the deliverance-第2部分

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　Mr。　Christopher　gets　dead　sick　when　he　smells　it　smokin'　in　the　barn；　but　he　kin　pick　up　a　leaf　blindfold　an'　tell　you　the　quality　of　it　at　his　first　touch。〃

For　a　moment　the　lawyer　was　silent；　pondering　a　thought　he　evidently　did　not　care　to　utter。　When　at　last　he　spoke　it　was　in　the　measured　tones　of　one　who　overcomes　an　impediment　in　his　speech。

〃Do　you　happen　to　have　heard；　I　wonder；　anything　of　his　attitude　toward　the　present　owner　of　the　Hall？〃

〃Happen　to　have　heard！〃　Peterkin　threw　back　his　head　and　gasped。　〃Why；　the　whole　county　has　happened　to　hear　of　it；　I　reckon。　It's　been　common　talk　sence　the　day　he　got　his　first　bird…gun；　an'　his　nigger；　Uncle　Boaz；　found　him　hidin'　in　the　bushes　to　shoot　old　Fletcher　when　he　came　in　sight。　I　tell　you；　if　Bill　Fletcher　lay　dyin'　in　the　road；　Mr。　Christopher　would　sooner　ride　right　over　him　than　not。　You　ask　some　folks；　suh；　an'　they'll　tell　you　a　Blake　kin　hate　twice　as　long　as　most　men　kin　love。〃

〃Ah；　is　it　so　bad　as　that？〃　muttered　Carraway。

〃Well；　he　ain't　much　of　a　Christian；　as　the　lights　go；〃　continued　Sol；　〃but　I　ain't　sartain；　accordin'　to　my　way　of　thinkin'；　that　he　ain't　got　a　better　showin'　on　his　side　than　a　good　many　of　'em　that　gits　that　befo'　the　preacher。　He's　a　Blake；　skin　an'　bone；　anyhow；　an'　you　ain't　goin'　to　git　this　here　county　to　go　agin　himnot　if　he　was　to　turn　an'　spit　at　Satan　himself。　Old　Bill　Fletcher　stole　his　house　an'　his　land　an'　his　money；　law　or　no　lawthat's　how　I　look　at　itbut　he　couldn't　steal　his　name；　an'　that's　what　counts　among　the　niggers；　an'　the　po'　whites；　too。　Why；　I've　seen　a　whole　parcel　o'　darkies　stand　stock　still　when　Fletcher　drove　up　to　the　bars　with　his　spankin'　pair　of　bays；　an'　then　mos'　break　tha'　necks　lettin'　'em　down　as　soon　as　Mr。　Christopher　comes　along　with　his　team　of　oxen。　You　kin　fool　the　quality　'bout　the　quality；　but　I'll　be　blamed　if　you　kin　fool　the　niggers。〃

Ahead　of　them　there　was　a　scattered　group　of　log　cabins；　surrounded　by　little　whitewashed　palings；　and　at　their　approach　a　decrepit　old　Negro；　followed　by　a　slinking　black…and…tan　foxhound；　came　beneath　the　straggling　hopvine　over　one　of　the　doors　and　through　the　open　gate　out　into　the　road。　His　bent　old　figure　was　huddled　within　his　carefully　patched　clothes　of　coarse　brown　homespun。

〃Howdy；　marsters；〃　he　muttered；　in　answer　to　the　lawyer's　greeting；　raising　a　trembling　hand　to　his　wrinkled　forehead。　〃Y'all　ain'　seen　nuttin'　er　ole　miss's　yaller　cat；　Beulah；　I　reckon？〃

Peterkin；　who　had　eyed　him　with　the　peculiar　disfavour　felt　for　the　black　man　by　the　low…born　white；　evinced　a　sudden　interest　out　of　all　proportion　to　Carraway's　conception　of　the　loss。

〃Ain't　she　done　come　back　yet；　Uncle　Boaz？〃　he　inquired。

〃Naw；　suh；　dat　she　ain'；　en　ole　miss　she　ain'　gwine　git　a　wink　er　sleep　dis　blessed　night。　Me　en　Spy　we　is　done　been　traipsin'　roun'　atter　dat　ar　low…lifeted　Beulah　sence　befo'　de　dinner…bell。〃

〃When　did　you　miss　her　first？〃　asked　Peterkin；　with　concern。

〃I　dunno；　suh；　dat　I　don't；　caze　she　ain'　no　better'n　one　er　dese　yer　wish…wishys；*　an'　I　ain'　mek　out　yit　ef'n　twuz　her　er　her　hant。　Las'　night　'bout　sundown　dar　she　wuz　a…lappin'　her　sasser　er　milk　right　at　ole　miss　feet；　en　dis　mawnin'　at　sunup　dar　she　warn't。　Dat's　all　I　know；　suh；　ef'n　you　lay　me　out。〃

