[ExitL.,through room.
EnterMrs. PeytonandScudder, M'CloskyandPointdexter,R.
M'Closky.[C.] I'm sorry to intrude, but the business I came upon will excuse me.
Mrs. Pey.Here is my nephew, sir.
Zoe.Perhaps I had better go.
M'Closky.Wal, as it consarns you, perhaps you better had.
Scud.Consarns Zoe?
M'Closky.I don't know; she may as well hear the hull of it. Go on, Colonel—Colonel Pointdexter, ma'am—the mortgagee, auctioneer, and general agent.
Point.[R. C.] Pardon me, madam, but do you know these papers? [Hands papers toMrs. Peyton.]
Mrs. Pey.[Takes them.] Yes, sir; they were the free papers of the girl Zoe; but they were in my husband's secretary. How came they in your possession?
M'Closky.I—I found them.
George.And you purloined them?
M'Closky.Hold on, you'll see. Go on, Colonel.
Point.The list of your slaves is incomplete—it wants one.
Scud.The boy Paul—we know it.
Point.No, sir; you have omitted the Octoroon girl, Zoe.
[Together.]Mrs. Pey.Zoe!
Zoe.Me!
Point.At the time the judge executed those free papers to his infant slave, a judgment stood recorded against him; while that was on record he had no right to make away with his property. That judgment still exists; under it and others this estate is sold to-day. Those free papers ain't worth the sand that's on 'em.
Mrs. Pey.Zoe a slave! It is impossible!
Point.It is certain, madam; the judge was negligent, and doubtless forgot this small formality.
Scud.But the creditors will not claim the gal?
M'Closky.Excuse me; one of the principal mortgagees has made the demand.
[ExitM'CloskyandPointdexter,R. U. E.
Scud.Hold on yere, George Peyton; you sit down there. You're trembling so, you'll fall down directly. This blow has staggered me some.
Mrs. Pey.O, Zoe, my child! don't think too hardly of your poor father.
Zoe.I shall do so if you weep. See, I'm calm.
Scud.Calm as a tombstone, and with about as much life. I see it in your face.
George.It cannot be! It shall not be!
Scud.Hold your tongue—it must. Be calm—darn the things; the proceeds of this sale won't cover the debts of the estate. Consarn those Liverpool English fellers, why couldn't they send something by the last mail? Even a letter, promising something—such is the feeling round amongst the planters. Darn me, if I couldn't raise thirty thousand on the envelope alone, and ten thousand more on the post-mark.
George.Zoe, they shall not take you from us while I live.
Scud.Don't be a fool; they'd kill you, and then take her, just as soon as—stop; Old Sunnyside, he'll buy her! that'll save her.
Zoe.No, it won't; we have confessed to Dora that we love each other. How can she then ask her father to free me?
Scud.What in thunder made you do that?
Zoe.Because it was the truth; and I had rather be a slave with a free soul, than remain free with a slavish, deceitful heart. My father gives me freedom—at least he thought so. May Heaven bless him for the thought, bless him for the happiness he spread around my life. You say the proceeds of the sale will not cover his debts. Let me be sold then, that I may free his name. I give him back the liberty he bestowed upon me; for I can never repay him the love he bore his poor Octoroon child, on whose breast his last sigh was drawn, into whose eyes he looked with the last gaze of affection.
Mrs. Pey.O, my husband! I thank Heaven you have not lived to see this day.
Zoe.George, leave me! I would be alone a little while.
George.Zoe! [Turns away overpowered.]
Zoe.Do not weep, George. Dear George, you now see what a miserable thing I am.
George.Zoe!
Scud.I wish they could sell me! I brought half this ruin on this family, with my all-fired improvements. I deserve to be a nigger this day—I feel like one, inside.
[ExitScudder,L. U. E.
Zoe.Go now, George—leave me—take her with you. [ExitMrs. PeytonandGeorge,L. U. E.] A slave! a slave! Is this a dream—for my brain reels with the blow? He said so. What! then I shall be sold!—sold! and my master—O! [falls on her knees, with her face in her hands] no—no master, but one. George—George—hush—they come! save me! No, [looks off,R.] 'tis Pete and the servants—they come this way. [Enters inner room,R. U. E.]
EnterPete, Grace, Minnie, Solon, Dido,and allNiggers,R. U. E.
Pete.Cum yer now—stand round, cause I've got to talk to you darkies—keep dem chil'n quiet—don't make no noise, de missus up dar har us.
Solon.Go on, Pete.
Pete.Gen'l'men, my colored frens and ladies, dar's mighty bad news gone round. Dis yer prop'ty to be sold—old Terrebonne—whar we all been raised, is gwine—dey's gwine to tak it away—can't stop here no how.
Omnes.O-o!—O-o!
Pete.Hold quiet, you trash o' niggers! tink anybody wants you to cry? Who's you to set up screching?—be quiet! But dis ain't all. Now, my culled brethren, gird up your lines, and listen—hold on yer bref—it's a comin. We tought dat de niggers would belong to de ole missus, and if she lost Terrebonne, we must live dere allers, and we would hire out, and bring our wages to ole Missus Peyton.
