Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Original Edition | Liberty - Chapter 17

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Dream Audio Books presents Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet beecher Stowe,
Chapter seventeen, The Freeman's Defense. There was a gentle bustle
at the Quaker house as the afternoon drew to a close.
Rachel Halliday moved quietly to and fro, collecting from her
household stores such needments as could be arranged in the

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smallest compass for the wanderers who were to go forth
that night. The afternoon's shadows stretched eastward, and the round
red sun stood thoughtfully on the horizon, and his beams
shone yellow and calm into the little bedroom where George
and his wife were sitting. He was sitting with his
child on his knee and his wife's hand in his.

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Both looked thoughtful and serious, and traces of tears were
on their cheeks. Yes, Eliza said George, I know all
you say is true. You are a good child, a
great deal better than I am, and I will try
to do as you say. I'll try to act worthy
of a freeman. I'll try to feel like a Christian.

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God Almighty knows that I've meant to do well, tried
hard to do well when everything has been against me,
and now I'll forget all the past and put away
every hard and bitter feeling, and read my Bible and
learn to be a good man. And when we get
to Canada, said Eliza, I can help you. I can

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do dress making very well, and I understand fine washing
and ironing, and between us we can find something to
live on, Yes, Eliza, so long as we have each
other and our boy. Oh Eliza, if these people only
knew what a blessing it is for a man to
feel that his wife and child belonged to him. I've

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often wondered to see men that could call their wives
and children their own, frettin and worrying about anything else.
Why I feel rich and strong though we have nothing
but our bare hands. I feel as if I could
scarcely ask God for any more. Yes, though I worked
hard every day till I am twenty five years old,

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and have not a cent of money, nor a roof
to cover me, nor a spot of land call my own.
Yet if they will only let me alone now, I
will be satisfied, thankful. I will work and send back
the money for you and my boy. As to my
old master, he has been paid five times over for
all he ever spent for me. I don't owe him anything.

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But yet we are not quite out of danger, said Eliza.
We are not yet in Canada, true, said George. But
it seems as if I smelt the free air, and
it makes me strong. At this moment, voices were heard
in the outer apartment in earnest conversation, and very soon
a rap was heard on the door. Eliza started and
opened it. Simeon Halliday was there, and with him a

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Quaker brother, whom he introduced as Phineas Fletcher. Phineas was
tall and lathy red haired, with an expression of great
acuteness and shrewdness in his face. He had not the placid, quiet,
unworldly air of Simeon Halliday, on the contrary, a particularly
wide awake and au fait appearance, like a man who
rather prides himself on knowing what he is about and

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keeping a bright lookout ahead peculiarities, which sorted rather oddly
with his broad brim and formal phraseology. Our friend Phineas
Hath discovered something of importance to the interests of THEE
and thy party. George said, Simeon, it were well for
THEE to hear it that I have said Phineas, And

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it shows the use of a man's always sleeping with
one ear open in certain places. As I have always said,
last night I stopped at a little lone tavern back
on the road. Thee remembers the place, Simeon, where we
sold some apples last year to that fat woman with
the great ear rings. Well, I was tired with hard driving,

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and after my supper, I stretched myself down on a
pile of bags in the corner and pulled a buffalo
over me to wait till my bed was ready. And
what does I do but get fast asleep with one
ear open, Phineas, said Simeon quietly. No. I slept ears
and all for an hour or two, for I was

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pretty well tired. But when I came to myself a little,
I found that there were some men in the room,
sitting round a table, drinking and talking. And I thought,
before I made much muster, I just see what they
were up to, especially as I heard them say something
about the Quakers, So says one, they are up in
the Quaker settlement, no doubt, says he. Then I listened

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with both ears, and I found that they were talking
about this very party. So I lay and heard them
lay off all their plans. This young man, they said,
was to be sent back to Kentucky to his master,
who was going to make an example of him to
keep all niggers from running away. And his wife. Two
of them were going to run down to New Orleans

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to sell on their own account, and they calculated to
get sixteen or eighteen hundred dollars for her. And a
child they said was going to a trader who had
bought him, and and there was the boy Jim, and
his mother. They were going to go back to their
masters in Kentucky. They said that there were two constables
in a town a little piece ahead who would go

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in with them to get em them taken up. And
the young woman was to be taken before a judge,
and one of the fellows, who is small and smooth spoken,
was to swear to her for his property and get
her delivered over to him to take south. They've got
a right notion of the track we are going tonight,
and they'll be down after us, six or eight strong.

