"You'll give up now, won't you?" he enquires, and
before Nicholas has time to answer, turns to the official, saying,
"Yes, I know'd he would!"
The official bows his head significantly, but begs to inform Mr.
Grabguy, that the negro, having violated the most sacred law of the
state, is no longer under his care. He is a prisoner, and must, as
the law directs, answer for the heinous crime just committed. Mr.
Grabguy, if he please, may forward his demand to the state
department, and by yielding all claim to his criminal property,
receive its award-two hundred round dollars, or thereabouts.
"Stand back, gentlemen-stand back, I say!" commands the officer, as
the crowd from the outside come pressing in, the news of the
struggle having circulated through the city with lightning speed.
Rumour, ever ready to spread its fears in a slave state, reported an
insurrection, and many were they who armed themselves to the very
teeth.
The officer, in answer to a question why he does not take the man
away, says he has sent for means to secure him. He had scarcely
given out the acceptable information, when an official, followed by
a negro man, bearing cords over his right arm, makes his appearance.
The oppressed man seems subdued, and as they make the first knot
with the cord they wind about his neck, he says, sarcastically,
"'Twouldn't be much to hang a slave! Now round my hands. Now, with a
half hitch, take my legs!" thus mocking, as it were, while they
twist the cords about his yielding limbs.
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