英语天堂-第67章

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nquaker…like　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　behind　them　at　some　distance　and　jogged　Phineas　by　the　elbow。　Phineas　pulled　up　his　horses；　and　listened。
“That　must　be　Michael；”　he　said；　“I　think　I　know　the　sound　of　his　gallop；”　and　he　rose　up　and　stretched　his　head　anxiously　back　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　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　hail。
“Yes；　that’s　Michael！”　said　Phineas；　and；　raising　his　voice；　“Halloa；　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！”　said　Phineas。　“If　you　must　fight；　wait　till　I　get　you　a　piece　ahead。”　And；　with　the　word；　both　jumped　in；　and　Phineas　lashed　the　horses　to　a　run；　the　horseman　keeping　close　beside　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；　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　child　closer　to　her　bosom；　the　old　woman　prayed　and　groaned；　and　George　and　Jim　clenched　their　pistols　with　the　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　around　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；　and　springing　from　his　seat　to　the　ground。　“Out　with　you；　in　a　twinkling；　every　one；　and　up　into　these　rocks　with　me。　Michael；　thee　tie　thy　horse　to　the　wagon；　and　drive　ahead　to　Amariah’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！”
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；”　said　Phineas；　as　they　reached　the　rocks；　and　saw　in　the　mingled　starlight　and　dawn；　the　traces　of　a　rude　but　plainly　marked　foot…path　leading　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；　were　dismounting；　to　prepare　to　follow　them。　A　few　moments’　scrambling　brought　them　to　the　top　of　the　ledge；　the　path　then　passed　between　a　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；　with　its　sides　steep　and　perpendicular　as　those　of　a　castle。　Phineas　easily　leaped　the　chasm；　and　sat　down　the　boy　on　a　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　a　kind　of　breast…work；　which　sheltered　their　position　from　the　observation　of　those　below。
“Well；　here　we　all　are；”　said　Phineas；　peeping　over　the　stone　breast…work　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；　d’ye　see？”
“I　do　see；”　said　George！　“and　now；　as　this　matter　is　ours；　let　us　take　all　the　risk；　and　do　all　the　fighting。”
“Thee’s　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　kinder　debating　down　there；　and　looking　up；　like　hens　when　they　are　going　to　fly　up　on　to　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　Loker　and　Marks；　with　two　constables；　and　a　posse　consisting　of　such　rowdies　at　the　last　tavern　as　could　be　engaged　by　a　little　brandy　to　go　and　help　the　fun　of　trapping　a　set　of　niggers。
“Well；　Tom；　yer　coons　are　farly　treed；”　said　one。
“Yes；　I　see　’em　go　up　right　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　’em　out。”
“But；　Tom；　they　might　fire　at　us　from　behind　the　rocks；”　said　Marks。　“That　would　be　ugly；　you　know。”
“Ugh！”　said　Tom；　with　a　sneer。　“Always　for　saving　your　skin；　Marks！　No　danger！　niggers　are　too　plaguy　scared！”
“I　don’t　know　why　I　shouldn’t　save　my　skin；”　said　Marks。　“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　above　them；　and；　speaking　in　a　calm；　clear　voice；　said；
“Gentlemen；　who　are　you；　down　there；　and　what　do　you　want？”
“We　want　a　party　of　runaway　niggers；”　said　Tom　Loker。　“One　George　Harris；　and　Eliza　Harris；　and　their　son；　and　Jim　Selden；　and　an　old　woman。　We’ve　got　the　officers；　here；　and　a　warrant　to　take　’em；　and　we’re　going　to　have　’em；　too。　D’ye　hear？　An’t　you　George　Harris；　that　belongs　to　Mr。　Harris；　of　Shelby　county；　Kentucky？”
“I　am　George　Harris。　A　Mr。　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　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；　and　the　next；　and　so　on　till　the　last。”
“O；　come！　come！”　said　a　short；　puffy　man；　stepping　forward；　and　blowing　his　nose　as　he　did　so。　“Young　man；　this　an’t　no　kind　of　talk　at　all　for　you。　You　see；　we’re　officers　of　justice。　We’ve　got　the　law　on　our　side；　and　the　power；　and　so　forth；　so　you’d　better　give　up　peaceably；　you　see；　for　you’ll　certainly　have　to　give　up；　at　last。”
“I　know　very　well　that　you’ve　got　the　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　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　us。　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　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；　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　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　fugitives　do　the　same　thing；—it　is—what　is　it？
Be　it　as　it　may；　it　is　certain　that　the　attitude；　eye；　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。　Marks　was　the　only　one　who　remained　wholly　untouched。　He　was　deliberately　cocking　his　pistol；　and；　in　the　momentary　silence　that　followed　George’s　speech；　he　fired　at　him。
“Ye　see　ye　get　jist　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；—the　ball　had　passed　close　to　his　hair；　had　nearly　grazed　the　cheek　of　his　wife；　and　struck　in　the　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。　The　first　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。
“I　think　you　must　have　hit　some　on　’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　an’t　going　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　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　g