room,
mingled with the barking of dogs, and other symptoms of general uproar.

She came up on the verandah steps, and looked in. Legree and both the
drivers, in a state of furious intoxication, were singing, whooping,
upsetting chairs, and making all manner of ludicrous and horrid grimaces
at each other.

She rested her small, slender hand on the window-blind, and looked
fixedly at them;--there was a world of anguish, scorn, and fierce
bitterness, in her black eyes, as she did so. "Would it be a sin to rid
the world of such a wretch?" she said to herself.

She turned hurriedly away, and, passing round to a back door, glided up
stairs, and tapped at Emmeline's door.

CHAPTER XXXVI

Emmeline and Cassy

Cassy entered the room, and found Emmeline sitting, pale with fear,
in the furthest corner of it. As she came in, the girl started up
nervously; but, on seeing who it was, rushed forward, and catching her
arm, said, "O Cassy, is it you? I'm so glad you've come! I was afraid
it was--. O, you don't know what a horrid noise there has been, down
stairs, all this evening!"

"I ought to know," said Cassy, dryly. "I've heard it often enough."

"O Cassy! do tell me,--couldn't we get away from this place? I don't
care where,--into the swamp among the snakes,--anywhere! _Couldn't_ we
get _somewhere_ away from here?"

"Nowhere, but into our graves," said Cassy.

"Did you ever try?"

"I've seen enough of trying and what comes of it," said Cassy.

"I'd be willing to live in the swamps, and gnaw the bark from trees.
I an't afraid of snakes! I'd rather have one near me than him," said
Emmeline, eagerly.

"There have been a good many here of your opinion," said Cassy; "but you
couldn't stay in the swamps,--you'd be tracked by the dogs, and brought
back, and then--then--"

"What would he do?" said the girl, looking, with breathless interest,
into her face.

"What _wouldn't_ he do, you'd better ask," said Cassy. "He's learned
his trade well, among the pirates in the West Indies. You wouldn't sleep
much, if I should tell you things I've seen,--things that he tells of,
sometimes, for good jokes. I've heard screams here that I haven't been
able to get out of my head for weeks and weeks. There's a place way out
down by the quarters, where you can see a black, blasted tree, and the
ground all covered with black ashes. Ask anyone what was done there, and
see if they will dare to tell you."

"O! what do you mean?"

"I