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with lee in virginia-第7章

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white lad; some two years Vincent's senior; was showering blows

with a heavy whip upon him。  The slave's back was already

covered with weals; and the blood was flowing from several

places。  A few yards distant a black girl; with a baby in her arms;

was kneeling on the ground screaming for mercy for the slave。 

Just as Vincent burst through the bushes; the young fellow;

irritated at her cries; turned round and delivered a tremendous

blow with the whip on her bare shoulders。



This time no cry came from her lips; but the slave; who had stood

immovable while the punishment was being inflicted upon

himself; made a desperate effort to break from the men who held

him。  He was unsuccessful; but before the whip could again fall on

the woman's shoulders; Vincent sprang forward; and seizing it;

wrested it from the hands of the striker。  With an oath of fury and

surprise at this sudden interruption; the young fellow turned upon

Vincent。



〃You are a coward and a blackguard; Andrew Jackson!〃 Vincent

exclaimed; white with auger。  〃You are a disgrace to Virginia; you

ruffian!〃



Without a word the young planter; mad with rage at this

interference; rushed at Vincent; but the atter had learned the use of

his fists at his English school; and riding exercises had

strengthened his muscles; and as his opponent rushed at him; he

met him with a blow from the shoulder which sent him staggering

back with the blood streaming from his lips。 He again rushed

forward; and heavy blows were exchanged; then they closed and

grappled。  For a minute they swayed to and from but although

much taller; the young planter was no stronger than Vincent; and at

last they came to the ground with a crash; Vincent uppermost;

Jackson's head as he fell coming with such force against a low

stump that he lay insensible。



The contest had been so sudden and furious that none had

attempted to interfere。  Indeed the negroes were so astonished that

they had not moved from the moment when Vincent made his

appearance upon the scene。  The lad rose to his feet。 



〃You had better carry him up to the house and throw some water

on him;〃 he said to the negroes; and then turned to go away。  As he

did so; the slave who had been flogged broke from the others; who

had indeed loosened their hold; and ran up to Vincent; threw

himself on his knees; and taking the lad's hand pressed it to his

lips。



〃I am afraid I haven't done you much good;〃 Vincent said。  〃You

will be none the better off for my interference; but I couldn't help

it。〃  So saying he made his way through the shrubbery; cleared the

fence; mounted; and route homeward。 



〃I have been a fool;〃 he said to himself as he rode along。 〃It will be

all the worse for that poor beggar afterward; still I could not help

it。  I wonder will there be any row about it。  I don't much expect

there will; the Jacksons don't stand well now; and this would not

do them any good with the people round; besides I don't think

Jackson would like to go into court to complain of being thrashed

by a fellow a head shorter than himself。  It's blackguards like him

who give the Abolitionists a right to hold up the slave…owners as

being tyrants and brutes。〃



The Jacksons were newcomers in Virginia。  Six years before; the

estate; of which the Cedars; as their place was called; formed a

part; was put up for sale。  It was a very large one; and having been

divided into several portions to suit buyers; the Cedars had been

purchased by Jackson; who; having been very successful as a

storekeeper at Charleston; had decided upon giving up the business

and leaving South Carolina; and settling down as a land…owner in

some other State。 His antecedents; however; were soon known at

Richmond; and the old Virginian families turned a cold shoulder to

the newcomer。



Had he been a man of pleasant manners; he would gradually have

made his way; but he was evidently not a gentleman。  The habits of

trade stuck to him; and in a very short time there were rumors that

the slaves; whom he had bought with the property; found him a

harsh and cruel master。  This in itself would have been sufficient

to bring him disrepute in Virginia; where as a rule the slaves were

treated with great kindness; and indeed considered their position to

be infinitely superior to that of the poorer class of whites。  Andrew

Jackson had been for a few months at school with Vincent; lie was

unpopular there; and from the rumors current as to the treatment of

the slaves on the estate; was known by the nickname of the

〃slave…driver。〃



Had Vincent been the son of a white trader; or a small cultivator;

he knew well enough that his position would he a very serious one;

and that he would have bad to ride to the border of the State with

all speed。  He would have been denounced at once as an

Abolitionist; and would have been accused of stirring up the slaves

to rebellion against their masters; a crime of the most serious kind

in the Southern States。  But placed as he was; as the heir of a great

estate worked by slaves; such a cry could hardly be raised against

him。  He might doubtless be filled and admonished for interfering

between a master and his slave; but the sympathy of the better

classes in Virginia would be entirely with him。  Vincent; therefore;

was but little concerned for himself; but he doubted greatly

whether his interference had not done much more harm than good

to the slave and his wife; for upon them Andrew Jackson would

vent his fury。  He rode direct to the stables instead of alighting as

usual at the door。  Dan; who had been sitting in the veranda

waiting for him; ran down to the stables as he saw him coming。



〃Give the horse to one of the others; Dan; I want to speak to you。 

Dan;〃 he went on when he had walked with him a short distance

from the stables; 〃I suppose yen know some of the bands on

Jackson's plantation。〃



Dan grinned; for although there was not supposed to be any

communication between the slaves on the different estates; it was

notorious that at night they were in the habit of slipping out of

their huts and visiting each other。



〃I know some oh dem; Massa Vincent。  What you want ob dem?

Berry bad master; Massa Jackson。  Wust master hereabouts。〃



Vincent related what had happened; to Dan's intense delight。



〃Now; Dan;〃 he went on; 〃I am afraid that after my interference

they will treat that poor fellow and his wife worse than before。  I

want yen to find out for me what is going on at Jackson's。  I do not

know that I can do anything; however badly they treat them; but I

have been thinking that if they ill…treat them very grossly; I will get

together a party of fifteen or twenty of my friends and we will go

in a body to Jackson's; and warn him that if he behaves with

cruelty to his slaves; we will make it so hot for him that he will

have to leave the state。  I don't say that we could do anything; but

as we should represent most of the
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