*　Will…o'…the…wisp。


〃Well；　I　reckon　she'll　turn　up　agin；〃　said　Peterkin　consolingly。　〃Cats　air　jest　like　gals；　anywaythey　ain't　never　happy　unless　they're　eternally　gallyvantin'。　Why；　that　big　white　Tom　of　mine　knows　more　about　this　here　county　than　I　do　myself。〃

〃Days　so；　suh；　days　de　gospel　trufe；　but　I'se　kinder　flustered　'bout　dat　yaller　cat　caze　ole　miss　sutney　do　set　a　heap　er　sto'　by　'er。　She　ain'　never　let　de　dawgs　come　in　de　'oom；　nohow；　caze　once　she　done　feel　Beulah　rar　'er　back　at　Spy。　She's　des　stone　blin'；　is　ole　miss；　but　I　d'clar　she　kin　smell　pow'ful　keen；　an'　'taro'　no　use　tryin'　ter　fool　her　wid　one　houn'　er　de　hull　pack。　Lawd！　Lawd！　I　wunner　ef　dat　ar　cat　kin　be　layin'　close　over　yonder　at　Sis　Daphne's？〃

He　branched　off　into　a　little　path　which　ran　like　a　white　thread　across　the　field；　grumbling　querulously　to　the　black…and…tan　foxhound　that　ambled　at　his　heels。

〃Dar's　a　wallopin'　ahaid　er　you；　sho's　you　bo'n；〃　he　muttered；　as　he　limped　on　toward　a　small　log　hut　from　which　floated　an　inviting　fragrance　of　bacon　frying　in　fat。　〃I　reckon　you　lay　dat　you　kin　cut　yo'　mulatter　capers　wid　me　all　you　please；　but　you'd　better　look　out　sharp　'fo'　you　begin　foolin'　'long　er　Marse　Christopher。　Dar　you　go　agin；　now。　Ain'　dat　des　like　you？　Wat　you　wanter　go　sickin'　atter　dat　ole　hyar　fer；　anyhow？〃

〃So　that　is　one　of　young　Blake's　hangers…on？〃　observed　Carraway；　with　a　slight　inflection　of　inquiry。

〃Uncle　Boaz；　you　mean？　Oh；　he　was　the　old　gentleman's　body…servant　befo'　the　war。　He　used　to　wear　his　marster's　cast…off　ruffles　an'　high　hat。　A　mighty　likely　nigger　he　was；　too；　till　he　got　all　bent　up　with　the　rheumatics。〃

The　lawyer　had　lifted　his　walking…stick　and　was　pointing　straight　ahead　to　a　group　of　old　brick　chimneys　huddled　in　the　sunset　above　a　grove　of　giant　oaks。

〃That　must　be　Blake　Hall　over　there；〃　he　said；　〃there's　not　another　house　like　it　in　the　three　counties。〃

〃We'll　be　at　the　big　gate　in　a　minute；　suh；〃　Peterkin　returned。　〃This　is　the　first　view　of　the　Hall　you　git；　an'　they　say　the　old　gentleman　used　to　raise　his　hat　whenever　he　passed　by　it。〃　Then　as　they　swung　open　the　great　iron　gate；　with　its　new　coat　of　red；　he　touched　Carraway's　sleeve　and　spoke　in　a　hoarse　whisper。　〃Thar's　Mr。　Christopher　himself　over　yonder；〃　he　said；　〃an'　Lord　bless　my　soul；　if　he　ain't　settin'　out　old　Fletcher's　plants。　Thar！　he's　standin'　up　nowthe　big　young　fellow　with　the　basket。　The　old　gentleman　was　the　biggest　man　twixt　here　an'　Fredericksburg；　but　I　d'clar　Mr。　Christopher　is　a　good　half…head　taller！〃

At　his　words　Carraway　stopped　short　in　the　road；　raising　his　useless　glasses　upon　his　brow。　The　sun　had　just　gone　down　in　a　blaze　of　light；　and　the　great　bare　field　was　slowly　darkening　against　the　west。

Nearer　at　hand　there　were　the　long　road；　already　in　twilight；　the　rail　fence　wrapped　in　creepers；　and　a　solitary　chestnut　tree　in　full　bloom。　Farther　away　swept　the　freshly　ploughed　ground　over　which　passed　the　moving　figures　of　the　labourers　transplanting　the　young　crop。　Of　them　all；　Carraway　saw　but　a　single　workerin　reality；　only　one　among　the　daily　toilers　in　the　field；　moulded　physically　perhaps　in　a　finer　shape　than　they；　and　limned　in　the　lawyer's　mental　vision　against　a　century　of　the　brilliant　if　tragic　history　of　his　race。　As　he　moved　slowly　along　between　the　even　rows；　dropping　from　time　to　time　a　plant　into　one　of　the　small　holes　dug　before　him；　and　pausing　with　the　basket　on　his　arm　to　settle　the　earth　carefully　with　his　foot；　he　seemed；　indeed；　as　much　the　product　of　the　soil　upon　which　he　stood　as　did　the　great　white　chestnut　growing　beside　the　road。　In　his　pose；　in　his　walk；　in　the　careless　carriage　of　his　head；　there　was　something　of　the　large　freedom　of　the　elements。