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So now what's to be done. The group that stood
in various attitudes after this communication were worthy of a painter,
Rachel Halliday, who had taken her hands out of a
batch of biscuit to hear the news, stood with them
upraised and floury, and with a face of the deepest concern.
Simeon looked profoundly thoughtful. Eliza had thrown her arms around

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her husband and was looking up to him. George stood
with clenched hands and glowing eyes, and looking as any
other man might look. Whose wife was to be sold
at auction and son sent to a trader, all under
the shelter of a Christian nation's laws. What shall we do, George,
said Eliza faintly. I know what I shall do, said George,

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as he stepped into the little room and began examining pistols.
Aye aye, said Phineas, nodding his head to Simeon. Thou seest, Simeon,
how it will work? I see, said Simeon, sighing. I
pray it come not to that. I don't want to
involve any one with or for me, said George. If

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you will lend me your vehicle and direct me, I
will drive alone to the next stand. Jim is a
giant in strength and brave as death and despair, and
so am I. Ah well, friend, said Phineas. But Thee'll
need a driver for all that. These quite welcome to
do all the fighting. THEE knows, but I know a

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thing or two about the road, and THEE doesn't. But
I don't want to involve you, said George. Involve, said Phineas,
with a curious and keen expression of face. When THEE
does involve me, please do let me know. Phineas is
a wise and skillful man, said Simeon. THEE does well,
George to abide by his judgment, and he added, laying

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his hand kindly on George's shoulder and pointing to the pistols.
Be not over hasty with these young blood is hot.
I will attack no man, said George. All I ask
of this country is to be let alone, and I
will go out peaceably. But he paused, and his brow
darkened and his face worked. I've had a sister sould

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in that noor Yann's market. I know what they are
sold for, and I am going to stand by and
see them take my wife and sell her when God
has given me a pair of strong arms to defend her. No,
God help me. I'll fight to the last breath before
they shall take my wife and son. Can you blame me?
Mortal man cannot blame thee George. Flesh and blood could

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not do otherwise, said Simeon. Woe unto the world because
of offenses, but woe unto them through whom the offense cometh.
Would not even you, sir, do the same in my place.
I pray that I be not tried, said Simeon. The
flesh is weak. I think my flesh would be pretty

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tolerable strong in such case, said Phineas, stretching out a
pair of arms like the sails of a windmill. I
ain't sure, friend, George, that I shouldn't hold a fellow
for THEE if THEE had any accounts to settle with him.
If man should ever resist evil, said Simeon, then George
should feel free to do it now. But the leaders
of our people taught a more excellent way. For the

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wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. But
it goes sorely against the corrupt will of man, and
none can receive it save they to whom it is given.
Let us pray the Lord that we'd be not tempted,
And so do I, said Phineas. But if we are
tempted too, much. Why let them look out, that's all.

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It's quite plain. Thee wasn't born a friend, said Simeon, smiling.
The old nature hath its way in thee pretty strong
as yet to tell the truth, Phineas had been a hearty,
two fisted backwoodsman, a vigorous hunter, and a dead shot
at a buck, But having wooed a pretty quakeress, had
been moved by the power of her charms to join

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the society in his neighborhood. And though he was an honest,
sober and efficient member, and nothing particular could be alleged
against him, yet the more spiritual among them could not
but discern an exceeding lack of savor in his developments.
Friend Phineas will ever have ways of his own, said
Rachel Halliday, smiling. But we all think that his heart

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is in the right place after all, well, said George.
Isn't it best that we hasten our flat. I got
up at four o'clock and came on with all speed
full two or three hours ahead of them. If they
start at the time they planned, it isn't safe to
start till dark at any rate, for there are some
evil persons in the villages ahead that might be disposed

