"  What  makes  ye  so  spry,  this  morning,  Tom  ?  Cotched  cold,
may  be,  last  night."

Tom  by  this  time  had  gained  his  feet,  and  was  confronting  his
master  with  a  steady,  unmoved  front.
"  The  devil,  you  can !  "  said  Legree,  looking  him  over.  "  I
believe  you  have  n't  got  enough  yet.  Now,  Tom,  get  right
down  on  yer  knees  and  beg  my  pardon,  for  yer  shines  last
night."

Tom  did  not  move.
"  Down,  you  dog !  "  said  Legree,  striking  him  with  his  riding-
whip.
"  Mas'r  Legree,"  said  Tom,  "I  can't  do  it.  I  did  only  what
I  thought  was  right.  I  shaU  do  just  so  again,  if  ever  the  time
comes.     I  never  will  do  a  cruel  thing,  come  what  may."

"  Yes,  but  ye  don't  know  what  may  come.  Master  Tom.  Ye
think  what  you  've  got  is  something.  I  tell  you  't  an't  anything,
—  nothing  't  all.  How  would  ye  like  to  be  tied  to  a  tree,  and
have  a  slow  fire  lit  up  around  ye  ;  —  would  n't  that  be  pleasant,
^ eh,  Tom?"

"Mas'r,"  said  Tom,  "I  know  ye  can  do  dreadful  things;
but,"  — he  stretched  himself  upward  and  clasped  his  hands,—
"  but,  after  ye  've  killed  the  body,  there  an't  no  more  ye  can  do.
