ItwasSemperIdem\'srecoverywhichhadsofullycompensatedDoctorBicknellforthelossofthesailorman。Livesweretohimasnothing,theunpleasantbutinevitableincidentsoftheprofession,butcases,ah,caseswereeverything。Peoplewhoknewhimwerepronetobrandhimabutcher,buthiscolleagueswereatoneinthebeliefthatabolderandyetamorecapablemanneverstoodoverthetable。Hewasnotanimaginativeman。Hedidnotpossess,andhencehadnotolerancefor,emotion。Hisnaturewasaccurate,precise,scientific。Menweretohimnomorethanpawns,withoutindividualityorpersonalvalue。Butascasesitwasdifferent。Themorebrokenamanwas,themoreprecarioushisgriponlife,thegreaterhissignificanceintheeyesofDoctorBicknell。Hewouldasreadilyforsakeapoetlaureatesufferingfromacommonaccidentforanameless,mangledvagrantwhodefiedeverylawoflifebyrefusingtodie,aswouldachildforsakeaPunchandJudyforacircus。
SoithadbeeninthecaseofSemperIdem。Themysteryofthemanhadnotappealedtohim,norhadhissilenceandtheveiledromancewhichtheyellowreportershadsosensationallyandsofruitlesslyexploitedindiversSundayeditions。ButSemperIdem\'sthroathadbeencut。Thatwasthepoint。Thatwaswherehisinteresthadcentred。Cutfromeartoear,andnotonesurgeoninathousandtogiveasnapofthefingersforhischanceofrecovery。But,thankstotheswiftmunicipalambulanceserviceandtoDoctorBicknell,hehadbeendraggedbackintotheworldhehadsoughttoleave。TheDoctor\'sco-workershadshakentheirheadswhenthecasewasbroughtin。Impossible,theysaid。Throat,windpipe,jugular,allbutactuallysevered,andthelossofbloodfrightful。Asitwassuchaforegoneconclusion,DoctorBicknellhademployedmethodsanddonethingswhichmadethem,evenintheirprofessionalcapacities,shudder。Andlo!
themanhadrecovered。
So,onthismorningthatSemperIdemwastoleavethehospital,haleandhearty,DoctorBicknell\'sgenialitywasinnowisedisturbedbythesteward\'sreport,andheproceededcheerfullytobringorderoutofthechaosofachild\'sbodywhichhadbeengroundandcrunchedbeneaththewheelsofanelectriccar。
Asmanywillremember,thecaseofSemperIdemarousedavastdealofunseemlyyethighlynaturalcuriosity。Hehadbeenfoundinaslumlodging,withthroatcutasaforementioned,andblooddrippingdownupontheinmatesoftheroombelowanddisturbingtheirfestivities。Hehadevidentlydonethedeedstanding,withheadbowedforwardthathemightgazehislastuponaphotographwhichstoodonthetableproppedagainstacandlestick。ItwasthisattitudewhichhadmadeitpossibleforDoctorBicknelltosavehim。Soterrifichadbeenthesweepoftherazorthathadhehadhisheadthrownback,asheshouldhavedonetohaveaccomplishedtheactproperly,withhisneckstretchedandtheelasticvascularwallsdistended,hewouldhaveofacertaintywell-nighdecapitatedhimself。
Atthehospital,duringallthetimehetravelledtherepugnantroadbacktolife,notawordhadlefthislips。Norcouldanythingbelearnedofhimbythesleuthsdetailedbythechiefofpolice。Nobodyknewhim,norhadeverseenorheardofhimbefore。Hewasstrictly,uniquely,ofthepresent。Hisclothesandsurroundingswerethoseofthelowestlabourer,hishandsthehandsofagentleman。Butnotashredofwritingwasdiscovered,nothing,saveinoneparticular,whichwouldservetoindicatehispastorhispositioninlife。
Andthatoneparticularwasthephotograph。Ifitwereatallalikeness,thewomanwhogazedfranklyoutupontheonlookerfromthecard-mountmusthavebeenastrikingcreatureindeed。Itwasanamateurproduction,forthedetectiveswerebaffledinthatnoprofessionalphotographer\'ssignatureorstudiowasappended。Acrossacornerofthemount,indelicatefemininetracery,waswritten:\"Semperidem;semperfidelis。\"
Andshelookedit。Asmanyrecollect,itwasafaceonecouldneverforget。Cleverhalf-tones,remarkablylike,werepublishedinalltheleadingpapersatthetime;butsuchproceduregaverisetonothingbuttheuncontrollablepubliccuriosityandinterminablecopytothespace-writers。
Forwantofabettername,therescuedsuicidewasknowntothehospitalattendants,andtotheworld,asSemperIdem。AndSemperIdemheremained。
Reporters,detectives,andnursesgavehimupindespair。Notonewordcouldhebepersuadedtoutter;yettheflittingconsciouslightofhiseyesshowedthathisearsheardandhisbraingraspedeveryquestionputtohim。
ButthismysteryandromanceplayednopartinDoctorBicknell\'sinterestwhenhepausedintheofficetohaveapartingwordwithhispatient。He,theDoctor,hadperformedaprodigyinthematterofthisman,donewhatwasvirtuallyunprecedentedintheannalsofsurgery。Hedidnotcarewhoorwhatthemanwas,anditwashighlyimprobablethatheshouldeverseehimagain;but,liketheartistgazinguponafinishedcreation,hewishedtolookforthelasttimeupontheworkofhishandandbrain。
SemperIdemstillremainedmute。Heseemedanxioustobegone。NotawordcouldtheDoctorextractfromhim,andlittletheDoctorcared。Heexaminedthethroatoftheconvalescentcarefully,idlingoverthehideousscarwiththelingering,half-caressingfondnessofaparent。Itwasnotaparticularlypleasingsight。Anangrylinecircledthethroat——foralltheworldasthoughthemanhadjustescapedthehangman\'snoose——and,disappearingbelowtheearoneitherside,hadtheappearanceofcompletingthefieryperipheryatthenapeoftheneck。
Maintaininghisdoggedsilence,yieldingtotheother\'sexaminationinmuchthemannerofaleashedlion,SemperIdembetrayedonlyhisdesiretodropfromoutofthepubliceye。
