； ’t wasn’t no sort o’ use； I lost money on ’em； and ’t was heaps o’ trouble。 Now； you see； I just put ’em straight through； sick or well。 When one nigger’s dead； I buy another； and I find it comes cheaper and easier； every way。”
The stranger turned away； and seated himself beside a gentleman； who had been listening to the conversation with repressed uneasiness。
“You must not take that fellow to be any specimen of Southern planters；” said he。
“I should hope not；” said the young gentleman； with emphasis。
“He is a mean； low； brutal fellow！” said the other。
“And yet your laws allow him to hold any number of human beings subject to his absolute will； without even a shadow of protection； and； low as he is； you cannot say that there are not many such。”
“Well；” said the other； “there are also many considerate and humane men among planters。”
“Granted；” said the young man； “but； in my opinion； it is you considerate； humane men； that are responsible for all the