sally dows-第18章
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ef school keeps o' not。 De medical man say distinctly； sah；〃 she
concluded； sternly recalling her duty again； 〃no conversation wid
de patient。〃
But Courtland had winning ways with all dependents。 〃But you will
answer me ONE question； Sophy； and I'll not ask another。 Has〃he
hesitated in his still uncertainty as to the actuality of his
experience and its probable extent〃hasCatoescaped？〃
〃If yo' mean dat sassy； bull…nigger oberseer of yo'se； cunnle； HE'S
safe； yo' bet！〃 returned Sophy sharply。 〃Safe in his own quo'tahs
night afo' las'； after braggin' about the bloodhaowns he killed；
and safe ober the county line yes'day moan'in； after kicking up all
dis rumpus。 If dar is a sassy； highfalutin' nigger I jiss 'spises
its dat black nigger Cato o' yo'se！ Now；〃relenting〃yo' jiss
wink yo' eye； honey； and don't excite yo'se'f about sach black
trash； drap off to sleep comfor'ble。 Fo' you do'an get annuder
word out o' Sophy； shuah！〃
As if in obedience； Courtland closed his eyes。 But even in his
weak state he was conscious of the blood coming into his cheek at
Sophy's relentless criticism of the man for whom he had just
periled his life and position。 Much of it he felt was true； but
how far had he been a dupe in his quixotic defense of a quarrelsome
blusterer and cowardly bully？ Yet there was the unmistakable shot
and cold…blooded attempt at Cato's assassination！ And there were
the bloodhounds sent to track the unfortunate man！ That was no
dreambut a brutal inexcusable fact！
The medical practitioner of Redlands he remembered was conservative；
old…fashioned； and diplomatic。 But his sympathies had been
broadened by some army experiences； and Courtland trusted to some
soldierly and frank exposition of the matter from him。 Nevertheless；
Dr。 Maynard was first healer； and； like Sophy； professionally
cautious。 The colonel had better not talk about it now。 It was
already two days old； the colonel had been nearly forty…eight hours
in bed。 It was a regrettable affair； but the natural climax of
long…continued political and racial irritationand not without
GREAT provocation！ Assassination was a strong word； could Colonel
Courtland swear that Cato was actually AIMED AT； or was it not
merely a demonstration to frighten a bullying negro？ It might have
been necessary to teach him a lessonwhich the colonel by this time
ought to know could only be taught to these inferior races by FEAR。
The bloodhounds！ Ah； yes！well； the bloodhounds were； in fact；
only a part of that wholesome discipline。 Surely Colonel Courtland
was not so foolish as to believe that； even in the old slave…holding
days； planters sent dogs after runaways to mangle and destroy THEIR
OWN PROPERTY？ They might as well； at once； let them escape！ No；
sir！ They were used only to frighten and drive the niggers out of
swamps； brakes； and hiding…placesas no nigger had ever dared to
face 'em。 Cato might lie as much as he liked； but everybody knew
WHO it was that killed Major Reed's hounds。 Nobody blamed the
colonel for it；not even Major Reed；but if the colonel had lived
a little longer in the South； he'd have known it wasn't necessary to
do that in self…preservation； as the hounds would never have gone
for a white man。 But that was not a matter for the colonel to bother
about NOW。 He was doing well； he had slept nearly thirty hours；
there was no fever； he must continue to doze off the exhaustion of
his powerful stimulant； and he； the doctor； would return later in
the afternoon。
Perhaps it was his very inability to grasp in that exhausted state
the full comprehension of the doctor's meaning； perhaps because the
physical benumbing of his brain was stronger than any mental
excitement； but he slept again until the doctor reappeared。
〃You're doing well enough now； colonel；〃 said the physician； after
a brief examination of his patient； 〃and I think we can afford to
wake you up a bit； and even let you move your arm。 You're luckier
than poor Tom Higbee； who won't be able to set his leg to the floor