Omnes.Ya! ya! Well—
Pete.Hush! I tell ye, 't'ain't so—we can't do it—we've got to be sold—
Omnes.Sold!
Pete.Will you hush? she will har you. Yes! I listen dar jess now—dar was ole lady cryin'—Mas'r George—ah! you seen dem big tears in his eyes. O, Mas'r Scudder, he didn't cry zackly; both ob his eyes and cheek look like de bad Bayou in low season—so dry dat I cry for him. [Raising his voice.] Den say de missus, "'Tain't for de land I keer, but for dem poor niggars—dey'll be sold—dat wot stagger me." "No," say Mas'r George, "I'd rather sell myself fuss; but dey shan't suffer, nohow,—I see 'em dam fuss."
Omnes.O, bless um! Bless Mas'r George.
Pete.Hole yer tongues. Yes, for you, for me, for dem little ones, dem folks cried. Now, den, if Grace dere wid her chil'n were all sold, she'll begin screechin' like a cat. She didn't mind how kind old judge was to her; and Solon, too, he'll holler, and break de ole lady's heart.
Grace.No, Pete; no, I won't. I'll bear it.
Pete.I don't tink you will any more, but dis here will; 'cause de family spile Dido, dey has. She nebber was 'worth much 'a dat nigger.
Dido.How dar you say dat, you black nigger, you? I fetch as much as any odder cook in Louisiana.
Pete.What's de use of your takin' it kind, and comfortin' de missus heart, if Minnie dere, and Louise, and Marie, and Julie is to spile it?
Minnie.We won't, Pete; we won't.
Pete.[To the men.] Dar, do ye hear dat, ye mis'able darkies, dem gals is worth a boat load of kinder men dem is. Cum, for de pride of de family, let every darky look his best for the judge's sake—dat ole man so good to us, and dat ole woman—so dem strangers from New Orleans shall say, Dem's happy darkies, dem's a fine set of niggars; every one say when he's sold, "Lor' bless dis yer family I'm gwine out of, and send me as good a home."
Omnes.We'll do it, Pete; we'll do it.
Pete.Hush! hark! I tell ye dar's somebody in dar. Who is it?
Grace.It's Missy Zoe. See! see!
Pete.Come along; she har what we say, and she's cryin' for us. None o' ye ign'rant niggars could cry for yerselves like dat. Come here quite; now quite.
[ExitPeteand all theNegroes,slowly,R. U. E.
EnterZoe[supposed to have overheard the last scene], L. U. E.
Zoe.O! must I learn from these poor wretches how much I owed, how I ought to pay the debt? Have I slept upon the benefits I received, and never saw, never felt, never knew that I was forgetful and ungrateful? O, my father! my dear, dear father! forgive your poor child. You made her life too happy, and now these tears will be. Let me hide them till I teach my heart. O, my—my heart!
[Exit, with a low, wailing, suffocating cry,L. U. E.
EnterM'Closky, Lafouche, Jackson, Sunnyslde,andPointdexter,R. U. E.
Point.[Looking at watch.] Come, the hour is past. I think we may begin business. Where is Mr. Scudder? Jackson, I want to get to Ophelensis to-night.
EnterDora,R.
Dora.Father, come here.
Sunny.Why, Dora, what's the matter? Your eyes are red.
Dora.Are they? thank you. I don't care, they were blue this morning, but it don't signify now.
Sunny.My darling! who has been teasing you?
Dora.Never mind. I want you to buy Terrebonne.
Sunny.Buy Terrebonne! What for?
Dora.No matter—buy it!
Sunny.It will cost me all I'm worth. This is folly, Dora.
Dora.Is my plantation at Comptableau worth this?
Sunny.Nearly—perhaps.
Dora.Sell it, then, and buy this.
Sunny.Are you mad, my love?
Dora.Do you want me to stop here and bid for it?
Sunny.Good gracious! no.
Dora.Then I'll do it, if you don't.
Sunny.I will! I will! But for Heaven's sake go—here comes the crowd. [ExitDora,L. U. E.] What on earth does that child mean or want?
EnterScudder, George, Ratts, Caillou, Pete, Grace, Minnie,and all theNegroes.A large table is in theC.,at back.Pointdextermounts the table with his hammer, his Clerk sits at his feet. TheNegromounts the table from behindC.The Company sit.
Point.Now, gentlemen, we shall proceed to business. It ain't necessary for me to dilate, describe, or enumerate; Terrebonne is known to you as one of the richest bits of sile in Louisiana, and its condition reflects credit on them as had to keep it. I'll trouble you for that piece of baccy, Judge—thank you—so, gentlemen, as life is short, we'll start right off. The first lot on here is the estate in block, with its sugar-houses, stock, machines, implements, good dwelling-houses and furniture. If there is no bid for the estate and stuff, we'll sell it in smaller lots. Come, Mr. Thibodeaux, a man has a chance once in his life—here's yours.