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to meddle with us if they saw our wagon, and
that would delay us more than the waiting. But in
two hours I think we may venture. I will go
over to Michael Cross and engage him to come behind
on his swift nag, and keep a bright lookout on
the road and warn us if any company of men
come on. Michael keeps a horse that can soon get

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ahead of most other horses, and he could shoot ahead
and let us know if there were any danger. I'm
going out now to warn Jim and the old woman
to be in readiness and to see about the horse.
We have a pretty fair start and stand a good
chance to get to the stand before they can come
up with us. So have good courage, Friend George. This

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isn't the first ugly scrape that I've been in with
thy people, said Phineas as he closed the door. Phineas
is pretty shrewd, said Simeon. He will do the best
that can be done for thee. George. All I am
sorry for, said George, is the risk to you. Thee'll
much oblige us, Friend George, to stay no more about that.

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What we do we are conscience bound to do we
can do no other way. And now mother said he,
turning to Rachel, hurry thy preparations for these friends, for
we must not send them away fasting. And while Rachel
and her children were busy making corn cake and cooking
ham and chicken, and hurrying on the et ceteras of

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the evening meal, George and his wife sat in their
little room, where their arms folded about each other, in
such talk as husband and wife have when they know
that a few hours may part them forever. Eliza said, George.
People that have friends and houses, and lands and money
and all those things can't love as we do, who

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have nothing but each other. Till I knew you, Eliza,
no creature had loved me but my poor heart broken
mother and sister. I saw poor Emily that morning the
trader carried her off. She came to the corner where
I was lying asleep, and said, poor George, your last
friend is going. What will become of you, poor boy?

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And I got up and threw my arms round her
and cried and sobbed, and she cried too, And those
were the last kind words I got for ten long years,
and my heart all withered up and felt as dry
as ashes till I met you and your loving me. Why,
it was almost like raising one from the dead. I've
been a new man ever since. And now Eliza, I'll

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give my last drop of blood, but they shall not
take you from me. Whoever gets you must walk over
my dead body. Oh Lord, have mercy, said Eliza, sobbing.
If he will only let us get out of this
country together, that is all we ask. Is God on
their side? Said George, speaking less to his wife than

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pouring out his own bitter thoughts. Does he see all
they do? Why does he let such things happen? And
they tell us that the Bible is on their side,
certainly all the power is. They are rich and healthy
and happy. They are members of churches, expecting to go
to heaven. And they get along so easy in the

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world and have it all their own way. And poor, honest,
faithful Christians, Christians as good or better than they are
lying in the very dust under their feet. They buy
em and sell em and make trade of their heart's
blood and groans and tears. And God lets them, friend, George,

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said Simeon from the kitchen. Listen to this psalm. It
may do thee good. George drew his seat near the door,
and Eliza, wiping her tears, came forward also to listen,
while Simeon read as follows. But as for me, my
feet were almost gone, My steps had well nigh slipped,
For I was envious of the foolish when I saw

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the prosperity of the wicked. They are not in trouble
like other men. Neither are they plagued like other men.
Therefore pride compasseth them as a chain. Violence covereth them
as a garment. Their eyes stand out with fatness. They
have more than heart could wish. They are corrupt, and

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speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily. Therefore his people return,
and the waters of a full cop are wrung out
to them, And they say, how doth God know? And
is there knowledge in the most High? Is not that
the way thee feels? George? It is so, indeed, said George,

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as well as I could have written it myself. Then here,
said Simeon, when I thought to know this, it was
too painful for me, until I went into the sanctuary
of God. Then understood I their end. Surely Thou didst
set them in slippery places, Thou castest them down to
destruction as a dream. When one awaketh so o, Lord,

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when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image. Nevertheless, I
am continually with Thee. Thou hast holden me by my
right hand. Thou shalt guide me by thy counsel, and
afterwards receive me to glory. It is good for me
to draw near unto God. I have put my trust
in the Lord God note Psalm seventy three. The end

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of the wicked contrasted with that of the right place.
The words of holy trust breathed by the friendly old
man stole like sacred music over the harassed and chafed
spirit of George. And after he ceased, he sat with
a gentle and subdued expression on his fine features. If
this world were all George, said Simeon, thee might indeed

