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72 UNCLE TOM'S CABIN; OR
saw the absolute necessity of putting a constraint on their feelings. The more hopelessly sordid and insensible he appeared, the greater became Mrs. Shelby's dread of his succeeding in recapturing Eliza and her child, and of course the greater her motive for detaining him by every female artifice. She therefore graciously smiled, assented, chatted familiarly, and did all she could to make time pass imperceptibly.
At two o'clock Sam and Andy brought the horses up to the posts, apparently greatly refreshed and invigorated by the scamper of the morning.
Sam was there new oiled from dinner, with an abundance of zealous and ready officiousness. As Haley approached, he was boasting, in flourishing style, to Andy, of the evident and eminent success of the operation, now that he had "farly come to it."
" Your master, I s'pose, don't keep no dogs," said Haley, thoughtfully, as he prepared to mount.
" Heaps on 'em," said Sam, triumphantly ; u thar 's Bruno, — he 's a roarer ! and, besides that, 'bout every nigger of us keeps a pup of some natur or uther."
" Poh ! " said Haley, — and he said something else, too, with regard to the said dogs, at which Sam muttered, —
" I don't see no use cussin' on 'em, noway."
" But your master don't keep no dogs (I pretty much know he don't) for trackin' out niggers."
Sam knew exactly what he meant, but he kept on a look of earnest and desperate simplicity.
" Our dogs all smells round consid'able sharp. I spect they 's the kind, though they han't never had no practice. They 's far dogs, though, at most anything, if you 'd get 'em started. Here, Bruno," he called, whistling to the lumbering Newfoundland, who came pitching tumultously toward them.
" You go hang! " said Haley, getting up. " Come, tumble up now."
Sam tumbled up accordingly, dexterously contriving to |
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