〃A　dangerous　young　giant；〃　observed　the　lawyer　slowly；　letting　his　glasses　fall　before　his　eyes。　〃A　monumental　Blake；　as　it　were。　Well；　as　I　have　remarked　before　upon　occasions；　blood　will　tell；　even　at　the　dregs。〃

〃He's　the　very　spit　of　his　pa；　that's　so；〃　replied　Peterkin；　〃an'　though　it's　no　business　of　mine；　I'm　afeared　he's　got　the　old　gentleman's　dry　throat　along　with　it。　Lord！　Lord！　I've　always　stood　it　out　that　it's　better　to　water　yo'　mouth　with　tobaccy　than　to　burn　it　up　with　sperits。〃　He　checked　himself　and　fell　back　hastily；　for　young　Blake；　after　a　single　glance　at　the　west；　had　tossed　his　basket　carelessly　aside；　and　was　striding　vigorously　across　the　field。

〃Not　another　plant　will　I　set　out；　and　that's　an　end　of　it！〃　he　was　saying　angrily。　〃I　agreed　to　do　a　day's　work　and　I've　been　at　it　steadily　since　sunrise。　Is　it　any　concern　of　mine；　I'd　like　to　know；　if　he　can't　put　in　his　crop　to…night？　Do　you　think　I　care　whether　his　tobacco　rots　in　the　ground　or　out　of　it？〃

As　he　came　on；　Carraway　measured　him　coolly；　with　an　appreciation　tempered　by　his　native　sense　of　humour。　He　perceived　at　once　a　certain　coarseness　of　finish　which；　despite　the　deep…rooted　veneration　for　an　idle　ancestry；　is　found　most　often　in　the　descendants　of　a　long　line　of　generous　livers。　A　moment　later　he　weighed　the　keen　gray　flash　of　the　eyes　beneath　the　thick　fair　hair；　the　coating　of　dust　and　sweat　over　the　high…bred　curve　from　brow　to　nose；　and　the　fullness　of　the　jaw　which　bore　with　a　suggestion　of　sheer　brutality　upon　the　general　impression　of　a　fine　racial　type。　Taken　from　the　mouth　up；　the　face　might　have　passed　as　a　pure；　fleshly　copy　of　the　antique　idea；　seen　downward；　it　became　almost　repelling　in　its　massive　power。

Stooping　beside　the　fence　for　a　common　harvest　hat；　the　young　man　placed　it　on　his　head；　and　gave　a　careless　nod　to　Peterkin。　He　had　thrown　one　leg　over　the　rails；　and　was　about　to　swing　himself　into　the　road；　when　Sol　spoke　a　little　timidly。

〃I　hear　yo'　ma's　done　lost　her　yaller　cat；　Mr。　Christopher。〃

For　an　instant　Christopher　hung　midway　of　the　fence。

〃Isn't　the　beast　back　yet？〃　he　asked　irritably；　scraping　the　mud　from　his　boot　upon　the　rail。　〃I've　had　Uncle　Boaz　scouring　the　county　half　the　day。〃

A　pack　of　hounds　that　had　been　sleeping　under　the　sassafras　bushes　across　the　road　came　fawning　to　his　feet；　and　he　pushed　them　impatiently　aside。

〃I　was　thinkin'；〃　began　Peterkin；　with　an　uncertain　cough；　〃that　I　might　manage　to　send　over　my　big　white　Tom；　an'；　bein'　blind；　maybe　she　wouldn't　know　the　difference。〃

Christopher　shook　his　head。

〃Oh；　it's　no　use；〃　he　replied；　speaking　with　an　air　of　superiority。　〃She　could　pick　out　that　cat　among　a　million；　I　believe；　with　a　single　touch。　Well；　there's　no　help　for　it。　Down；　Spotdown；　I　say；　Sir！〃

With　a　leisurely　movement　he　swung　himself　from　the　fence；　stopping　to　wipe　his　brow　with　his　blue　cotton　sleeve。　Then　he　went　whistling　defiantly　down　the　way　to　the　Hall；　turning　at　last　into　a　sunken　road　that　trailed　by　an　abandoned　ice…pond　where　bullfrogs　were　croaking　hoarsely　in　the　rushes。



CHAPTER　II。　The　Owner　of　Blake　Hall

As　they　followed　the　descending　r