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ask where is the Lord? But it is often those
who have least of all in this life whom he
chooseth for the kingdom. Put thy trust in him, and
no matter what befalls thee here he will make all
right hereafter. If these words had been spoken by some easy,
self indulgent exhorter, from whose mouth they might have come

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merely as pious and rhetorical flourish property be used to
people in distress. Perhaps they might not have had much effect,
but coming from one who daily and calmly risked fine
and imprisonment for the cause of God and man, they
had a weight that could not but be felt. And
both the poor, poor, desolate fugitives found calmness and strength

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breathing into them from it. And now Rachel took Eliza's
hand kindly and led the way to the supper table.
As they were sitting down, a light tap sounded at
the door, and Ruth entered. I just ran in, she said,
with these little stockings for the boy. Three pair nice
warm woolen ones. It will be so cold. THEE knows

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in Canada. Does THEE keep up good courage, Eliza, she added,
tripping round to Eliza's side at the table and shaking
her warmly by the hand, and slipping a seed cake
into Harry's hand. I've brought a little parcel of these
for him, she said, tugging at her pocket to get
out the package. Children, THEE knows will always be eating.
Oh thank you, you are too kind, said Eliza. Come, Ruth,

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sit down to supper. Said Rachel. I couldn't anyway. I
left John with the baby and some biscuits in the oven,
and I can't stay a moment else John will burn
up all the biscuits and give the baby all the
sugar in the bowl. That's the way he does, said
the little quakeress, laughing. So good bye Eliza, good bye George.
The Lord grant thee a safe journey, and with a

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few tripping steps, Ruth was out of the apartment. A
little while after supper, a large covered wagon drew up
before the door. The night was clear starlight, and Phineas
jumped briskly down from his seat to arrange his passengers.
George walked out of the door with his child on
one arm and his wife on the other. His step

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was firm, his face settled and resolute. Rachel and Simeon
came out after them. You get out a moment, said
Phineas to those inside, and let me fix the back
of the wagon. There for the women, folks, and the boy.
Here are the two buffaloes, said Rachel. Make the seats
as comfortable as may be. It's hard riding all night.

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Jim came out first and carefully assisted out his old mother,
who clung to his arm and looked anxiously about, as
if she expected the pursuer every moment. Jim, are your
pistols all in order, said George in a low firm voice. Yes, indeed,
said Jim. And you've no doubt what you shall do
if they come. I rather think I haven't, said Jim,

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throwing open his broad chest and taking a deep breath.
Do you think I'll let them get mother again? During
this brief colloquy, Eliza had been taking her leave of
her kind friend Rachel, and was handed into the carriage
by Simeon, and, creeping into the back part with her boy,
sat down among the buffalo skins. The old woman was

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next handed in and seated, and George and Jim placed
on a rough board seat front of them, and Phineas
mounted in front. Farewell, my friends, said Simeon from without,
God bless you, answered all from within, and the wagon
drove off, rattling and jolting over the frozen road. There
was no opportunity for conversation on account of the roughness

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of the way and the noise of the wheels. The
vehicle therefore rumbled on through long, dark stretches of woodland,
over wide dreary plains, up hills and down valleys, and
on on on they jogged, hour after hour. The child
soon fell asleep and lay heavily in his mother's lap.
The poor frightened old woman at last forgot her fears,

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and even Eliza, as the night waned, found all her
anxieties insufficient to keep her eyes from closing. Phineas seemed,
on the whole the briskest of the company, and beguiled
his long drive with whistling certain very unquakerlike songs as
he went on. But about three o'clock, George's ear caught
the hasty and decided click of a horse's hoof coming

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behind them at some distance, and jogged Phineas by the elbow.
Phineas pulled up his horses and listened. It must be Michael,
he said, I think I know the sound of his gallop,
And he rose up and stretched his head anxiously over
the road. A man riding in hot haste was now
dimly descried at the top of a distant hill. There
he is, I do believe, said Phineas. George and Jim

