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ife from childhood sitting on the same seat。
The doors of the American railway carriages are at the ends。 The passengers walk up the aisle； and take seats on either side； and as my master was engaged in looking out of the window； he did not see who came in。
My master's first impression； after seeing Mr。 Cray； was； that he was there for the purpose of securing him。 However； my master thought it was not wise to give any information respecting him… self； and for fear that Mr。 Cray might draw him into conversation and recognise his voice； my master resolved to feign deafness as the only means of self…defence。
After a little while； Mr。 Cray said to my master； 〃It is a very fine morning； sir。〃 The latter took no notice； but kept looking out of the window。 Mr。 Cray soon repeated this remark； in a little louder tone； but my master remained as before。 This indifference attracted the attention of the passengers near； one of whom laughed out。 This； I suppose； annoyed the old gentleman； so he said； 〃I will make him hear；〃 and in a loud tone of voice repeated； 〃It is a very fine morning； sir。〃
My master turned his head； and with a polite bow said； 〃Yes；〃 and commenced looking out of the window again。
One of the gentlemen remarked that it was a very great deprivation to be deaf。 〃Yes；〃 replied Mr。 Cray； 〃and I shall not trouble that fellow any more。〃 This enabled my master to breathe a little easier； and to feel that Mr。 Cray was not his pur… suer after all。
The gentlemen then turned the conversation upon the three great topics of discussion in first… class circles in Georgia； namely； Niggers； Cotton； and the Abolitionists。
My master had often heard of abolitionists； but in such a connection as to cause him to think that they were a fearful kind of wild animal。 But he was highly delighted to learn； from the gentle… men's conversation； that the abolitionists were persons who were opposed to oppression； and therefore； in his opinion； not the lowest； but the very highest； of God's creatures。
Without the slightest objection on my master's part； the gentlemen left the carriage at Gordon； for Milledgeville （the capital of the State）。
We arrived at Savannah early in the evening； and got into an omnibus； which stopped at the hotel for the passengers to take tea。 I stepped into the house and brought my master something on a tray to the omnibus； which took us in due time to the steamer； which was bound for Charles… ton； South Carolina。
Soon after going on board； my master turned in； and as the captain and some of the passengers seemed to think this strange； and also questioned me respecting him； my master thought I had better get out the flannels and opodeldoc which we had prepared for the rheumatism； warm them quickly by the stove in the gentleman's saloon； and bring them to his berth。 We did this as an excuse for my master's retiring to bed so early。
While at the stove one of the passengers said to me； 〃Buck； what have you got there？〃 〃Opodel… doc； sir；〃 I replied。 〃I should think it's opo… DEVIL；〃 said a lanky swell； who was leaning back in a chair with his heels upon the back of another； and chewing tobacco as if for a wager； 〃it stinks enough to kill or cure twenty men。 Away with it； or I reckon I will throw it overboard！〃
It was by this time warm enough； so I took it to my master's berth； remained there a little while； and then went on deck and asked the steward where I was to sleep。 He said there was no place provided for coloured passengers； whether slave or free。 So I paced the deck till a late hour； then mounted some cotton bags； in a warm place near the funnel； sat there till morning； and then went and assisted my master to get ready for breakfast。
He was seated at the right hand of the captain； who； together with all the passengers； inquired very kindly after his health。 As my master had one hand in a sling； it was my duty to carve his food。 But when I went out the captain said； 〃You have a very attentive boy； sir； but you had better watch him like a hawk when you get on to the North。 He seems all very well here； but he may act quite differently there。 I know several gentlemen who have lost their valuable niggers among them dd cut…throat abolitionists。〃