Thib.Go on. What's the reserve bid?
Point.The first mortgagee bids forty thousand dollars.
Thib.Forty-five thousand.
Sunny.Fifty thousand.
Point.When you have done joking, gentlemen, you'll say one hundred and twenty thousand. It carried that easy on mortgage.
Lafouche.[R.] Then why don't you buy it yourself, Colonel?
Point.I'm waiting on your fifty thousand bid.
Caillou.Eighty thousand.
Point.Don't be afraid; it ain't going for that, Judge.
Sunny.[L.] Ninety thousand.
Point.We're getting on.
Thib.One hundred—
Point.One hundred thousand bid for this mag—
Caillou.One hundred and ten thousand—
Point.Good again—one hundred and—
Sunny.Twenty.
Point.And twenty thousand bid. Squire Sunnyside is going to sell this at fifty thousand advance to-morrow.—[Looks round.] Where's that man from Mobile that wanted to give one hundred and eighty thousand?
Thib.I guess he ain't left home yet, Colonel.
Point.I shall knock it down to the Squire—going—gone—for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. [Raises hammer.] Judge, you can raise the hull on mortgage—going for half its value. [Knocks.] Squire Sunnyside, you've got a pretty bit o' land, Squire. Hillo, darkey, hand me a smash dar.
Sunny.I got more than I can work now.
Point.Then buy the hands along with the property. Now, gentlemen, I'm proud to submit to you the finest lot of field hands and house servants that was ever offered for competition; they speak for themselves, and do credit to their owners.—[Reads.] "No. 1, Solon, a guess boy, and good waiter."
Pete.[R. C.] That's my son—buy him, Mas'r Ratts; he's sure to sarve you well.
Point.Hold your tongue!
Ratts.[L.] Let the old darkey alone—eight hundred for that boy.
Caillou.Nine.
Ratts.A thousand.
Solon.Thank you, Mas'r Ratts: I die for you, sar; hold up for me, sar.
Ratts.Look here, the boy knows and likes me, Judge; let him come my way?
Caillou.Go on—I'm dumb.
Point.One thousand bid. [Knocks.] He's yours, Captain Ratts, Magnolia steamer. [Solon goes down and stands behind Ratts.] "No. 2, the yellow girl Grace, with two children—Saul, aged four, and Victoria five." [They get on table.]
Scud.That's Solon's wife and children, Judge.
Grace.[ToRatts.] Buy me, Mas'r Ratts, do buy me, sar?
Ratts.What in thunder should I do with you and those devils on board my boat?
Grace.Wash, sar—cook, sar—anyting.
Ratts.Eight hundred agin, then—I'll go it.
Jackson.Nine.
Ratts.I'm broke, Solon—I can't stop the Judge.
Thib.What's the matter, Ratts? I'll lend you all you want. Go it, if you're a mind to.
Ratts.Eleven.
Jackson.Twelve.
Sunny.O, O!
Scud.[To Jackson.] Judge, my friend. The Judge is a little deaf. Hello! [Speaking in his ear-trumpet.] This gal and them children belong to that boy Solon there. You're bidding to separate them, Judge.
Jackson.The devil I am! [Rises.] I'll take back my bid, Colonel.
Point.All right, Judge; I thought there was a mistake. I must keep you, Captain, to the eleven hundred.
Ratts.Go it.
Point.Eleven hundred—going—going—sold! "No. 3, Pete, a house servant."
Pete.Dat's me—yer, I'm comin'—stand around dar. [Tumbles upon the table.]
Point.Aged seventy-two.
Pete.What's dat? A mistake, sar—forty-six.
Point.Lame.
Pete.But don't mount to nuffin—kin work cannel. Come, Judge, pick up. Now's your time, sar.
Jackson.One hundred dollars.
Pete.What, sar? me! for me—look ye here! [Dances.]
George.Five hundred.
Pete.Mas'r George—ah, no, sar—don't buy me—keep your money for some udder dat is to be sold. I ain't no count, sar.
Point.Five hundred bid—it's a good price. [Knocks.] He's yours, Mr. George Peyton. [Pete goes down.] "No. 4, the Octoroon girl, Zoe."
EnterZoe,L. U. E.,very pale, and stands on table.—M'Closkyhitherto has taken no interest in the sale, now turns his chair.
Sunny.[Rising.] Gentlemen, we are all acquainted with the circumstances of this girl's position, and I feel sure that no one here will oppose the family who desires to redeem the child of our esteemed and noble friend, the late Judge Peyton.
Omnes.Hear! bravo! hear!
Point.While the proceeds of this sale promises to realize less than the debts upon it, it is my duty to prevent any collusion for the depreciation of the property.
Ratts.Darn ye! You're a man as well as an auctioneer, ain't ye?
Point.What is offered for this slave?
Sunny.One thousand dollars.
M'Closky.Two thousand.
Sunny.Three thousand.
M'Closky.Five thousand.
George.[R.] Demon!
Sunny.I bid seven thousand, which is the last dollar this family possesses.
