ught, 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 occasioned 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 l