Before my master could speak； a rough slave… dealer； who was sitting opposite； with both elbows on the table； and with a large piece of broiled fowl in his fingers； shook his head with emphasis； and in a deep Yankee tone； forced through his crowded mouth the words； 〃Sound doctrine； captain； very sound。〃 He then dropped the chicken into the plate； leant back； placed his thumbs in the armholes of his fancy waistcoat； and continued； 〃I would not take a nigger to the North under no consideration。 I have had a deal to do with niggers in my time； but I never saw one who ever had his heel upon free soil that was worth a dn。〃 〃Now stranger；〃 addressing my master； 〃if you have made up your mind to sell that ere nigger； I am your man； just mention your price； and if it isn't out of the way； I will pay for him on this board with hard silver dollars。〃 This hard…featured； bristly…bearded； wire…headed； red…eyed monster； staring at my master as the serpent did at Eve； said； 〃What do you say； stranger？〃 He replied； 〃I don't wish to sell； sir； I cannot get on well with… out him。〃
〃You will have to get on without him if you take him to the North；〃 continued this man； 〃for I can tell ye； stranger； as a friend； I am an older cove than you； I have seen lots of this ere world； and I reckon I have had more dealings with niggers than any man living or dead。 I was once employed by General Wade Hampton； for ten years； in doing nothing but breaking 'em in； and everybody knows that the General would not have a man that didn't understand his business。 So I tell ye； stranger； again； you had better sell； and let me take him down to Orleans。 He will do you no good if you take him across Mason's and Dixon's line； he is a keen nigger； and I can see from the cut of his eye that he is certain to run away。〃 My master said； 〃I think not； sir； I have great confidence in his fidelity。〃 〃FiDEVIL；〃 indignantly said the dealer； as his fist came down upon the edge of the saucer and upset a cup of hot coffee in a gentleman's lap。 （As the scalded man jumped up the trader quietly said； 〃Don't disturb yourself； neighbour； accidents will happen in the best of families。〃） 〃It always makes me mad to hear a man talking about fidelity in niggers。 There isn't a dd one on 'em who wouldn't cut sticks； if he had half a chance。〃
By this time we were near Charleston； my master thanked the captain for his advice； and they all withdrew and went on deck； where the trader fancied he became quite eloquent。 He drew a crowd around him； and with emphasis said； 〃Cap'en； if I was the President of this mighty United States of America； the greatest and freest country under the whole universe； I would never let no man； I don't care who he is； take a nigger into the North and bring him back here； filled to the brim； as he is sure to be； with dd abolition vices； to taint all quiet niggers with the hellish spirit of running away。 These air； cap'en； my flat…footed； every day； right up and down sentiments； and as this is a free country； cap'en； I don't care who hears 'em； for I am a Southern man； every inch on me to the back… bone。〃 〃Good！〃 said an insignificant…looking individual of the slave…dealer stamp。 〃Three cheers for John C。 Calhoun and the whole fair sunny South！〃 added the trader。 So off went their hats； and out burst a terrific roar of irregular but con… tinued cheering。 My master took no more notice of the dealer。 He merely said to the captain that the air on deck was too keen for him； and he would therefore return to the cabin。
While the trader was in the zenith of his elo… quence； he might as well have said； as one of his kit did； at a great Filibustering meeting； that 〃When the great American Eagle gets one of his mighty claws upon Canada and the other into South America； and his glorious and starry wings of liberty extending from the Atlantic to the Pacific； oh！ then； where will England be； ye gen… tlemen？ I tell ye； she will only serve as a pocket… handkerchief for Jonathan to wipe his nose with。〃
On my master entering the cabin he found at the breakfast…table a young southern military officer； with whom he had travelled some distance the pre… vious day。
After passing the usual compliments the conver… sation turned upon the old subject；niggers。
The officer； who was also travelling with a man… servant； said to my master； 〃You will excuse me； Sir； for saying I think you are very likely to spoil your boy by saying 'thank you' to him。 I assure you； sir； nothing spoils a slave so soon as saying； 'thank you' and 'if you please' to him。 The only way to make a nigger toe the mark； and to keep him in his place； is to storm at him like thunder； and keep him trembling like a leaf。 Don't you see； when I speak to my Ned； he darts like lightning； and if he didn't I'd skin him。〃
Just then the poor dejected slave came in； and the officer swore at him fearfully； merely to teach my master what he called the proper way to treat me。
After he had gone out to get his master's lug