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both sprang out of the wagon before they knew what
they were doing. All stood intensely silent, with their faces
turned towards the expected messenger. On he came. Now he
went down into a valley where they could not see him,
but they heard the sharp, hasty tramp rising nearer and nearer.
At last they saw him emerge on the top of
an eminence within hale. Yes, that's Michael, said Phineas, and

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raising his voice, Hello there, Michael, Phineas, is that thee yes?
What news? They coming right on behind? Eight or ten
of them, hot with brandy, swearing and foaming like so
many wolves. And just as he spoke, a breeze brought
the faint sound of galloping horsemen towards them. In with you, quick, boys, in,

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said Phineas. If you must fight, wait till I get
you a piece ahead. And with the word both jump
in and Phineas lashed the horses to a run, the
horsemen keeping close behind them. The wagon rattled, jumped, almost
flew over the frozen ground. But plainer and still plainer
came the noise of pursuing horsemen behind. The women heard it,

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and looking anxiously out, saw far in the rear, on
the brow of a distant hill, a party of men
looming up against the red streaked sky of early dawn
another hill, and their pursuers had evidently caught sight of
their wagon, whose white cloth covered top made it conspicuous
at some distance, and a loud yell of brutal triumph
came forward on the wind. Eliza sickened and strained her

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child closer to her bosom. The old woman prayed and groaned,
and George and Jim clenched their pistols with a grasp
of despair. The pursuers gained on them fast. The carriage
made a sudden turn and brought them near a ledge
of a steep overhanging rock that rose in an isolated
ridge or clump in a large lot which was all

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round it quite clear and smooth. This isolated pile or
range of rocks rose up black and heavy against the
brightening sky, and seemed to promise shelter and concealment. It
was a place well known to Phineas, who had been
familiar with the spot in his hunting days, and it
was to gain this point he had been racing his
horses now, for it said he suddenly checking his horses,

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and springing from his seat to the ground out with you.
In a twinkling, every one, and up into these rocks
with you, Michael thee tie thy horse to the wagon,
and drive ahead to Amaria's and get him and his
boys to come back and talk to these fellows. In
a twinkling they were all out of the carriage, there,
said Phineas, catching up, Harry you, each of you see
to the women and run now if you ever did run,

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they needed no exhortation. Quicker than we can say it,
the whole party were over the fence, making with all
speed for the rocks, while Michael, throwing himself from his
horse and fastening the bridle to the wagon, began driving
it rapidly away. Come ahead, at Phineas. As they reached
the rocks, and saw in the mingled starlight and dawned
the traces of a rude but plainly marked footpath leading

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up among them. This is one of our old hunting dens.
Come up, Phineas went, before, springing up the rocks like
a goat with the boy in his arms. Jim came second,
bearing his trembling old mother over his shoulder, and George
and Eliza brought up the rear the party of horsemen
came up to the fence, and with mingled shouts and oaths,

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were dismounting to prepare to follow them. A few moments
scrambling brought them to the top of the ledge. The
path then passed between the narrow defile, where only one
could walk at a time, till suddenly they came to
a rift or chasm more than a yard in breadth,
and beyond which lay a pile of rocks, separate from
the rest of the ledge, standing full thirty feet high,

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with its sides steep and perpendicular as those of a castle.
Phineas easily leaped the chasm and sat down the boy
on the smooth, flat platform of crisp white moss that
covered the top of the rock. Over with you, he called,
spring now once for your lives, said he, as one
after another sprang across several fragments of loose stone formed

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a kind of breastwork which sheltered their position from the
observation of those below. Well here we all are, said Phineas,
peeping over the stone breastwork, to watch the assailants who
were coming tumultuously up under the rocks. Let em get
us if they can. Whoever comes here has to walk
single file between those two rocks in fair range of
your pistols. Boys, Ye see, I do see, said George.