\"Well,I\'llnotkeepyou,\"DoctorBicknellfinallysaid,layingahandontheman\'sshoulderandstealingalastglanceathisownhandiwork。\"Butletmegiveyouabitofadvice。Nexttimeyoutryiton,holdyourchinup,so。Don\'tsnuggleitdownandbutcheryourselflikeacow。Neatnessanddespatch,youknow。Neatnessanddespatch。\"
SemperIdem\'seyesflashedintokenthatheheard,andamomentlaterthehospitaldoorswungtoonhisheel。
ItwasabusydayforDoctorBicknell,andtheafternoonwaswellalongwhenhelightedacigarpreparatorytoleavingthetableuponwhichitseemedthesufferersalmostclamouredtobelaid。Butthelastone,anoldrag-pickerwithabrokenshoulder-blade,hadbeendisposedof,andthefirstfragrantsmokewreathshadbeguntocurlabouthishead,whenthegongofahurryingambulancecamethroughtheopenwindowfromthestreet,followedbytheinevitableentryofthestretcherwithitsghastlyfreight。
\"Layitonthetable,\"theDoctordirected,turningforamomenttoplacehiscigarinsafety。\"Whatisit?\"
\"Suicide——throatcut,\"respondedoneofthestretcherbearers。\"DownonMorganAlley。Littlehope,Ithink,sir。He\'s\'mostgone。\"
\"Eh?Well,I\'llgivehimalook,anyway。\"Heleanedoverthemanatthemomentwhenthequickmadeitslastfaintflutterandsuccumbed。
\"It\'sSemperIdemcomebackagain,\"thestewardsaid。
\"Ay,\"repliedDoctorBicknell,\"andgoneagain。Nobunglingthistime。
Properlydone,uponmylife,sir,properlydone。Tookmyadvicetotheletter。I\'mnotrequiredhere。Takeitalongtothemorgue。\"
DoctorBicknellsecuredhiscigarandrelightedit。\"That,\"hesaidbetweenthepuffs,lookingatthesteward,\"thatevensupfortheoneyoulostlastnight。We\'requitsnow。\"
ANOSEFORTHEKING
InthemorningcalmofKorea,whenitspeaceandtranquillitytrulymeriteditsancientname,\"Cho-sen,\"therelivedapoliticianbynameYiChinHo。
Hewasamanofparts,and——whoshallsay?——perhapsinnowiseworsethanpoliticianstheworldover。But,unlikehisbrethreninotherlands,YiChinHowasinjail。Notthathehadinadvertentlydivertedtohimselfpublicmoneys,butthathehadinadvertentlydivertedtoomuch。Excessistobedeploredinallthings,eveningrafting,andYiChinHo\'sexcesshadbroughthimtomostdeplorablestraits。
TenthousandstringsofcashheowedtheGovernment,andhelayinprisonundersentenceofdeath。Therewasoneadvantagetothesituation——hehadplentyoftimeinwhichtothink。Andhethoughtwell。Thencalledhethejailertohim。
\"Mostworthyman,youseebeforeyouonemostwretched,\"hebegan。\"Yetallwillbewellwithmeifyouwillbutletmegofreeforoneshorthourthisnight。Andallwillbewellwithyou,forIshallseetoyouradvancementthroughtheyears,andyoushallcomeatlengthtothedirectorshipofalltheprisonsofCho-sen。\"
\"Hownow?\"demandedthejailer。\"Whatfoolishnessisthis?Oneshorthour,andyoubutwaitingforyourheadtobechoppedoff!AndI,withanagedandmuch-to-be-respectedmother,nottosayanythingofawifeandseveralchildrenoftenderyears!Outuponyouforthescoundrelthatyouare!\"
\"FromtheSacredCitytotheendsofalltheEightCoaststhereisnoplaceformetohide,\"YiChinHomadereply。\"Iamamanofwisdom,butofwhatworthmywisdomhereinprison?WereIfree,wellIknowIcouldseekoutandobtainthemoneywherewithtorepaytheGovernment。Iknowofanosethatwillsavemefromallmydifficulties。\"
\"Anose!\"criedthejailer。
\"Anose,\"saidYiChinHo。\"Aremarkablenose,ifImaysayso,amostremarkablenose。\"
Thejailerthrewuphishandsdespairingly。\"Ah,whatawagyouare,whatawag,\"helaughed。\"Tothinkthatthatveryadmirablewitofyoursmustgothewayofthechopping-block!\"
Andsosaying,heturnedandwentaway。Butintheend,beingamansoftofheadandheart,whenthenightwaswellalonghepermittedYiChinHotogo。
StraighthewenttotheGovernor,catchinghimaloneandarousinghimfromhissleep。
\"YiChinHo,orI\'mnoGovernor!\"criedtheGovernor。\"Whatdoyouherewhoshouldbeinprisonwaitingonthechopping-block?\"
\"IprayYourExcellencytolistentome,\"saidYiChinHo,squattingonhishamsbythebedsideandlightinghispipefromthefire-box。\"Adeadmaniswithoutvalue。Itistrue,Iamasadeadman,withoutvaluetotheGovernment,toYourExcellency,ortomyself。Butif,sotosay,YourExcellencyweretogivememyfreedom——\"
\"Impossible!\"criedtheGovernor。\"Beside,youarecondemnedtodeath。\"
\"YourExcellencywellknowsthatifIcanrepaythetenthousandstringsofcash,theGovernmentwillpardonme,\"YiChinHowenton。\"So,asIsay,ifYourExcellencyweretogivememyfreedomforafewdays,beingamanofunderstanding,IshouldthenrepaytheGovernmentandbeinpositiontobeofservicetoYourExcellency。IshouldbeinpositiontobeofverygreatservicetoYourExcellency。\"
\"Haveyouaplanwherebyyouhopetoobtainthismoney?\"askedtheGovernor。
\"Ihave,\"saidYiChinHo。
\"Thencomewithittometo-morrownight;Iwouldnowsleep,\"saidtheGovernor,takinguphissnorewhereithadbeeninterrupted。
Onthefollowingnight,havingagainobtainedleaveofabsencefromthejailer,YiChinHopresentedhimselfattheGovernor\'sbedside。
\"Isityou,YiChinHo?\"askedtheGovernor。\"Andhaveyoutheplan?\"
\"ItisI,YourExcellency,\"answeredYiChinHo,\"andtheplanishere。\"
\"Speak,\"commandedtheGovernor。
\"Theplanishere,\"repeatedYiChinHo,\"hereinmyhand。\"
TheGovernorsatupandopenedhiseyes。YiChinHoprofferedinhishandasheetofpaper。TheGovernorheldittothelight。
\"Nothingbutanose,\"saidhe。
\"Abitpinched,so,andso,YourExcellency,\"saidYiChinHo。
\"Yes,abitpinchedhereandthere,asyousay,\"saidtheGovernor。
\"Withalitisanexceedingcorpulentnose,thus,andso,allinoneplace,attheend,\"proceededYiChinHo。\"YourExcellencywouldseekfarandwideandmanyadayforthatnoseandfinditnot!\"
