326 WILD SCENES AND WILD HUNTERS. 
iasensate brute, a maudlin fool, or a selfish tyrant!—I do 
not mean that you are all or any one of these things in your 
own responsible deed—but I mean that you and I, and that 
young man there—our whole race !—deserve such epithets !— 
because we have and are conspiring together—without con- 
cert, even—but from the individual selfishness which has 
either been educated into us or has been deliberately assumed 
by ourselves in spite of experience—to oppress our fellow- 
men—not of one color—but of all/—of our own! Release 
me!” and with a sudden effort, she threw the terrified negro 
across the room and sprang to her feet. We both rose to 
seize her, but she walked with the utmost calmness of look 
, and manner right up to the astounded Planter. 
“Do not place your hands upon me again. I am perfectly 
myself now. I know I have been delirious—I am not so any 
longer. Forgive what I have said, that you did not under- 
stand, and done, that may have been rude and violent, for 
the paroxysm has passed, and I now know you as you are. 
You have no doubt been kind, and I shall thank you asa 
brother !”’ 
My friend was entirely confounded by this sudden change, 
-and stared at the woman with such an expression of almost 
ludicrous surprise, that I could not for the life of me restrain 
a slight disposition to smile—particularly when I caught a 
glimpse of the eager and abject form of Tom creeping 
stealthily behind her, and from a respectful distance, catch- 
ing, with pricked ears, open mouth, and wide staring eyes, 
every word that fell from her lips. 
“Does he live?” she said to me, as she turned slowly 
towards the old man, and bent over him—feeling his pulsa- 
tion—before I could answer she looked up— 
“Yes! it is all well as yet. Leave him to me—he will 
recover soon in my charge. Thank God !—he was insensible 
while I was so!—was he not?” she asked eagerly, turning 
her head. 
‘ 