M'Closky.Eight.
Thibo.Nine.
Omnes.Bravo!
M'Closky.Ten. It's no use, Squire.
Scud.Jacob M'Closky, you shan't have that girl. Now, take care what you do. Twelve thousand.
M'Closky.Shan't I! Fifteen thousand. Beat that any of ye.
Point.Fifteen thousand bid for the Octoroon.
EnterDora,L. U. E.
Dora.Twenty thousand.
Omnes.Bravo!
M'Closky.Twenty-five thousand.
Omnes.[Groan.] O! O!
George.[L.] Yelping hound—take that. [Rushes onM'Closky—M'Closkydraws his knife.]
Scud.[Darts between them.] Hold on, George Peyton—stand back. This is your own house; we are under your uncle's roof; recollect yourself. And, strangers, ain't we forgetting there's a lady present. [The knives disappear.] If we can't behave like Christians, let's try and act like gentlemen. Go on, Colonel.
Lafouche.He didn't ought to bid against a lady.
M'Closky.O, that's it, is it? Then I'd like to hire a lady to go to auction and buy my hands.
Point.Gentlemen, I believe none of us have two feelings about the conduct of that man; but he has the law on his side—we may regret, but we must respect it. Mr. M'Closky has bid twenty-five thousand dollars for the Octoroon. Is there any other bid? For the first time, twenty-five thousand—last time! [Brings hammer down.] To Jacob M'Closky, the Octoroon girl, Zoe, twenty-five thousand dollars. [Tableaux.]
END OF ACT THIRD.
Scene.—The Wharf, The Steamer "Magnolia" alongside,L.;a bluff rock,R. U. E.
Rattsdiscovered, superintending the loading of ship. EnterLafoucheandJackson,L.
Jackson.How long before we start, captain?
Raits.Just as soon as we put this cotton on board.
EnterPete,with lantern, andScudder,with note book,R.
Scud.One hundred and forty-nine bales. Can you take any more?
Ratts.Not a bale. I've got engaged eight hundred bales at the next landing, and one hundred hogsheads of sugar at Patten's Slide—that'll take my guards under—hurry up thar.
Voice.[Outside.] Wood's aboard.
Ratts.All aboard then.
EnterM'Closky,R.
Scud.Sign that receipt, captain, and save me going up to the clerk.
M'Closky.See here—there's a small freight of turpentine in the fore hold there, and one of the barrels leaks; a spark from your engines might set the ship on fire, and you'd go with it.
Ratts.You be darned! Go and try it, if you've a mind to.
Lafouche.Captain, you've loaded up here until the boat is sunk so deep in the mud she won't float.
Ratts.[Calls off.] Wood up thar, you Polio—hang on to the safety valve—guess she'll crawl off on her paddles. [Shouts heard,R.]
Jackson.What's the matter?
EnterSolon,R.
Solon.We got him!
Scud.Who?
Solon.The Injiun!
Scud.Wahnotee? Where is he? D'ye call running away from a fellow catching him?
Ratts.Here he comes.
Omnes.Where? Where?
EnterWahnotee,R.;they are all about to rush on him.
Scud.Hold on! stan' round thar! no violence—the critter don't know what we mean.
Jackson.Let him answer for the boy, then.
M'Closky.Down with him—lynch him.
Omnes.Lynch him!
[ExitLafouche,R.
Scud.Stan' back, I say I I'll nip the first that lays a finger on Him. Pete, speak to the red-skin.
Pete.Whar's Paul, Wahnotee? What's come ob de child?
Wahnotee.Paul wunce—Paul pangeuk.
Pete.Pangeuk—dead.
Wahnotee.Mort!
M'Closky.And you killed him? [They approach again.]
Scud.Hold on!
Pete.Um, Paul reste?
Wahnotee.Hugh vieu. [GoesL.] Paul reste el!
Scud.Here, stay! [Examines the ground.] The earth has been stirred here lately.
Wahnotee.Weenee Paul. [Points down, and shows by pantomime how he buriedPaul.]
Scud.The Injiun means that he buried him there! Stop! here's a bit of leather; [draws out mail-bags] the mail-bags that were lost! [Sees tomahawk in Wahnotee's belt—draws it out and examines it.] Look! here are marks of blood—look thar, red-skin, what's that?
Wahnotee.Paul! [Makes sign thatPaulwas killed by a blow on the head.]
M'Closky.He confesses it; the Indian got drunk, quarreled with him, and killed him.
Re-enterLafouche,R.,with smashed apparatus.
Lafouche.Here are evidences of the crime; this rum-bottle half emptied—this photographic apparatus smashed—and there are marks of blood and footsteps around the shed.
M'Closky.What more d'ye want—ain't that proof enough? Lynch him!
Omnes.Lynch him! Lynch him!
Scud.Stan' back, boys! He's an Injiun—fair play.
Jackson.Try him, then—try him on the spot of his crime.
Omnes.Try him! Try him!
Lafouche.Don't let him escape!
