She turned sick at the sight.
Here was a slave actually being whipped by another slave while
Hicks stood looking on with his hands in his pockets, and with a
brutal satisfied air. When he caught sight of the girl, he sang
out
"That'll do; he's had enough, I reckon, to learn him!" He added
sullenly to Betty, "Sorry you seen this, Miss!"
"How dare you order such a punishment without authority!" cried
Betty furiously.
Hicks gave her a black scowl.
"I don't need no authority to whip a shirker," he said
insolently, as he turned away.
"Stop!" commanded Betty, her eyes blazing. She strove to keep
her voice steady. "You shall not remain at Belle Plain another
hour."
Hicks said nothing. He knew it would take more than her saying
so to get him off the place. Betty turned her horse and galloped
back to the house. She felt that she was in no condition to see
Tom just at that moment, and dismounting at the door ran
up-stairs to her room.
Meantime the overseer sought out Ware in his office. His manner
of stating his grievance was singular. He began by swearing at
his employer. He had been insulted before all the quarter--his
rage fairly choked him, he could not speak.
Tom seized the opportunity to swear back. He wanted to know if
he hadn't troubles enough without the overseer's help? If he'd
got himself insulted it was his own affair and he could lump it,
generally speaking, and get out of that office! But Tom's fury
quickly spent itself.
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