\"Anunusualnose,\"admittedtheGovernor。
\"Thereisawartuponit,\"saidYiChinHo。
\"Amostunusualnose,\"saidtheGovernor。\"NeverhaveIseenthelike。
Butwhatdoyouwiththisnose,YiChinHo?\"
\"IseekitwherebytorepaythemoneytotheGovernment,\"saidYiChinHo。
\"IseekittobeofservicetoYourExcellency,andIseekittosavemyownworthlesshead。Further,IseekYourExcellency\'ssealuponthispictureofthenose。\"
AndtheGovernorlaughedandaffixedthesealofState,andYiChinHodeparted。ForamonthandadayhetravelledtheKing\'sRoadwhichleadstotheshoreoftheEasternSea;andthere,onenight,atthegateofthelargestmansionofawealthycityheknockedloudlyforadmittance。
\"NoneotherthanthemasterofthehousewillIsee,\"saidhefiercelytothefrightenedservants。\"ItravelupontheKing\'sbusiness。\"
Straightwaywasheledtoaninnerroom,wherethemasterofthehousewasrousedfromhissleepandbroughtblinkingbeforehim。
\"YouarePakChungChang,headmanofthiscity,\"saidYiChinHointonesthatwereall-accusing。\"IamupontheKing\'sbusiness。\"
PakChungChangtrembled。WellheknewtheKing\'sbusinesswaseveraterriblebusiness。Hiskneessmotetogether,andhenearfelltothefloor。
\"Thehourislate,\"hequavered。\"Wereitnotwellto——\"
\"TheKing\'sbusinessneverwaits!\"thunderedYiChinHo。\"Comeapartwithme,andswiftly。Ihaveanaffairofmomenttodiscusswithyou。
\"ItistheKing\'saffair,\"headdedwithevengreaterfierceness;sothatPakChungChang\'ssilverpipedroppedfromhisnervelessfingersandclatteredonthefloor。
\"Knowthen,\"saidYiChinHo,whentheyhadgoneapart,\"thattheKingistroubledwithanaffliction,averyterribleaffliction。Inthathefailedtocure,theCourtphysicianhashadnothingelsethanhisheadchoppedoff。FromalltheEightProvinceshavethephysicianscometowaitupontheKing。Wiseconsultationhavetheyheld,andtheyhavedecidedthatforaremedyfortheKing\'safflictionnothingelseisrequiredthananose,acertainkindofnose,averypeculiarcertainkindofnose。
\"ThenbynoneotherwasIsummonedthanHisExcellencythePrimeMinisterhimself。Heputapaperintomyhand。UponthispaperwastheverypeculiarkindofnosedrawnbythephysiciansoftheEightProvinces,withthesealofStateuponit。
\"\'Go,\'saidHisExcellencythePrimeMinister。\'Seekoutthisnose,fortheKing\'safflictionissore。Andwheresoeveryoufindthisnoseuponthefaceofaman,strikeitoffforthrightandbringitinallhastetotheCourt,fortheKingmustbecured。Go,andcomenotbackuntilyoursearchisrewarded。\'
\"AndsoIdeparteduponmyquest,\"saidYiChinHo。\"Ihavesoughtouttheremotestcornersofthekingdom;IhavetravelledtheEightHighways,searchedtheEightProvinces,andsailedtheseasoftheEightCoasts。AndhereIam。\"
Withagreatflourishhedrewapaperfromhisgirdle,unrolleditwithmanysnappingsandcracklings,andthrustitbeforethefaceofPakChungChang。Uponthepaperwasthepictureofthenose。
PakChungChangstareduponitwithbulgingeyes。
\"NeverhaveIbeheldsuchanose,\"hebegan。
\"Thereisawartuponit,\"saidYiChinHo。
\"NeverhaveIbeheld——\"PakChungChangbeganagain。
\"Bringyourfatherbeforeme,\"YiChinHointerruptedsternly。
\"Myancientandvery-much-to-be-respectedancestorsleeps,\"saidPakChungChang。
\"Whydissemble?\"demandedYiChinHo。\"Youknowitisyourfather\'snose。
BringhimbeforemethatImaystrikeitoffandbegone。Hurry,lestI
makebadreportofyou。\"
\"Mercy!\"criedPakChungChang,fallingonhisknees。\"Itisimpossible!
Itisimpossible!Youcannotstrikeoffmyfather\'snose。Hecannotgodownwithouthisnosetothegrave。Hewillbecomealaughterandabyword,andallmydaysandnightswillbefilledwithwoe。Oreflect!
Reportthatyouhaveseennosuchnoseinyourtravels。You,too,haveafather。\"
PakChungChangclaspedYiChinHo\'skneesandfelltoweepingonhissandals。
\"Myheartsoftensstrangelyatyourtears,\"saidYiChinHo。\"I,too,knowfilialpietyandregard。But——\"Hehesitated,thenadded,asthoughthinkingaloud,\"Itisasmuchasmyheadisworth。\"
\"Howmuchisyourheadworth?\"askedPakChungChanginathin,smallvoice。
\"Anotremarkablehead,\"saidYiChinHo。\"Anabsurdlyunremarkablehead;
but,suchismygreatfoolishness,Ivalueitatnothinglessthanonehundredthousandstringsofcash。\"
\"Sobeit,\"saidPakChungChang,risingtohisfeet。
\"Ishallneedhorsestocarrythetreasure,\"saidYiChinHo,\"andmentoguarditwellasIjourneythroughthemountains。Therearerobbersabroadintheland。\"
\"Therearerobbersabroadintheland,\"saidPakChungChang,sadly。\"Butitshallbeasyouwish,solongasmyancientandvery-much-to-be-
respectedancestor\'snoseabideinitsappointedplace。\"
\"Saynothingtoanymanofthisoccurrence,\"saidYiChinHo,\"elsewillotherandmoreloyalservantsthanIbesenttostrikeoffyourfather\'snose。\"
AndsoYiChinHodepartedonhiswaythroughthemountains,blitheofheartandgayofsongashelistenedtothejinglingbellsofhistreasure-
ladenponies。
Thereislittlemoretotell。YiChinHoprosperedthroughtheyears。ByhiseffortsthejailerattainedatlengthtothedirectorshipofalltheprisonsofCho-sen;theGovernorultimatelybetookhimselftotheSacredCitytobePrimeMinistertotheKing,whileYiChinHobecametheKing\'sbooncompanionandsatattablewithhimtotheendofaround,fatlife。
ButPakChungChangfellintoamelancholy,andeverafterheshookhisheadsadly,withtearsinhiseyes,wheneverheregardedtheexpensivenoseofhisancientandvery-much-to-be-respectedancestor。
THE\"FRANCISSPAIGHT\"
ATRUETALERETOLD
