Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-05-21


was slowly approaching him, not very un-
like dog sometimes approaches smaller
animal which it never before saw.
Say, blackey. get up ordered Sam,
with grin, at the same time looking
around to see if the rest of the crew were
ready to enjoy the sport.
'A-yah-yah-wouldn't make poor fell
ow hist just now, eh p
Yes, get up
Don't
4 say-get up
'Wha' for p
Fun
.Now you jes' look heah, Sam. You
s'pose you fool with dis chile, eh ? If you
do, it's all right. But l specs you'll get
hurt. and den you'll get mad, eh p
This was spoken with the most impertur-
bable gravity, and the negro slowly
rose while he spoke, looking demure as a
| child.
Who'll get hurt? p asked Sam, with a
flourish.
L specs you.'
Howl
'foolln Wld me.
Now you jest set down on them camin' S
again. uttered Sam, at the same time lay
| ing both his hands on Cato's shoulders.
The negro's bright eyes sparkled, and a
broad grin broke over his face as he felt
Sans hands upon him; but without speak
| ing he placed one Of his huge black paws
upon the joker's jacket collar, and with
the other he seized him by the seat Of the
trowsers. One deep breath came up from
| Cato's throat like the puff of locomotive
then the great cords Of his neck and
arms started out like hawsers, and when
he lifted himself up the giant form of Sam
Rannot was swayed aloft above his woody
head. A moment he looked about hun
and he saw the long-boat behind him,
nearly half full of water.
'A-yah-yah, Mars Sam. Cool 'um
off" And as he spoke he dumped the as
tonished giant over into the long-boat, and
as he let go his hold the massive body
splashed in the dirty water.
All the night before it had rained hard,
and as the long boat had not been covered
and the plug being in, she was of course,
well filled. At any rate there was enough
water to completely submerge the victim.
In an instant all hands gathered about the
boat, myself among the rest. FIRST We
heard terrible sputterng and putting and
blowing, like hippopotamus just come to
land, and in a moment more Sans sandy
head, all dripping and soaked, appeared
above the rail. He saw US all standing
there with convulsions of restrained mrth
upon our faces, and some seconds moved
not hair. Never before did | see such
utter misery, such unmitigated woe as
dwelt upon that face. Elwln Forests
Farewell! Othellos occupation gomez
is nothing to it. Most truly had Sam
lost all his pride, pomp and circumstance.
'S'pecks it didn't hurt you much, eh ?
uttered Cato with becoming gravity.
But it was too much for Us. Poor
Sans look at the black conquerer upset
the cup, and we burst. With deep groan
the vanquished man crawled over on the
other side OF the boat, and got out and
then made his way below. Half an hour
! afterwards he came on deck with dry
clothes on, having hung his wet ones in
the rigging to dry, and he turned to where
Cato stood. He surveyed the negro from
head to foot several times, and fuallY he
placed his hands upon the arms that had
lifted him so easily. He felt of their
cable-like surface moment and said in a
sad tone, while he shook his head du5i-
ousIy:
1t is of no use You are great ne
gro
Aud this was the last of Sam Rannot's
mischief. His pride of physical strength
was broken, for he had found his superior,
and settled down into a quiet, orderly
seaman. | feared at first that he might
seek some revenge on Cato, but he was too
noble for that. He knew he had invited
the attack, and as soon as the first smart
of pain was gone, he and his co nquerer
were fast and firm friends.