noon
`` He 'll talk to my _ master _ , like as if I was a nigger ! It 'll be a long time before he talks to Fetters , if that 's who he means -- if I can prevent it . Not that it would make any difference , but I 'll just keep him on the anxious seat . '' It was nearing noon , but the colonel had received no invitation to stop , or eat , or feed his horses . He ordered Sam to turn and drive back the way they had come . As they neared the group of labourers they had passed before , the colonel saw four Negroes , in response to an imperative gesture from the overseer , seize one of their number , a short , thickset fellow , overpower some small resistance which he seemed to make , throw him down with his face to the ground , and sit upon his extremities while the overseer applied the broad leathern thong vigorously to his bare back . The colonel reached over and pulled the reins mechanically .