TheFrancisSpaightwasrunningbeforeitsolelyunderamizzentopsail,whenthethinghappened。Itwasnotduetocarelessnesssomuchastothelackofdisciplineofthecrewandtothefactthattheywereindifferentseamenatbest。Themanatthewheelinparticular,aLimerickman,hadhadnoexperiencewithsaltwaterbeyondthatofraftingtimberontheShannonbetweentheQuebecvesselsandtheshore。Hewasafraidofthehugeseasthatroseoutofthemurkasternandboredownuponhim,andhewasmoregiventocoweringawayfromtheirthreatenedimpactthanhewastomeetingtheirblowswiththewheelandcheckingtheship\'srushtobroachto。
Itwasthreeinthemorningwhenhisunseamanlikeconductprecipitatedthecatastrophe。Atsightofaseafarlargerthanitsfellows,hecroucheddown,releasinghishandsfromthespokes。TheFrancisSpaightsheeredashersternliftedonthesea,receivingthefullflingofthecaponherquarter。Thenextinstantshewasinthetrough,herlee-railburiedtilltheoceanwaslevelwithherhatch-coamings,seaafterseabreakingoverherweatherrailandsweepingwhatremainedexposedofthedeckwithicydeluges。
Themenwereoutofhand,helplessandhopeless,stupidintheirbewildermentandfear,andresoluteonlyinthattheywouldnotobeyorders。Somewailed,othersclungsilentlyintheweathershrouds,andstillothersmutteredprayersorshriekedvileimprecations;andneithercaptainnormatecouldgetthemtobearahandatthepumpsoratsettingpatchesofsailstobringthevesseluptothewindandsea。Insidethehourtheshipwasoveronherbeamends,thelubberlycowardsclimbinguphersideandhangingonintherigging。Whenshewentover,thematewascaughtanddrownedintheafter-cabin,asweretwosailorswhohadsoughtrefugeintheforecastle。
Thematehadbeentheablestmanonboard,andthecaptainwasnowscarcelylesshelplessthanhismen。Beyondcursingthemfortheirworthlessness,hedidnothing;anditremainedforamannamedMahoney,aBelfastman,andaboy,O\'Brien,ofLimerick,tocutawaytheforeandmainmasts。Thistheydidatgreatriskontheperpendicularwallofthewreck,sendingthemizzentopmastoversidealonginthegeneralcrash。TheFrancisSpaightrighted,anditwaswellthatshewaslumberladen,elseshewouldhavesunk,forshewasalreadywater-logged。Themainmast,stillfastbytheshrouds,beatlikeathunderoussledge-hammeragainsttheship\'sside,everystrokebringinggroansfromthemen。
Daydawnedonthesavageocean,andinthecoldgraylightallthatcouldbeseenoftheFrancisSpaightemergingfromtheseawerethepoop,theshatteredmizzenmast,andaraggedlineofbulwarks。ItwasmidwinterintheNorthAtlantic,andthewretchedmenwerehalf-deadfromcold。Buttherewasnoplacewheretheycouldfindrest。Everyseabreachedcleanoverthewreck,washingawaythesaltincrustationsfromtheirbodiesanddepositingfreshincrustations。Thecabinunderthepoopwasawashtotheknees,buthereatleastwasshelterfromthechillwind,andherethesurvivorscongregated,standingupright,holdingonbythecabinfurnishings,andleaningagainstoneanotherforsupport。
InvainMahoneystrovetogetthementotaketurnsinwatchingaloftfromthemizzenmastforanychancevessel。Theicygalewastoomuchforthem,andtheypreferredtheshelterofthecabin。O\'Brien,theboy,whowasonlyfifteen,tookturnswithMahoneyonthefreezingperch。Itwastheboy,atthreeintheafternoon,whocalleddownthathehadsightedasail。
Thisdidbringthemfromthecabin,andtheycrowdedthepooprailandweathermizzenshroudsastheywatchedthestrangeship。Butitscoursedidnotlienear,andwhenitdisappearedbelowtheskyline,theyreturnedshiveringtothecabin,notoneofferingtorelievethewatchatthemasthead。
Bytheendofthesecondday,MahoneyandO\'Briengaveuptheirattempt,andthereafterthevesseldriftedinthegaleuncaredforandwithoutalookout。Therewerethirteenalive,andforseventy-twohourstheystoodknee-deepinthesloshingwateronthecabinfloor,half-frozen,withoutfood,andwithbutthreebottlesofwinesharedamongthem。Allfoodandfreshwaterwerebelow,andtherewasnogettingatsuchsuppliesinthewater-loggedconditionofthewreck。Asthedayswentby,nofoodwhateverpassedtheirlips。Freshwater,insmallquantities,theywereabletoobtainbyholdingacoverofatureenunderthesaddleofthemizzenmast。
Buttherainfellinfrequently,andtheywerehardput。Whenitrained,theyalsosoakedtheirhandkerchiefs,squeezingthemoutintotheirmouthsorintotheirshoes。Asthewindandseawentdown,theywereevenabletomoptheexposedportionsofthedeckthatwerefreefrombrineandsoaddtotheirwatersupply。Butfoodtheyhadnone,andnowayofgettingit,thoughsea-birdsflewrepeatedlyoverhead。
Inthecalmweatherthatfollowedthegale,afterhavingremainedontheirfeetforninety-sixhours,theywereabletofinddryplanksinthecabinonwhichtolie。Butthelonghoursofstandinginthesaltwaterhadcausedsorestoformontheirlegs。Thesesoreswereextremelypainful。
Theslightestcontactorscrapecausedsevereanguish,andintheirweakconditionandcrowdedsituationtheywerecontinuallyhurtingoneanotherinthismanner。Notamancouldmoveaboutwithoutbeingfollowedbyvolleysofabuse,curses,andgroans。Sogreatwastheirmiserythatthestrongoppressedtheweak,shovingthemasidefromthedryplankstoshiftforthemselvesinthecoldandwet。Theboy,O\'Brien,wasspeciallymaltreated。Thoughtherewerethreeotherboys,itwasO\'Brienwhocameinformostoftheabuse。Therewasnoexplainingit,exceptonthegroundthathiswasastrongerandmoredominantspiritthanthoseoftheotherboys,andthathestoodupmoreforhisrights,resentingthepettyinjusticesthatweremetedouttoalltheboysbythemen。WheneverO\'Briencamenearthemeninsearchofadryplacetosleep,ormerelymovedabout,hewaskickedandcuffedaway。Inreturn,hecursedthemfortheirselfishbrutishness,andblowsandkicksandcurseswereraineduponhim。Miserableaswereallofthem,hewasthusmadefarmoremiserable;