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And now as this matter is ours, let us take
all the risk and do all the fighting. These quite
welcome to do the fighting, George, said Phineas, chewing some
checkerberry leaves as he spoke. But I may have the
fun of looking on, I suppose. But see, these fellows
are kind of debating down there and looking up like
hens when they are going to fly up on to

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the roost. Hadn't thee better give em a word of
advice before they come up, just to tell em handsomely
they'll be shot if they do. The party beneath now
more apparent in the light of the dawn, consisted of
our old acquaintances Tom, Locker and Marx, with two constables
and a posse consisting of such rowdies at the last
tavern as could be engaged by a little brandy to

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go and help the fun of trapping a set of niggers. Well, Tom,
your cones are farly treed, said one. Yes, I see him.
Go right up here, said Tom. And here's a path
I'm for going right up. They can't jump down in
a hurry, and it won't take long to ferret about.
But Tom, they might fire at us from behind the rocks,

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said Marx. That would be ugly, you know, Hugh, said Tom,
with a sneer. Always for saving your skin marks no danger.
Niggers are too plaguey scared. I don't know why I
shouldn't save my skin, said Marx. It's the best I've got,
and niggers do fight like the devil sometimes. At this moment,
George appeared on the top of a rock them and,

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speaking in a calm, clear voice, said, gentlemen, who are
you down there? And what do you want? We want
a partyer right away, niggers, said Tom Locker one. George
Harris and Eliza Harris and their son, and Jim Selden
and an old woman. We've got the officers here and

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a warrant to take em and we're going to have
em too, do you hear? And you, George Harris, that
belongs to mister Harris of Shelby County, Kentucky. I am
George Harris. A mister Harris of Kentucky did call me
his property. But now I'm a free man standing on
God's free soil, and my wife and my child I

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claim as mine. Jim and his mother are here. We
have arms to defend ourselves, and we mean to do it.
You can come up if you like. But the first
one of you that comes within the range of our
bullets is a dead man, and the next next, and
the next, and so on till the last. Oh, come come,

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said a short, puffy man, stepping forward and blowing his
nose as he did. So, young man, this ain't no
kind of talk at all for you. You see, we're
officers of justice. We got the law on our side,
and the power and so forth. So you'd better give
up peaceably, see, for you'll certainly have to give up
at last. I know very well that you've got the

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law on your side and the power, said George bitterly.
You mean to take my wife to sell in New Orleans,
and put my boy like a calf in a trader's pen,
and send Jim's old mother to the brute that whipped
and abused her before because he couldn't abuse her son.
You want to send Jim and me back to be

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whipped and tortured and ground down under the heels of
them that you call masters. And your laws will bear
you out in it. More shame for you and them.
But you haven't got We don't own your laws, we
don't own your country. We stand here as free under
God's sky as you are, and by the great God

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that made us, we'll fight for our liberty till we die.
George stood out in fair sight on the top of
the rock as he made his declaration of independence. The
glow of dawn gave a flush to his swarthy cheek,
and bitter indignation and despair gave fire to his dark eye,
And as if appealing from man to the justice of God,

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he raised his hand to Heaven as he spoke. If
it had been only a Hungarian youth now bravely defending
in some mountain fastness the retreat of fugitives escaping from
Austria into America, this would have been sublime heroism. But
as it was a youth of African descent defending the
retreat of fugitives through America into Canada, of course, we

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are too well instructed and patriotic to see any heroism
in it, And if any of our readers do, they
must do it on their own private responsibility. When despairing
Hungarian fugitives make their way against all the search, warrants
and authorities of their lawful government, to America press and
political cabinet, ring with applause and welcome when despairing African

(30:17):
fugitives do the same thing. It is, what is it?
Be it as it may. It is certain that the attitude,
i voice, manner of the speaker, for a moment, struck
the party below to silence. There is something in boldness
and determination that for a time hushes even the rudest nature.

(30:37):
Marx was the only one who remained wholly untouched. He
was deliberately cocking his pistol, and in a momentary silence
that followed George's speech, he fired at him. You see,
you get just as much for him dead as alive
in Kentucky, he said coolly, as he wiped his pistol
on his coat sleeve. George sprang backward. Eliza uttered a shriek.