Ratts.I'll see to that. [Draws revolver.] If he stirs, I'll put a bullet through his skull, mighty quick.
M'Closky.Come, form a court then, choose a jury—we'll fix this varmin.
EnterThibodeauxandCaillou,L.
Thibo.What's the matter?
Lafouche.We've caught this murdering Injiun, and are going to try him. [WahnoteesitsL.,rolled in blanket.]
Pete.Poor little Paul—poor little nigger!
Scud.This business goes agin me, Ratts—'tain't right.
Lafouche.We're ready; the jury's impanelled—go ahead—who'll be accuser?
Ratts.M'Closky.
M'Closky.Me?
Ratts.Yes; you was the first to hail Judge Lynch.
M'Closky.[R.] Well, what's the use of argument whar guilt sticks out so plain; the boy and Injiun were alone when last seen.
Scud.(L. C.) Who says that?
M'Closky.Everybody—that is, I heard so.
Scud.Say what you know—not what you heard.
M'Closky.I know then that the boy was killed with that tomahawk—the red-skin owns it—the signs of violence are all round the shed—this apparatus smashed—ain't it plain that in a drunken fit he slew the boy, and when sober concealed the body yonder?
Omnes.That's it—that's it.
Ratts.Who defends the Injiun?
Scud.I will; for it is agin my natur' to b'lieve him guilty; and if he be, this ain't the place, nor you the authority to try him. How are we sure the boy is dead at all? There are no witnesses but a rum bottle and an old machine. Is it on such evidence you'd hang a human being?
Ratts.His own confession.
Scud.I appeal against your usurped authority. This lynch law is a wild and lawless proceeding. Here's a pictur' for a civilized community to afford; yonder, a poor, ignorant savage, and round him a circle of hearts, white with revenge and hate, thirsting for his blood; you call yourselves judges—you ain't—you're a jury of executioners. It is such scenes as these that bring disgrace upon our Western life.
M'Closky.Evidence! Evidence! Give us evidence. We've had talk enough; now for proof.
Omnes.Yes, yes! Proof, proof.
Scud.Where am I to get it? The proof is here, in my heart.
Pete.[Who has been looking about the camera.] Top, sar! Top a bit! O, laws-a-mussey, see dis; here's a pictur' I found stickin' in that yar telescope machine, sar! look sar!
Scud.A photographic plate. [Pete holds lantern up.] What's this, eh? two forms! The child—'tis he! dead—and above him—Ah! ah! Jacob M'Closky, 'twas you murdered that boy!
M'Closky.Me?
Scud.You! You slew him with that tomahawk; and as you stood over his body with the letter in your hand, you thought that no witness saw the deed, that no eye was on you—but there was, Jacob M'Closky, there was. The eye of the Eternal was on you—the blessed sun in heaven, that, looking down, struck upon this plate the image of the deed. Here you are, in the very attitude of your crime!
M'Closky.'Tis false!
Scud.'Tis true! the apparatus can't lie. Look there, jurymen. [Shows plate to jury.] Look there. O, you wanted evidence—you called for proof—Heaven has answered and convicted you.
M'Closky.What court of law would receive such evidence? [Going.]
Ratts.Stop; this would. You called it yourself; you wanted to make us murder that Injiun; and since we've got our hands in for justice, we'll try it on you. What say ye? shall we have one law for the red-skin and another for the white?
Omnes.Try him! Try him!
Ratts.Who'll be accuser?
Scud.I will! Fellow-citizens, you are convened and assembled here under a higher power than the law. What's the law? When the ship's abroad on the ocean, when the army is before the enemy where in thunder's the law? It is in the hearts of brave men, who can tell right from wrong, and from whom justice can't be bought. So it is here, in the wilds of the West, where our hatred of crime is measured by the speed of our executions—where necessity is law! I say, then, air you honest men? air you true? Put your hands on your naked breasts, and let every man as don't feel a real American heart there, bustin' up with freedom, truth, and right, let that man step out—that's the oath I put to ye—and then say, Darn ye, go it!
Omnes.Go on. Go on.
Scud.No! I won't go on; that man's down. I won't strike him, even with words. Jacob, your accuser is that picter of the crime—let that speak—defend yourself.
M'Closky.[Draws knife.] I will, quicker than lightning.
Ratts.Seize him, then! [They rush onM'Closky,and disarm him.] He can fight though he's a painter; claws all over.
Scud.Stop! Search him, we may find more evidence.
M'Closky.Would you rob me first, and murder me afterwards?
Ratts.[Searching him.] That's his programme—here's a pocket-book.
Scud.[Opens it.] What's here? Letters! Hello! To "Mrs. Peyton, Terrebonne, Louisiana, United States." Liverpool post mark. Ho! I've got hold of the tail of a rat—come out. [Reads.] What's this? A draft for eighty-five thousand dollars, and credit on Palisse and Co., of New Orleans, for the balance. Hi! the rat's out. You killed the boy to steal this letter from the mail-bags—you stole this letter, that the money should not arrive in time to save the Octoroon; had it done so, the lien on the estate would have ceased, and Zoe be free.