anditwasonlytheflameoflife,unusuallystronginhim,thatenabledhimtoendure。
Asthedayswentbyandtheygrewweaker,theirpeevishnessandill-temperincreased,which,inturn,increasedtheill-treatmentandsufferingsofO\'Brien。Bythesixteenthdayallhandswerefargonewithhunger,andtheystoodtogetherinsmallgroups,talkinginundertonesandoccasionallyglancingatO\'Brien。Itwasathighnoonthattheconferencecametoahead。Thecaptainwasthespokesman。Allwerecollectedonthepoop。
\"Men,\"thecaptainbegan,\"wehavebeenalongtimewithoutfood——twoweeksandtwodaysitis,thoughitseemsmoreliketwoyearsandtwomonths。Wecan\'thangoutmuchlonger。Itisbeyondhumannaturetogoonhangingoutwithnothinginourstomachs。Thereisaseriousquestiontoconsider:
whetheritisbetterforalltodie,orforonetodie。Wearestandingwithourfeetinourgraves。Ifoneofusdies,therestmayliveuntilashipissighted。Whatsayyou?\"
MichaelBehane,themanwhohadbeenatthewheelwhentheFrancisSpaightbroachedto,calledoutthatitwaswell。Theothersjoinedinthecry。
\"Letitbeoneoftheb\'ys!\"criedSullivan,aTarbertman,glancingatthesametimesignificantlyatO\'Brien。
\"Itismyopinion,\"thecaptainwenton,\"thatitwillbeagooddeedforoneofustodiefortherest。\"
\"Agooddeed!Agooddeed!\"themeninterjected。
\"Anditismyopinionthat\'tisbestforoneoftheboystodie。Theyhavenofamiliestosupport,norwouldtheybeconsideredsogreatalosstotheirfriendsasthosewhohavewivesandchildren。\"
\"\'Tisright。\"\"Veryright。\"\"Veryfititshouldbedone,\"themenmutteredonetoanother。
Butthefourboyscriedoutagainsttheinjusticeofit。
\"Ourlivesisjustasdeartousastherestivyez,\"O\'Brienprotested。
\"An\'ourfamblies,too。Asforwivesan\'childer,whoistheresavin\'
meselftocareformeoldmotherthat\'sawidow,asyouknowwell,MichaelBehane,thatcomesfromLimerick?\'Tisnotfair。Letthelotsbedrawnbetweenallofus,menandb\'ys。\"
Mahoneywastheonlymanwhospokeinfavouroftheboys,declaringthatitwasthefairthingforalltosharealike。Sullivanandthecaptaininsistedonthedrawingoflotsbeingconfinedtotheboys。Therewerehighwords,inthemidstofwhichSullivanturneduponO\'Brien,snarling——
\"\'Twouldbeagooddeedtoputyououtoftheway。Youdeserveit。
\'Twouldbetherightwaytoserveyou,an\'serveyouwewill。\"
HestartedtowardO\'Brien,withintenttolayhandsonhimandproceedatoncewiththekilling,whileseveralotherslikewiseshuffledtowardhimandreachedforhim。Hestumbledbackwardstoescapethem,atthesametimecryingthathewouldsubmittothedrawingofthelotsamongtheboys。
ThecaptainpreparedfoursticksofdifferentlengthsandhandedthemtoSullivan。
\"You\'rethinkin\'thedrawin\'llnotbefair,\"thelattersneeredtoO\'Brien。
\"Soit\'syerself\'lldothedrawin\'。\"
TothisO\'Brienagreed。Ahandkerchiefwastiedoverhiseyes,blindfoldinghim,andhekneltdownonthedeckwithhisbacktoSullivan。
\"Whoeveryounamefortheshorteststick\'lldie,\"thecaptainsaid。
Sullivanhelduponeofthesticks。Therestwereconcealedinhishandsothatnoonecouldseewhetheritwastheshortstickornot。
\"An\'whosestickwillitbe?\"Sullivandemanded。
\"ForlittleJohnnySheehan,\"O\'Brienanswered。
Sullivanlaidthestickaside。Thosewholookedcouldnottellifitwerethefatalone。Sullivanheldupanotherstick。
\"Whosewillitbe?\"
\"ForGeorgeBurns,\"wasthereply。
Thestickwaslaidwiththefirstone,andathirdheldup。
\"An\'whoseisthiswan?\"
\"Formyself,\"saidO\'Brien。
Withaquickmovement,Sullivanthrewthefourstickstogether。Noonehadseen。
\"\'Tisforyourselfye\'vedrawnit,\"Sullivanannounced。
\"Agooddeed,\"severalofthemenmuttered。
O\'Brienwasveryquiet。Hearosetohisfeet,tookthebandageoff,andlookedaround。
\"Whereisut?\"hedemanded。\"Theshortstick?Thewanforme?\"
Thecaptainpointedtothefourstickslyingonthedeck。
\"Howdoyouknowthestickwasmine?\"O\'Brienquestioned。\"Didyouseeut,JohnnySheehan?\"
JohnnySheehan,whowastheyoungestoftheboys,didnotanswer。
\"Didyouseeut?\"O\'BriennextaskedMahoney。
\"No,Ididn\'tseeut。\"
Themenweremutteringandgrowling。
\"\'Twasafairdrawin\',\"Sullivansaid。\"Yehadyerchanctan\'yelost,that\'sallivut。\"
\"Afairdrawin\',\"thecaptainadded。\"Didn\'tIbeholditmyself?Thestickwasyours,O\'Brien,an\'yemayaswellgetready。Where\'sthecook?
Gorman,comehere。Fetchthetureencover,someofye。Gorman,doyourdutylikeaman。\"
\"Buthow\'llIdoit,\"thecookdemanded。Hewasaweak-eyed,weak-chinned,indecisiveman。
\"\'Tisadamnedmurder!\"O\'Briencriedout。
\"I\'llhavenoneofut,\"Mahoneyannounced。\"Notabiteshallpassmelips。\"
\"Then\'tisyershareforbettermenthanyerself,\"Sullivansneered。\"Goonwithyerduty,cook。\"
\"\'Tisnotmeduty,thekillin\'ofb\'ys,\"Gormanprotestedirresolutely。
\"Ifyezdon\'tmakemateforus,we\'llbemakin\'mateofyerself,\"Behanethreatened。\"Somebodymustdie,an\'aswellyouasanother。\"
JohnnySheehanbegantocry。O\'Brienlistenedanxiously。Hisfacewaspale。Hislipstrembled,andattimeshiswholebodyshook。
\"Isignedonascook,\"Gormanenounced。\"An\'cookIwudifgalleytherewas。ButI\'llnotlaymehandtomurder。\'Tisnotinthearticles。I\'mthecook——\"
\"An\'cookye\'llbeforwanminutemoreonly,\"Sullivansaidgrimly,atthesamemomentgrippingthecook\'sheadfrombehindandbendingitbacktillthewindpipeandjugularwerestretchedtaut。\"Where\'syerknife,Mike?