(30:58):
The ball had passed close to his hair, had nearly
grazed the cheek of his wife, and struck in a
tree above. It's nothing, Eliza, said George quickly. Thee'd better
keep out of sight with thy speechifying, said Phineas they're
mean scamps now, Jim said, George, look that your pistols
are all right, and watch that pass with me. First

(31:20):
man that shows himself, I fire at you take the second,
and so on. It won't do, you know, to waste
two shots on one. But what if you don't hit,
I shall hit, said George coolly. Good, Now there's stuff
in that, fellow, muttered Phineas between his teeth. The party below,
after Marks had fired, stood for a moment rather undecided.

(31:42):
I think you must have hit some of 'em, said
one of the men. I heard a squeal. I'm going
right up for one, said Tom. I never was afraid
of niggers, and I ain't goin to be. Now who
goes after? He said, springing up the rocks. George heard
the words distinctly. He drew up his pistol, examined it,
pointed it towards that point in the defile where the

(32:05):
first man would appear. One of the most courageous of
the party followed Tom, and the way being thus made,
the whole party began pushing up the rock, the hindermost
pushing the front ones faster than they would have gone
of themselves. On they came and in a moment, the
burly form of Tom appeared in sight, almost at the
verge of the chasm. George fired. The shot entered his side,

(32:27):
but though wounded, he would not retreat. But with a
yell like that of a mad bull, he was leaping
right across the chasm into the party, friend, said Phineas,
suddenly stepping to the front and meeting him with a
push from his long arms. Thee isn't wanted here. Down
he fell into the chasm, crackling down among the trees, bushes, logs,
loose stones, till he lay bruised and groaning thirty feet below.

(32:51):
The fall might have killed him had it not been
broken and moderated by his clothes catching in the branches
of a large tree. But he came down with some force, however,
more than was at all agreeable or convenient. Lord help us.
They are perfect devils, said Marx, heading the retreat down
the rocks with much more of a will than he
had joined the ascent, while all the party came tumbling

(33:13):
precipitately after him, the fat constable in particular, blowing and
puffing in a very energetic manner, I say fellers, said Marx,
you just go round and pick up Tom there while
I run and get on to my horse to go
back for help. That's you, And without minding the hootings
and jeers of his company, Marx was as good as
his word and was soon seen galloping away whatever Such

(33:36):
a sneaking varment, said one of the men to come
on his business, and he clear out and leaves us
this yar way. Wow, we must pick up that feller,
said another, cuss me if I much care whether he
is dead or alive. The men, led by the groans
of Tom, scrambled and crackled through stumps, logs and bushes
to where that hero lay, groaning and swearing with alternate vehemence.

(34:00):
Keep it going pretty loud, Tom said one, you much hurt,
don't know? Give me up? Can't you blast that infernal quaker?
If it hadn't been for him, I'd pitch some of
'em down here. See how they liked it. With much
labor and groaning, the fallen hero was assisted to rise,
and with one holding him up under each shoulder, they

(34:21):
got him as far as the horses. If you could
only get me a mile back to that our tavern,
give me a handkerchief or something to stuff into this
place and stop this infernal bleeding. George looked over the
rocks and saw them trying to lift the burly form
of Tom into the saddle. After two or three ineffectual attempts,
he reeled and fell heavily to the ground. Oh I

(34:44):
hope he isn't killed, said Eliza, who with all the
parties stood watching the proceeding. Why not, said Phineas. Serves
him right, because after death comes the judgment, said Eliza. Yes,
said the old woman, who had been groaning and praying
in her method this fashion during all the encounter. It's
an awful case for the poor critter's soul. On my word,

(35:06):
they're leavin him. I do believe, said Phineas. It was true,
for after some appearance of irresolution and consultation, the whole
party got on their horses and rode away. When they
were quite out of sight, Phineas began to bestir himself. Well,
we must go down and walk a piece, he said.
I told Michael to go forward and bring help and

(35:28):
be along back here with the wagon. But we shall
have to walk a piece along the road. I reckon
to meet them. The Lord grant he be along soon.
It's early in the day. There won't be much travel
afoot yet. Awhile we ought much more than two miles
from our stopping place. If the road hadn't been so
rough last night, we could have outrun him entirely. As