Omnes.Lynch him! Lynch him! Down with him!
Scud.Silence in the court; stand back, let the gentlemen of the jury retire, consult, and return their verdict.
Ratts.I'm responsible for the crittur—go on.
Pete.[ToWahnotee.] See Injiun; look dar [shows him plate], see dat innocent: look, dar's de murderer of poor Paul.
Wahnotee.Ugh! [Examines plate.]
Pete.Ya!—as he? Closky tue Paul—kill de child with your tomahawk dar; 'twasn't you, no—ole Pete allus say so. Poor Injiun lub our little Paul. [Wahnoteerises and looks atM'Closky—he is in his war paint and fully armed.]
Scud.What say ye, gentlemen? Is the prisoner guilty, or is he not guilty?
Omnes.Guilty!
Scud.And what is to be his punishment?
Omnes.Death! [All advance.]
Wahnotee.[Crosses toM'Closky.] Ugh!
Scud.No, Injiun; we deal out justice here, not revenge. 'Tain't you he has injured, 'tis the white man, whose laws he has offended.
Ratts.Away with him—put him down the aft hatch, till we rig his funeral.
M'Closky.Fifty against one! O! if I had you one by one, alone in the swamp, I'd rip ye all. [He is borne off in boat, struggling.]
Scud.Now then to business.
Pete.[Re-enters from boat.] O, law, sir, dat debil Closky, he tore hisself from de gen'lam, knock me down, take my light, and trows it on de turpentine barrels, and de shed's all afire! [Fire seen,R.]
Jackson.[Re-entering.] We are catching fire forward; quick, set free from the shore.
Ratts.All hands aboard there—cut the starn ropes—give her headway!
All.Ay, ay! [Cry of "fire" heard—Engine bells heard—steam whistle noise.]
Ratts.Cut all away for'ard—overboard with every bale afire.
The Steamer moves off—fire kept up—M'Closkyre-enters,R.,swimming on.
M'Closky.Ha! have I fixed ye? Burn! burn! that's right. You thought you had cornered me, did ye? As I swam down, I thought I heard something in the water, as if pursuing me—one of them darned alligators, I suppose—they swarm hereabout—may they crunch every limb of ye!
[Exit,L.
Wahnoteswims on—finds trail—follows him. The Steamer floats on at back, burning. Tableaux.
CURTAIN.
END OF ACT FOURTH.
Scene I.—Negroes' Quarters in1.
EnterZoe,L. 1. E.
Zoe.It wants an hour yet to daylight—here is Pete's hut—[Knocks.] He sleeps—no; I see a light.
Dido.[Enters from hut,R. F.] Who dat?
Zoe.Hush, aunty! 'Tis I—Zoe.
Dido.Missey Zoe! Why you out in de swamp dis time ob night—you catch de fever sure—you is all wet.
Zoe.Where's Pete?
Dido.He gone down to de landing last night wid Mas'r Scudder; not come back since—kint make it out.
Zoe.Aunty, there is sickness up at the house; I have been up all night beside one who suffers, and I remembered that when I had the fever you gave me a drink, a bitter drink, that made me sleep—do you remember it?
Dido.Didn't I? Dem doctors ain't no 'count; dey don't know nuffin.
Zoe.No; but you, aunty, you are wise—you know every plant, don't you, and what it is good for?
Dido.Dat you drink is fust rate for red fever. Is de folks head bad?
Zoe.Very bad, aunty; and the heart aches worse, so they can get no rest.
Dido.Hold on a bit, I get you de bottle.
[Exit,L. R.
Zoe.In a few hours that man, my master, will come for me; he has paid my price, and he only consented to let me remain here this one night, because Mrs. Peyton promised to give me up to him to-day.
Dido.[Re-enters with phial.] Here 'tis—now you give one timble-full—dat's nuff.
Zoe.All there is there would kill one, wouldn't it?
Dido.Guess it kill a dozen—nebber try.
Zoe.It's not a painful death, aunty, is it? You told me it produced a long, long sleep.
Dido.Why you tremble so? Why you speak so wild? What you's gwine to do, missey?
Zoe.Give me the drink.
Dido.No. Who dat sick at de house?
Zoe.Give it to me.
Dido.No. You want to hurt yourself. O, Miss Zoe, why you ask ole Dido for dis pizen?
Zoe.Listen to me. I love one who is here, and he loves me—George. I sat outside his door all night—I heard his sighs—his agony—torn from him by my coming fate; and he said, "I'd rather see her dead than his!"
Dido.Dead!
Zoe.He said so—then I rose up, and stole from the house, and ran down to the bayou; but its cold, black, silent stream terrified me—drowning must be so horrible a death. I could not do it. Then, as I knelt there, weeping for courage, a snake rattled beside me. I shrunk from it and fled. Death was there beside me, and I dared not take it. O! I'm afraid to die; yet I am more afraid to live.
Dido.Die!