Passitalong。\"
Atthetouchofthesteel,Gormanwhimpered。
\"I\'lldout,ifyez\'llholdtheb\'y。\"
ThepitiableconditionofthecookseemedinsomefashiontonerveupO\'Brien。
\"It\'sallright,Gorman,\"hesaid。\"Goonwithut。\'Tismeselfknowsyernotwantin\'todout。It\'sallright,sir\"——thistothecaptain,whohadlaidahandheavilyonhisarm。\"Yewon\'thavetoholdme,sir。I\'llstandstill。\"
\"Stopyerblitherin\',an\'goan\'getthetureencover,\"BehanecommandedJohnnySheehan,atthesametimedealinghimaheavycuffalongsidethehead。
Theboy,whowasscarcelymorethanachild,fetchedthecover。Hecrawledandtotteredalongthedeck,soweakwashefromhunger。Thetearsstillrandownhischeeks。Behanetookthecoverfromhim,atthesametimeadministeringanothercuff。
O\'Brientookoffhiscoatandbaredhisrightarm。Hisunderlipstilltrembled,butheheldatightgriponhimself。Thecaptain\'spenknifewasopenedandpassedtoGorman。
\"Mahoney,tellmemotherwhathappenedtome,ifeveryegetback,\"O\'Brienrequested。
Mahoneynodded。
\"\'Tisblackmurder,blackan\'damned,\"hesaid。\"Theb\'y\'sflesh\'lldononeivyezannygood。Markmewords。Ye\'llnotprofitbyit,noneivyez。\"
\"Getready,\"thecaptainordered。\"You,Sullivan,holdthecover——that\'sit——closeup。Spillnothing。It\'spreciousstuff。\"
Gormanmadeaneffort。Theknifewasdull。Hewasweak。Besides,hishandwasshakingsoviolentlythathenearlydroppedtheknife。Thethreeboyswerecrouchedapart,inahuddle,cryingandsobbing。WiththeexceptionofMahoney,themenweregatheredaboutthevictim,craningtheirneckstosee。
\"Beaman,Gorman,\"thecaptaincautioned。
Thewretchedcookwasseizedwithaspasmofresolution,sawingbackandforthwiththebladeonO\'Brien\'swrist。Theveinsweresevered。Sullivanheldthetureencovercloseunderneath。Thecutveinsgapedwide,butnoruddyfloodgushedforth。Therewasnobloodatall。Theveinsweredryandempty。Noonespoke。Thegrimandsilentfiguresswayedinunisonwitheachheaveoftheship。Everyeyewasturnedfixedlyuponthatinconceivableandmonstrousthing,thedryveinsofacreaturethatwasalive。
\"\'Tisawarnin\',\"Mahoneycried。\"Lavetheb\'yalone。Markmewords。Hisdeath\'lldononeivyezannygood。\"
\"Tryattheelbow——theleftelbow,\'tisnearertheheart,\"thecaptainsaidfinally,inadimandhuskyvoicethatwasunlikehisown。
\"Givemetheknife,\"O\'Briensaidroughly,takingitoutofthecook\'shand。\"Ican\'tbelookin\'atyeputtin\'metohurt。\"
Quitecoollyhecuttheveinattheleftelbow,but,likethecook,hefailedtobringblood。
\"Thisisallivnouse,\"Sullivansaid。\"\'Tisbettertoputhimoutivhismiserybybleedin\'himatthethroat。\"
Thestrainhadbeentoomuchforthelad。
\"Don\'tbedoin\'ut,\"hecried。\"There\'llbenobloodinmethroat。Givemealittletime。\'Tiscoldan\'weakIam。Belettin\'melaydownan\'
slapeabit。ThenI\'llbewarman\'theblood\'llflow。\"
\"\'Tisnouse,\"Sullivanobjected。\"Asifyecudbeslapin\'atatimelikethis。Ye\'llnotslape,andye\'llnotwarmup。Lookatyenow。You\'veanague。\"
\"IwassickatLimerickwannight,\"O\'Brienhurriedon,\"an\'thedochtorcudn\'tbleedme。Butafterslapin\'afewhoursan\'gettin\'warminbedthebloodcamefreely。It\'sGod\'struthI\'mtellin\'yez。Don\'tbemurderin\'
me!\"
\"Hisveinsareopennow,\"thecaptainsaid。\"\'Tisnouseleavin\'himinhispain。Doitnowan\'bedonewithit。\"
TheystartedtoreachforO\'Brien,buthebackedaway。
\"I\'llbethedeathivyez!\"hescreamed。\"Takeyerhandsoffivme,Sullivan!I\'llcomeback!I\'llhauntyez!Wakin\'orslapin\',I\'llhauntyeztillyoudie!\"
\"\'Tisdisgraceful!\"yelledBehane。\"Iftheshortstick\'dbenmine,I\'da-
letmematescuttheheadoffivmean\'diedhappy。\"
Sullivanleapedinandcaughttheunhappyladbythehair。Therestofthemenfollowed,O\'Brienkickedandstruggled,snarlingandsnappingatthehandsthatclutchedhimfromeveryside。LittleJohnnySheehanbrokeoutintowildscreaming,butthementooknonoticeofhim。O\'Brienwasbentbackwardtothedeck,thetureencoverunderhisneck。Gormanwasshovedforward。Someonehadthrustalargesheath-knifeintohishand。
\"Doyerduty!Doyerduty!\"themencried。
Thecookbentover,buthecaughttheboy\'seyesandfaltered。
\"Ifyedon\'t,I\'llkillyewithmeownhands,\"Behaneshouted。
Fromeverysideatorrentofabuseandthreatspouredinuponthecook。
Stillhehungback。
\"Maybethere\'llbemorebloodinhisveinsthanO\'Brien\'s,\"Sullivansuggestedsignificantly。
BehanecaughtGormanbythehairandtwistedhisheadback,whileSullivanattemptedtotakepossessionofthesheath-knife。ButGormanclungtoitdesperately。
\"Lavego,an\'I\'lldout!\"hescreamedfrantically。\"Don\'tbecuttin\'methroat!I\'lldothedeed!I\'lldothedeed!\"
\"Seethatyoudoit,then,\"thecaptainthreatenedhim。
Gormanallowedhimselftobeshovedforward。Helookedattheboy,closedhiseyes,andmutteredaprayer。Then,withoutopeninghiseyes,hedidthedeedthathadbeenappointedhim。O\'Brienemittedashriekthatsankswiftlytoagurglingsob。Themenheldhimtillhisstrugglesceased,whenhewaslaiduponthedeck。Theywereeagerandimpatient,andwithoathsandthreatstheyurgedGormantohurrywiththepreparationofthemeal。
\"Laveut,youbloodybutchers,\"Mahoneysaidquietly。\"Laveut,Itellyez。Ye\'llnotbeneedin\'annyivutnow。\'TisasIsaid:ye\'llnotbeprofitin\'bythelad\'sblood。Emptyutoverside,Behane。Emptyutoverside。\"