(35:49):
the party neared the fence, they discovered in the distance
along the road their own wagon coming back, accompanied by
some men on horseback. Well, now there's Michael and Stephen
and Amariah excli claimed Phineas joyfully. Now we are made
as safe as we'd got there. Well, do stop, then,
said Eliza, and do something for that poor man. He's

(36:10):
groaning dreadfully. It would be no more than Christian, said George.
Let's take him up and carry him on and doctor
him up among the Quakers, said Phineas pretty well that well,
I don't care if we do. Here. Let's have a
look at him. Said Phineas, who in the course of
his hunting and Backwood's life, had acquired some rude experience

(36:31):
of surgery, kneeled down by the wounded man and began
a careful examination of his condition. Marx said Tom, feebly,
is that you Marx? No I reckon taint, friend, said
Phineas much Marx cares for thee. If his own skin's safe,
he's off long ago. I believe I am done for,

(36:52):
said Tom, the cussed sneaking dog, to leave me to
die alone. My poor old mother always told me to
be so La sakes, jest hear the poor critter. He's
got a mammy now, said the old negress. I can't
help kind of pitting on him. Softly, softly, don't THEE

(37:13):
snap and snarl? Friend, said Phineas, as Tom winced and
pushed his hand away. THEE has no chance unless I
stop the bleeding. And Phineas busied himself with making some
off hand surgical arrangements with his own pocket, handkerchief, and
such as could be mustard in the company. You pushed
me down there, said Tom faintly. Well, if I hadn't,

(37:36):
they would have pushed us down thee sees, said Phineas,
as he stooped to apply his bandage. There there, let
me fix this bandage. We mean well to THEE. We
bear no malice. THEE shall be taken to a house
where they'll nurse thee first rate, well as thy own
mother could. Tom groaned and shut his eyes in men

(37:57):
of his class. Vigor and resolution are in entirely a
physical matter, and ooze out with the flowing of the blood,
and the gigantic fellow really looked piteous in his helplessness.
The other party now came up. The seats were taken
out of the wagon, The buffalo skins doubled in fours,
were spread all along one side, and four men, with

(38:17):
great difficulty lifted the heavy form of Tom into it.
Before he was gotten in, he fainted entirely. The old negress,
in the abundance of her compassion, sat down on the
bottom and took his head in her lap. Eliza, George
and Jim bestowed themselves as well they could in the
remaining space, and the whole party set forward. What do

(38:39):
you think of him, said George, who sat by Phineas
in front. Well, it's only a pretty deep flesh wound.
But then tumbling and scratching down that place didn't help
him much. It has bled pretty freely, pretty much drained
him out, courage and all. But he'll get over it
and maybe learn a thing or two by it. I'm

(38:59):
glad to hear you say so, said George. It would
always be a heavy thought to me if I'd caused
his death, even in a just cause, Yes, said Phineas
killing is an ugly operation. Anyway, they'll fix it, man
or beast. I've seen a buck that was shot down
in a dying look that way on a fellow with
his eye that had really most made a feller feel

(39:20):
wicked for killing on him, and human creatures is a
more serious consideration yet, beIN as my wife says that
the judgment comes to him after death. So I don't know,
as our people's notions on these matters is too strict,
and considering how I was raised, I fell in with
them pretty considerably. What shall you do with this poor fellow,

(39:42):
said George. Oh, carry him along to Amris. There's old
grand man Steven's there. Dorc As they call her. She's
most an amazing nurse. She takes to nursing, real natural,
and ain't never better suited than when she gets a
sick body to tend. We may reckon on turning him
over to her for a fortnight or so. A ride

(40:04):
of about an hour more brought the party to a
neat farmhouse, where the weary travelers were received to an
abundant breakfast. Tom Locker was soon carefully deposited in a
much cleaner and softer bed than he had ever been
in the habit of occupying. His wound was carefully dressed
and bandaged, and he lay languidly, opening and shutting his
eyes on the white window curtains and gently gliding figures

(40:27):
of his sick room, like a weary child. And here
for the present we shall take our leave of one party.
End of Chapter seventeen. Dream Audio Books hopes you have
enjoyed this program.