Zoe.So I came here to you; to you, my own dear nurse; to you, who so often hushed me to sleep when I was a child; who dried my eyes and put your little Zoe to rest. Ah! give me the rest that no master but One can disturb—the sleep from which I shall awake free! You can protect me from that man—do let me die without pain. [Music.]
Dido.No, no—life is good for young ting like you.
Zoe.O! good, good nurse: you will, you will.
Dido.No—g'way.
Zoe.Then I shall never leave Terrebonne—the drink, nurse; the drink; that I may never leave my home—my dear, dear home. You will not give me to that man? Your own Zoe, that loves you, aunty, so much, so much.—[Gets phial.] Ah! I have it.
Dido.No, missey. O! no—don't.
Zoe.Hush!
[Runs off,L. 1. E.
Dido.Here, Solon, Minnie, Grace.
They enter.
All.Was de matter?
Dido.Miss Zoe got de pizen.
[Exit,L.
All.O! O!
[Exeunt,L.
Scene II.—Cane-brake Bayou.—Bank,C.—Triangle Fire,R. C.—Canoe,C.—M'Closkydiscovered asleep.
M'Closky.Burn, burn! blaze away! How the flames crack. I'm not guilty; would ye murder me? Cut, cut the rope—I choke—choke!—Ah! [Wakes.] Hello! where am I? Why, I was dreaming—curse it! I can never sleep now without dreaming. Hush! I thought I heard the sound of a paddle in the water. All night, as I fled through the cane-brake, I heard footsteps behind me. I lost them in the cedar swamp—again they haunted my path down the bayou, moving as I moved, resting when I rested—hush! there again!—no; it was only the wind over the canes. The sun is rising. I must launch my dug-out, and put for the bay, and in a few hours I shall be safe from pursuit on board of one of the coasting schooners that run from Galveston to Matagorda. In a little time this darned business will blow over, and I can show again. Hark! there's that noise again! If it was the ghost of that murdered boy haunting me! Well—I didn't mean to kill him, did I? Well, then, what has my all-cowardly heart got to skeer me so for? [Music.]
[Gets in canoe and rows off,L.—Wahnoteepaddles canoe on,R.—gets out and finds trail—paddles off after him,L.]
Scene III.—Cedar Swamp.
EnterScudderandPete,L. 1. E.
Scud.Come on, Pete, we shan't reach the house before midday.
Pete.Nebber mind, sar, we bring good news—it won't spile for de keeping.
Scud.Ten miles we've had to walk, because some blamed varmin onhitched our dug-out. I left it last night all safe.
Pete.P'r'aps it floated away itself.
Scud.No; the hitching line was cut with a knife.
Pete.Say, Mas'r Scudder, s'pose we go in round by de quarters and raise de darkies, den dey cum long wid us, and we 'proach dat ole house like Gin'ral Jackson when he took London out dar.
Scud.Hello, Pete, I never heard of that affair.
Pete.I tell you, sar—hush!
Scud.What? [Music.]
Pete.Was dat?—a cry out dar in de swamp—dar agin!
Scud.So it is. Something forcing its way through the undergrowth—it comes this way—it's either a bear or a runaway nigger. [Draws pistol—M'Closkyrushes on and falls atScudder'sfeet.]
Scud.Stand off—what are ye?
Pete.Mas'r Clusky.
M'Closky.Save me—save me! I can go no farther. I heard voices.
Scud.Who's after you?
M'Closky.I don't know, but I feel it's death! In some form, human, or wild beast, or ghost, it has tracked me through the night. I fled; it followed. Hark! there it comes—it comes—don't you hear a footstep on the dry leaves?
Scud.Your crime has driven you mad.
M'Closky.D'ye hear it—nearer—nearer—ah! [Wahnoteerushes on, and atM'Closky,L. H.]
Scud.The Injiun! by thunder.
Pete.You'se a dead man, Mas'r Clusky—you got to b'lieve dat.
M'Closky.No—no. If I must die, give me up to the law; but save me from the tomahawk. You are a white man; you'll not leave one of your own blood to be butchered by the red-skin?
Scud.Hold on now, Jacob; we've got to figure on that—let us look straight at the thing. Here we are on the selvage of civilization. It ain't our sile, I believe, rightly; but Nature has said that where the white man sets his foot, the red man and the black man shall up sticks and stand around. But what do we pay for that possession? In cash? No—in kind—that is, in protection, forbearance, gentleness; in all them goods that show the critters the difference between the Christian and the savage. Now, what have you done to show them the distinction? for, darn me, if I can find out.
M'Closky.For what I have done, let me be tried.
Scud.You have been tried—honestly tried and convicted. Providence has chosen your executioner. I shan't interfere.
Pete.O, no; Mas'r Scudder, don't leave Mas'r Closky like dat—don't, sa—'tain't what good Christian should do.
Scud.D'ye hear that, Jacob? This old nigger, the grandfather of the boy you murdered, speaks for you—don't that go through you? D'ye feel it? Go on, Pete, you've waked up the Christian here, and the old hoss responds. [Throws bowie-knife toM'Closky.] Take that, and defend yourself.