Behane,stillholdingthetureencoverinbothhishands,glancedtowindward。Hewalkedtotherailandthrewthecoverandcontentsintothesea。Afull-riggedshipwasbearingdownuponthemashortmileaway。Sooccupiedhadtheybeenwiththedeedjustcommitted,thatnonehadhadeyesforalookout。Allhandswatchedhercomingon——thebrightlycopperedforefootpartingthewaterlikeagoldenknife,theheadsailsflappinglazilyandemptilyateachdownwardsurge,andthetoweringcanvastiersdippingandcurtsyingwitheachstatelyswingofthesea。Nomanspoke。
Asshehoveto,acablelengthaway,thecaptainoftheFrancisSpaightbestirredhimselfandorderedatarpaulintobethrownoverO\'Brien\'scorpse。Aboatwasloweredfromthestranger\'ssideandbegantopulltowardthem。JohnGormanlaughed。Helaughedsoftlyatfirst,butheaccompaniedeachstrokeoftheoarswithspasmodicallyincreasingglee。Itwasthismaniacallaughterthatgreetedtherescueboatasithauledalongsideandthefirstofficerclamberedonboard。
ACURIOUSFRAGMENT
[Thecapitalist,orindustrialoligarch,RogerVanderwater,mentionedinthenarrative,hasbeenidentifiedastheninthinthelineoftheVanderwatersthatcontrolledforhundredsofyearsthecottonfactoriesoftheSouth。ThisRogerVanderwaterflourishedinthelastdecadesofthetwenty-sixthcenturyafterChrist,whichwasthefifthcenturyoftheterribleindustrialoligarchythatwasrearedupontheruinsoftheearlyRepublic。
Frominternalevidencesweareconvincedthatthenarrativewhichfollowswasnotreducedtowritingtillthetwenty-ninthcentury。Notonlywasitunlawfultowriteorprintsuchmatterduringthatperiod,buttheworking-
classwassoilliteratethatonlyinrareinstanceswereitsmembersabletoreadandwrite。Thiswasthedarkreignoftheoverman,inwhosespeechthegreatmassofthepeoplewerecharacterizedasthe\"herdanimals。\"Allliteracywasfrowneduponandstampedout。Fromthestatute-booksofthetimesmaybeinstancedthatblacklawthatmadeitacapitaloffenceforanyman,nomatterofwhatclass,toteacheventhealphabettoamemberoftheworking-class。Suchstringentlimitationofeducationtotherulingclasswasnecessaryifthatclasswastocontinuetorule。
Oneresultoftheforegoingwasthedevelopmentoftheprofessionalstory-
tellers。Thesestory-tellerswerepaidbytheoligarchy,andthetalestheytoldwerelegendary,mythical,romantic,andharmless。Butthespiritoffreedomneverquitediedout,andagitators,undertheguiseofstory-
tellers,preachedrevolttotheslaveclass。ThatthefollowingtalewasbannedbytheoligarchswehaveprooffromtherecordsofthecriminalpolicecourtofAshbury,wherein,onJanuary27,2734,oneJohnTourney,foundguiltyoftellingthetaleinaboozing-kenoflabourers,wassentencedtofiveyears\'penalservitudeintheboraxminesoftheArizonaDesert——EDITOR\'SNOTE。]
Listen,mybrothers,andIwilltellyouataleofanarm。ItwasthearmofTomDixon,andTomDixonwasaweaverofthefirstclassinafactoryofthathell-houndandmaster,RogerVanderwater。Thisfactorywascalled\"Hell\'sBottom\"……bytheslaveswhotoiledinit,andIguesstheyoughttoknow;anditwassituatedinKingsbury,attheotherendofthetownfromVanderwater\'ssummerpalace。YoudonotknowwhereKingsburyis?
Therearemanythings,mybrothers,thatyoudonotknow,anditissad。
Itisbecauseyoudonotknowthatyouareslaves。WhenIhavetoldyouthistale,Ishouldliketoformaclassamongyouforthelearningofwrittenandprintedspeech。Ourmastersreadandwriteandpossessmanybooks,anditisbecauseofthatthattheyareourmasters,andliveinpalaces,anddonotwork。Whenthetoilerslearntoreadandwrite——allofthem——theywillgrowstrong;thentheywillusetheirstrengthtobreaktheirbonds,andtherewillbenomoremastersandnomoreslaves。
Kingsbury,mybrothers,isintheoldStateofAlabama。ForthreehundredyearstheVanderwatershaveownedKingsburyanditsslavepensandfactories,andslavepensandfactoriesinmanyotherplacesandStates。
YouhaveheardoftheVanderwaters——whohasnot?——butletmetellyouthingsyoudonotknowaboutthem。ThefirstVanderwaterwasaslave,evenasyouandI。Haveyougotthat?Hewasaslave,andthatwasoverthreehundredyearsago。HisfatherwasamachinistintheslavepenofAlexanderBurrell,andhismotherwasawasherwomaninthesameslavepen。
Thereisnodoubtaboutthis。Iamtellingyoutruth。Itishistory。Itisprinted,everywordofit,inthehistorybooksofourmasters,whichyoucannotreadbecauseyourmasterswillnotpermityoutolearntoread。
Youcanunderstandwhytheywillnotpermityoutolearntoread,whentherearesuchthingsinthebooks。Theyknow,andtheyareverywise。Ifyoudidreadsuchthings,youmightbewantinginrespecttoyourmasters,whichwouldbeadangerousthing……toyourmasters。ButIknow,forI
canread,andIamtellingyouwhatIhavereadwithmyowneyesinthehistorybooksofourmasters。
ThefirstVanderwater\'snamewasnotVanderwater;itwasVange——BillVange,thesonofYergisVange,themachinist,andLauraCarnly,thewasherwoman。
