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to pass away the time。 You may be pretty sure they won’t come there to inquire after us。 If they do； I’ll play ghost for them。”
When Emmeline reached the garret； she found an immense box； in which some heavy pieces of furniture had once been brought； turned on its side； so that the opening faced the wall； or rather the eaves。 Cassy lit a small lamp； and creeping round under the eaves； they established themselves in it。 It was spread with a couple of small mattresses and some pillows； a box near by was plentifully stored with candles； provisions； and all the clothing necessary to their journey； which Cassy had arranged into bundles of an astonishingly small compass。
“There；” said Cassy； as she fixed the lamp into a small hook； which she had driven into the side of the box for that purpose； “this is to be our home for the present。 How do you like it？”
“Are you sure they won’t come and search the garret？”
“I’d like to see Simon Legree doing that；” said Cassy。 “No； indeed； he will be too glad to keep away。 As to the servants； they would any of them stand and be shot； sooner than show their faces here。”
Somewhat reassured； Emmeline settled herself back on her pillow。
“What did you mean； Cassy； by saying you would kill me？” she said； simply。
“I meant to stop your fainting；” said Cassy； “and I did do it。 And now I tell you； Emmeline； you must make up your mind not to faint； let what will come； there’s no sort of need of it。 If I had not stopped you； that wretch might have had his hands on you now。”
Emmeline shuddered。
The two remained some time in silence。 Cassy busied herself with a French book； Emmeline； overcome with the exhaustion； fell into a doze； and slept some time。 She was awakened by loud shouts and outcries； the tramp of horses’ feet； and the baying of dogs。 She started up； with a faint shriek。
“Only the hunt coming back；” said Cassy； coolly； “never fear。 Look out of this knot…hole。 Don’t you see ’em all down there？ Simon has to give up； for this night。 Look； how muddy his horse is； flouncing about in the swamp； the dogs； too； look rather crestfallen。 Ah； my good sir； you’ll have to try the race again and again；—the game isn’t there。”
“O； don’t speak a word！” said Emmeline； “what if they should hear you？”
“If they do hear anything； it will make them very particular to keep away；” said Cassy。 “No danger； we may make any noise we please； and it will only add to the effect。”
At length the stillness of midnight settled down over the house。 Legree； cursing his ill luck； and vowing dire vengeance on the morrow； went to bed。
1 Prov。 4：19。
Chapter 40
The Martyr
“Deem not the just by Heaven forgot！
Though life its common gifts deny；—
Though； with a crushed and bleeding heart；
And spurned of man； he goes to die！
For God hath marked each sorrowing day；
And numbered every bitter tear；
And heaven’s long years of bliss shall pay
For all his children suffer here。”
Bryant。1
The longest way must have its close；—the gloomiest night will wear on to a morning。 An eternal； inexorable lapse of moments is ever hurrying the day of the evil to an eternal night； and the night of the just to an eternal day。 We have walked with our humble friend thus far in the valley of slavery； first through flowery fields of ease and indulgence； then through heart…breaking separations from all that man holds dear。 Again； we have waited with him in a sunny island； where generous hands concealed his chains with flowers； and； lastly； we have followed him when the last ray of earthly hope went out in night； and seen how； in the blackness of earthly darkness； the firmament of the unseen has blazed with stars of new and significant lustre。
The morning…star now stands over the tops of the mountains； and gales and breezes； not of earth； show that the gates of day are unclosing。
The escape of Cassy and Emmeline irritated the before surly temper of Legree to the last degree； and his fury； as was to be expected； fell upon the defenceless head of Tom。 When he hurriedly announced the tidings among his hands； there was a sudden light in Tom’s eye； a sudden upraising of his hands； that did not escape him。 He saw that he did not join the muster of the pursuers。 He thought of forcing him to do it； but； having had； of old； experience of his inflexibility when commanded to take part in any deed of inhumanity； he would not； in his hurry； stop to enter into any conflict with him。
Tom； therefore； remained behind； with a few who had learned of him to pray； and offered up prayers for the escape of the fugitives。
When Legree returned； baffled and disappointed； all the long…working hatred of his soul towards his slave began to gather in a deadly and desperate form。 Had not this man braved him；—steadily； powerfully； resistlessly；—ever since he bought him？ Was there not a spirit in him which； silent as it was； burned on him like the fires of perdition？
“I hate him！” said Legree； that night； as he sat up in his bed； “I hate him！ And isn’t he MINE？ Can’t I do what I like with him？ Who’s to hinder； I wonder？” And Legree clenched his fist； and shook it； as if he had something in his hands that he could rend in pieces。
But； then； Tom was a faithful； valuable servant； and； although Legree hated him the more for that； yet the consideration was still somewhat of a restraint to him。
The next morning； he determined to say nothing； as yet； to assemble a party； from some neighboring plantations； with dogs and guns； to surround the swamp； and go about the hunt systematically。 If it sucomeeded； well and good； if not； he would summon Tom before him； and—his teeth clenched and his blood boiled—then he would break the fellow down； or—there was a dire inward whisper； to which his soul assented。
Ye say that the interest of the master is a sufficient safeguard for the slave。 In the fury of man’s mad will； he will wittingly； and with open eye； sell his own soul to the devil to gain his ends； and will he be more careful of his neighbor’s body？
“Well；” said Cassy； the next day； from the garret； as she reconnoitred through the knot…hole； “the hunt’s going to begin again； today！”
Three or four mounted horsemen were curvetting about； on the space in front of the house； and one or two leashes of strange dogs were struggling with the negroes who held them； baying and barking at each other。
The men are； two of them； overseers of plantations in the vicinity； and others were some of Legree’s associates at the tavern…bar of a neighboring city； who had come for the interest of the sport。 A more hard…favored set； perhaps； could not be imagined。 Legree was serving brandy； profusely； round among them； as also among the negroes； who had been detailed from the various plantations for this service； for it was an object to make every service of this kind； among the negroes； as much of a holiday as possible。
Cassy placed her ear at the knot…hole； and； as the morning air blew directly towards the house； she could overhear a good deal of the conversation。 A grave sneer overcast the dark； severe gravity of her face； as she listened； and heard them divide out the ground； discuss the rival merits of the dogs； give orders about firing； and the treatment of each； in case of capture。
Cassy drew back； and； clasping her hands； looked upward； and said； “O； great Almighty God！ we are all sinners； but what have we done； more than all the rest of the world； that we should be treated so？”
There was a terrible earnestness in her face and voice； as she spoke。
“If it wasn’t for you； child；” she said； looking at Emmeline； “I’d go out to them； and I’d thank any one of them that would shoot me down； for what use will freedom be to me？ Can it give me back my children； or make me what I used to be？”
Emmeline； in her child…like simplicity； was half afraid of the dark moods of Cassy。 She looked perplexed； but made no answer。 She only took her hand； with a gentle； caressing movement。
“Don’t！” said Cassy； trying to draw it away； “you’ll get me to loving you； and I never mean to love anything； again！”
“Poor Cassy！” said Emmeline； “don’t feel so！ If the Lord gives us liberty； perhaps he’ll give you back your daughter； at any rate； I’ll b