ExitScudderandPete,R. 1. E.—Wahnoteefaces him.—Fight—buss.M'Closkyruns off,L. 1. E.—Wahnotefollows him.—Screams outside.
Scene IV.—Parlor at Terrebonne.
EnterZoe,C. [Music.]
Zoe.My home, my home! I must see you no more. Those little flowers can live, but I cannot. To-morrow they'll bloom the same—all will be here as now, and I shall be cold. O! my life, my happy life; why has it been so bright?
EnterMrs. PeytonandDora,C.
Dora.Zoe, where have you been?
Mrs. P.We felt quite uneasy about you.
Zoe.I've been to the negro quarters. I suppose I shall go before long, and I wished to visit all the places, once again, to see the poor people.
Mrs. P.Zoe, dear, I'm glad to see you more calm this morning.
Dora.But how pale she looks, and she trembles so.
Zoe.Do I? [EnterGeorge,C.] Ah! he is here.
Dora.George, here she is!
Zoe.I have come to say good-by, sir; two hard words—so hard, they might break many a heart; mightn't they?
George.O, Zoe! can you smile at this moment?
Zoe.You see how easily I have become reconciled to my fate—so it will be with you. You will not forget poor Zoe! but her image will pass away like a little cloud that obscured your happiness a while—you will love each other; you are both too good not to join your hearts. Brightness will return amongst you. Dora, I once made you weep; those were the only tears I caused any body. Will you forgive me?
Dora.Forgive you—[Kisses her.]
Zoe.I feel you do, George.
George.Zoe, you are pale. Zoe!—she faints!
Zoe.No; a weakness, that's all—a little water. [Doragets water.] I have a restorative here—will you poor it in the glass? [Doraattempts to take it.] No; not you—George. [Georgepours contents of phial in glass.] Now, give it to me. George, dear George, do you love me?
George.Do you doubt it, Zoe?
Zoe.No! [Drinks.]
Dora.Zoe, if all I possess would buy your freedom, I would gladly give it.
Zoe.I am free! I had but one Master on earth, and he has given me my freedom!
Dora.Alas! but the deed that freed you was not lawful.
Zoe.Not lawful—no—but I am going to where there is no law—where there is only justice.
George.Zoe, you are suffering—your lips are white—your cheeks are flushed.
Zoe.I must be going—it is late. Farewell, Dora. [Retires.]
Pete.[Outside,R.] Whar's Missus—whar's Mas'r George?
George.They come.
EnterScudder.
Scud.Stand around and let me pass—room thar! I feel so big with joy, creation ain't wide enough to hold me. Mrs. Peyton, George Peyton, Terrebonne is yours. It was that rascal M'Closky—but he got rats, I avow—he killed the boy, Paul, to rob this letter from the mail-bags—the letter from Liverpool you know—he sot fire to the shed—that was how the steamboat got burned up.
Mrs. P.What d'ye mean?
Scud.Read—read that. [Gives letter.]
George.Explain yourself.
EnterSunnyside.
Sunny.Is it true?
Scud.Every word of it, Squire. Here, you tell it, since you know it. If I was to try, I'd bust.
Mrs. P.Read, George. Terrebonne is yours.
EnterPete, Dido, Solon, Minnie,andGrace.
Pete.Whar is she—whar is Miss Zoe?
Scud.What's the matter?
Pete.Don't ax me. Whar's de gal? I say.
Scud.Here she is—Zoe!—water—she faints.
Pete.No—no. 'Tain't no faint—she's a dying, sa; she got pison from old Dido here, this mornin'.
George.Zoe.
Scud.Zoe! is this true?—no, it ain't—darn it, say it ain't. Look here, you're free, you know nary a master to hurt you now: you will stop here as long as you're a mind to, only don't look so.
Dora.Her eyes have changed color.
Pete.Dat's what her soul's gwine to do. It's going up dar, whar dere's no line atween folks.
George.She revives.
Zoe.[On sofa,C.] George—where—where—
George.O, Zoe! what have you done?
Zoe.Last night I overheard you weeping in your room, and you said, "I'd rather see her dead than so!"
George.Have I prompted you to this?
Zoe.No; but I loved you so, I could not bear my fate; and then I stood your heart and hers. When I am dead she will not be jealous of your love for me, no laws will stand between us. Lift me; so—[Georgeraises her head]—let me look at you, that your face may be the last I see of this world. O! George, you may without a blush confess your love for the Octoroon! [Dies.—Georgelowers her head gently.—Kneels.—Others form picture.]
Darken front of house and stage.
[Light fires.—Draw flats and discoverPaul'sgrave.—M'Closkydead on top of it.—Wahnoteestanding triumphantly over him.]
SLOW CURTAIN
Scene I is announced for Act I, though there is only one scene.
Original spellings left in this book
Typo? In several places a contraction "wan't" appears where the context requires the verb "want." The change was made.
There is a large amount of slang, dialect and colloquialisms in the play that have been left.
RBB