Part 37 (2/2)
Fearing that some unworthy advantage might be taken of his lower extremities before he could a.s.sume an att.i.tude of defense, he drew his pistol, and placed himself a few feet above the fire-place. Tom returned with the fuel, and the old man ordered him to make a fire.
”One moment, if you please,” said Somers. ”I'll shoot the first man of you that attempts to make a fire there.”
With an exclamation of terror, Tom retreated from the hearth; and Somers, improving the opportunity, leaped down from his perch. Stepping out from the great fire-place, he stood in the presence of the hopeful son and sire.
CHAPTER XXIV
A BROKEN BARGAIN
Somers was entirely satisfied with himself when he stood in the presence of the farmer and his son; and, so far as they were concerned, he had no fears for the future. The redoubtable Tom retired to one corner of the room, and, full of terror, awaited the issue. The father was the braver of the two, and stood in the middle of the floor, confronting the pestilent Yankee who had thus so unceremoniously invaded his house.
”Who be you?” demanded the old man.
”No matter who I am,” replied Somers, with the pistol still in his hand.
”I propose to spend the day with you, and will pay for everything I have.”
”Perhaps yer will stay here, and perhaps yer won't,” replied the farmer doggedly.
”There's no perhaps about it; I intend to stay here.”
”I s'pose yer don't keer whether I'm willing or not.”
”On the contrary, I do care. I had much rather stay with your consent than without.”
”Well, then, yer won't stay with my consent.”
”Then I shall stay without it,” answered Somers, with a degree of decision which was exceedingly annoying to his involuntary host.
”No, yer won't,” growled the farmer.
”I will pay you well for the use of this room, and for all that I eat and drink,” said Somers, wis.h.i.+ng to be fully understood.
”Yer can't stay here.”
”No, yer can't,” added Tom.
”I have made you a fair offer, and am willing to do what is right; and, as I said before, I intend to stay here till to-night, whether you are willing or not.”
”Yer kin put up your pistol; I ain't afeerd on it.”
”I have no desire to use the pistol to your injury, and shall not do so unless in self-defense. You know that I am a fugitive.”
”A n.i.g.g.e.r, by gracious!” exclaimed the farmer, whose vocabulary was very limited, and who had no idea that the word ”fugitive” could mean anything but a runaway negro.
”You know that the soldiers are after me, and it will not be safe for me to leave this house before dark. I'm not a n.i.g.g.e.r; and it makes no difference to you what I am.”
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