YoungBillVangewasstrong。Hemighthaveremainedwiththeslavesandledthemtofreedom;instead,however,heservedthemastersandwaswellrewarded。Hebeganhisservice,whenyetasmallchild,asaspyinhishomeslavepen。Heisknowntohaveinformedonhisownfatherforseditiousutterance。Thisisfact。Ihavereaditwithmyowneyesintherecords。Hewastoogoodaslavefortheslavepen。AlexanderBurrelltookhimout,whileyetachild,andhewastaughttoreadandwrite。Hewastaughtmanythings,andhewasenteredinthesecretserviceoftheGovernment。Ofcourse,henolongerworetheslavedress,exceptfordisguiseatsuchtimeswhenhesoughttopenetratethesecretsandplotsoftheslaves。Itwashe,whenbuteighteenyearsofage,whobroughtthatgreatheroandcomrade,RalphJacobus,totrialandexecutionintheelectricchair。Ofcourse,youhaveallheardthesacrednameofRalphJacobus,butitisnewstoyouthathewasbroughttohisdeathbythefirstVanderwater,whosenamewasVange。Iknow。Ihavereaditinthebooks。Therearemanyinterestingthingslikethatinthebooks。
AndafterRalphJacobusdiedhisshamefuldeath,BillVange\'snamebeganthemanychangesitwastoundergo。Hewasknownas\"SlyVange\"farandwide。Herosehighinthesecretservice,andhewasrewardedingrandways,butstillhewasnotamemberofthemasterclass。Themenwerewillingthatheshouldbecomeso;itwasthewomenofthemasterclasswhorefusedtohaveSlyVangeoneofthem。SlyVangegavegoodservicetothemasters。Hehadbeenaslavehimself,andheknewthewaysoftheslaves。
Therewasnofoolinghim。Inthosedaystheslaveswerebraverthannow,andtheywerealwaystryingfortheirfreedom。AndSlyVangewaseverywhere,inalltheirschemesandplans,bringingtheirschemesandplanstonaughtandtheirleaderstotheelectricchair。Itwasin2255
thathisnamewasnextchangedforhim。ItwasinthatyearthattheGreatMutinytookplace。InthatregionwestoftheRockyMountains,seventeenmillionsofslavesstrovebravelytooverthrowtheirmasters。Whoknows,ifSlyVangehadnotlived,butthattheywouldhavesucceeded?ButSlyVangewasverymuchalive。Themastersgavehimsupremecommandofthesituation。Ineightmonthsoffighting,onemillionandthreehundredandfiftythousandslaveswerekilled。Vange,BillVange,SlyVange,killedthem,andhebroketheGreatMutiny。Andhewasgreatlyrewarded,andsoredwerehishandswiththebloodoftheslavesthatthereafterhewascalled\"BloodyVange。\"Yousee,mybrothers,whatinterestingthingsaretobefoundinthebookswhenonecanreadthem。And,takemywordforit,therearemanyotherthings,evenmoreinteresting,inthebooks。Andifyouwillbutstudywithme,inayear\'stimeyoucanreadthosebooksforyourselves——ay,insixmonthssomeofyouwillbeabletoreadthosebooksforyourselves。
BloodyVangelivedtoaripeoldage,andalways,tothelast,washereceivedinthecouncilsofthemasters;butneverwashemadeamasterhimself。Hehadfirstopenedhiseyes,yousee,inaslavepen。Butoh,hewaswellrewarded!Hehadadozenpalacesinwhichtolive。He,whowasnomaster,ownedthousandsofslaves。Hehadagreatpleasureyachtupontheseathatwasafloatingpalace,andheownedawholeislandintheseawheretoiledtenthousandslavesonhiscoffeeplantations。Butinhisoldagehewaslonely,forhelivedapart,hatedbyhisbrothers,theslaves,andlookeddownuponbythosehehadservedandwhorefusedtobehisbrothers。Themasterslookeddownuponhimbecausehehadbeenbornaslave。Enormouslywealthyhedied;buthediedhorribly,tormentedbyhisconscience,regrettingallhehaddoneandtheredstainonhisname。
Butwithhischildrenitwasdifferent。Theyhadnotbeenbornintheslavepen,andbythespecialrulingoftheChiefOligarchofthattime,JohnMorrison,theywereelevatedtothemasterclass。AnditwasthenthatthenameofVangedisappearsfromthepageofhistory。ItbecomesVanderwater,andJasonVange,thesonofBloodyVange,becomesJasonVanderwater,thefounderoftheVanderwaterline。Butthatwasthreehundredyearsago,andtheVanderwatersofto-dayforgettheirbeginningsandimaginethatsomehowtheclayoftheirbodiesisdifferentstufffromtheclayinyourbodyandmineandinthebodiesofallslaves。AndIaskyou,Whyshouldaslavebecomethemasterofanotherslave?Andwhyshouldthesonofaslavebecomethemasterofmanyslaves?Ileavethesequestionsforyoutoanswerforyourselves,butdonotforgetthatinthebeginningtheVanderwaterswereslaves。
Andnow,mybrothers,IcomebacktothebeginningofmytaletotellyouofTomDixon\'sarm。RogerVanderwater\'sfactoryinKingsburywasrightlynamed\"Hell\'sBottom,\"butthemenwhotoiledinitweremen,asyoushallsee。Womentoiledthere,too,andchildren,littlechildren。Allthattoiledtherehadtheregularslaverightsunderthelaw,butonlyunderthelaw,fortheyweredeprivedofmanyoftheirrightsbythetwooverseersofHell\'sBottom,JosephClancyandAdolphMunster。
Itisalongstory,butIshallnottellallofittoyou。Ishalltellonlyaboutthearm。Ithappenedthat,accordingtothelaw,aportionofthestarvationwageoftheslaveswasheldbackeachmonthandputintoafund。Thisfundwasforthepurposeofhelpingsuchunfortunatefellow-
workmenashappenedtobeinjuredbyaccidentsortobeovertakenbysickness。Asyouknowwithyourselves,thesefundsarecontrolledbytheoverseers。Itisthelaw,andsoitwasthatthefundatHell\'sBottomwascontrolledbythetwooverseersofaccursedmemory。
Now,ClancyandMunstertookthisfundfortheirownuse。Whenaccidentshappenedtotheworkmen,theirfellows,aswasthecustom,madegrantsfromthefund;buttheoverseersrefusedtopayoverthegrants。Whatcouldtheslavesdo?Theyhadtheirrightsunderthelaw,buttheyhadnoaccesstothelaw。Thosethatcomplainedtotheoverseerswerepunished。Youknowyourselveswhatformsuchpunishmenttakes——thefinesforfaultyworkthatisnotfaulty;theoverchargingofaccountsintheCompany\'sstore;theviletreatmentofone\'swomenandchildren;andtheallotmenttobadmachineswhereon,workasonewill,hestarves。