for three weeks to come。 I haven't got all the buckshot out of it
yet that Jack Dumont put there the other night。〃
Courtland started slightly。 Jack Dumont！ That was the name of
Sally Dows cousin of whom Champney had spoken！ He had resolutely
put aside from his returning memory the hazy recollection of the
young girl's voicethe last thing he had heard that nightand the
mystery that seemed to surround it。 But there was no delusion in
this cousinhis rival； and that of the equally deceived Champney。
He controlled himself and repeated coldly：
〃Jack Dumont！〃
〃Yes。 But of course you knew nothing of all that； while you were
off in the swamp there。 Yet； by Jingo！ it was Dumont's shooting
Higbee that helped YOU to get off your nigger a darned sight more
than YOUR killing the dogs。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 returned Courtland coldly。
〃Well； you see； Dumont； who had taken up No'th'n principles； I
reckon； more to goad the Higbees and please Sally Dows than from
any conviction； came over here that night。 Whether he suspected
anything was up； or wanted to dare Higbee for bedevilment； or was
only dancing attendance on Miss Sally； no one knows。 But he rode
slap into Highee's party； called out； 'If you're out hunting； Tom；
here's a chance for your score！' meaning their old vendetta feud；
and brings his shot…gun up to his shoulder。 Higbee wasn't quick
enough； Dumont lets fly； drops Higbee； and then gallops off chased
by the Reeds to avenge Higbee； and followed by the whole crowd to
see the fun； which was a little better than nigger…driving。 And
that let you and Cato out； colonel。〃
〃And Dumont？〃
〃Got clean away to Foxboro' Station； leaving another score on his
side for the Reeds and Higbees to wipe out as best they can。 You
No'th'n men don't believe in these sort of things； colonel； but
taken as a straight dash and hit o' raiding； that stroke of Sally
Dows' cousin was mighty fine！〃
Courtland controlled himself with difficulty。 The doctor had
spoken truly。 The hero of this miserable affair was HER cousin
HIS RIVAL！ And to himperhaps influenced by some pitying appeal
of Miss Sally for the man she had deceivedCourtland owed his
life！ He instinctively drew a quick； sharp breath。
〃Are you in pain？〃
〃Not at all。 When can I get up？〃
〃Perhaps to…morrow。〃
〃And this arm？〃
〃Better not use it for a week or two。〃 He stopped； and； glancing
paternally at the younger man； added gravely but kindly： 〃If you'll
take my unprofessional advice； Colonel Courtland； you'll let this
matter simmer down。 It won't hurt you and your affairs here that
folks have had a taste of your quality； and the nigger a lesson
that his fellows won't forget。〃
〃I thank you；〃 returned Courtland coldly； 〃but I think I already
understand my duty to the company I represent and the Government I
have served。〃
〃Possibly； colonel；〃 said the doctor quietly； 〃but you'll let an
older man remind you and the Government that you can't change the
habits or relations of two distinct races in a few years。 Your
friend； Miss Sally Dowsalthough not quite in my way of thinking
has never attempted THAT。〃
〃I am fully aware that Miss Dows possesses diplomatic accomplishments
and graces that I cannot lay claim to；〃 returned Courtland bitterly。
The doctor lifted his eyebrows slightly and changed the subject。
When he had gone； Courtland called for writing materials。 He had
already made up his mind； and one course alone seemed proper to
him。 He wrote to the president of the company； detailing the
circumstances that had just occurred； admitting the alleged
provocation given by his overseer； but pointing out the terrorism
of a mob…law which rendered his own discipline impossible。 He
asked that the matter be reported to Washington； and some measures
taken for the protection of the freedmen； in the mean time he
begged to tender his own resignation； but he would stay until his
successor was appointed； or the safety of his employees secured。
Until then； he should act upon his own responsibility and according
to his judgment。 He made no personal charges； mentioned no names；
asked for no exemplary p
