and bushes, the huts of his servitude, the whole scene of his degradation, seemed to whirl by him as the landscape by the rushing earHis soul throbbed,?his home was in sight,?and the hour of release seemed at hand ?Well, Tom!? said Legree, walking up, and seizing him grimly by the collar of his coat, and speaking through his teeth, in a paroxysm of determined rage, ?do you know I?ve made up my mind to KILL you?? ?It?s very likely, Mas?r,? said Tom, calmly ?I have,? said Legree, with a grim, terrible calmness, ?done?just?that?thing, Tom, unless you?ll tell me what you know about these yer gals!? Tom stood silent ?D?ye hear?? said Legree, stamping, with a roar like that of an incensed lion?Speak!? ?I han?t got nothing to tell, Mas?r,? said Tom, with a slow, firm, deliberate utterance ?Do you dare to tell me, ye old black Christian, ye don?t know?? said Legree ?Speak!? thundered Legree, striking him furiouslyDo you know anything?? ?I know, Mas?r; but I can?t tell anythingI can die!? Legree drew in a long breath; and, suppressing his rage, took Tom by the arm, and, approaching his face almost to his, said, in a terrible voice, ?Hark ?e, Tom!?ye think, ?cause I?ve let you off before, I don?t mean what I say; but, this time, I?ve made up my mind, and counted the costYou?ve always stood it out again? me: now, I?ll conquer ye, or kill ye!?one or t? otherI?ll count every drop of blood there is in you, and take ?em, one by one, till ye give up!? Tom looked up to his master, and answered, ?Mas?r, if you was sick, or in trouble, or dying, and I could save ye, I?d give ye my heart?s blood; and, if taking every drop of blood in this poor old body would save your precious soul, I?d give ?em freely, as the Lord gave his for meO, Mas?r! don?t bring this great sin on your soul! It will hurt you more than ?t will me! Do the worst you can, my troubles?ll be over soon; but, if ye don?t repent, yours won?t never end!? Like a strange snatch of heavenly music, heard in the lull of a tempest, this burst of feeling made a moment?s blank pauseLegree stood aghast, and looked at Tom; and there was such a silence, that the tick of the old clock could be heard, measuring, with silent touch, the last moments of mercy and probation to that hardened heartThere was one hesitating pause,?one irresolute, relenting thrill,?and the spirit of evil came back, with seven-fold vehemence; and Legree, foaming with rage, smote his victim to the ground Scenes of blood and cruelty are shocking to our ear and heartWhat man has nerve to do, man has not nerve to hearWhat brother-man and brother-Christian must suffer, cannot be told us, even in our secret chamber, it so harrows the soul! And yet, oh my country! these things are done under the shadow of thy laws! O, Christ! thy church sees them, almost in silence! But, of old, there was One whose suffering changed an instrument of torture, degradation and shame, into a symbol of glory, honor, and immortal life; and, where His spirit is, neither degrading stripes, nor blood, nor insults, can make the Christian?s last struggle less than glorious Was he alone, that long night, whose brave, loving spirit was bearing up, in that old shed, against buffeting and brutal stripes? Nay! There stood by him One,?seen by him alone,??like unto the Son of God The tempter stood by him, too,?blinded by furious, despotic will,?every moment pressing him to shun that agony by the betrayal of the innocentBut the brave, true heart was firm on the Eternal RockLike his Master, he knew that, if he saved others, himself he could not save; nor could utmost extremity wring from him words, save of prayers and holy trust ?He?s most gone, Mas?r,? said Sambo, touched, in spite of himself, by the patience of his victim ?Pay away, till he gives up! Give it to him!?give it to him!? shouted LegreeI?ll take every drop of blood he has, unless he confesses!? Tom opened his eyes, and looked upon his master?Ye poor miserable critter!? he said, ?there ain?t no more ye can do! I forgive ye, with all my soul!? and he fainted entirely away ?I b?lieve, my soul, he?s done for, finally,? said Legree, stepping forward, to look at him?Yes, he is! Well, his mouth?s shut up, at last,?that?s one comfort!? Yes, Legree; but who shall shut up that voice in thy soul? that soul, past repentance, past prayer, past hope, in whom the fire that never shall be quenched is already burning! Yet Tom was not quite goneHis wondrous words and pious prayers had struck upon the hearts of the imbruted blacks, who had been the instruments of cruelty upon him; and, the instant Legree withdrew, they took him down, and, in their ignorance, sought to call him back to life,?as if that were any favor to him ?Sartin, we ?s been doin? a drefful wicked thing!? said Sambo; ?hopes Mas?r?ll have to ?count for it, and not we They washed his wounds,?they provided a rude bed, of some refuse cotton, for him to lie down on; and one of them, stealing up to the house, begged a drink of brandy of Legree, pretending that he was tired, and wanted it for himselfHe brought it back, and poured it down Tom?s throat ?O, Tom!? said Quimbo, ?we?s been awful wicked to ye!? ?I forgive ye, with all my heart!? said Tom, faintly ?O, Tom! do tell us who is Jesus, anyhow?? said Sambo;??Jesus, that?s been a standin? by you so, all this night!?Who is he?? The word roused the failing, fainting spiritHe poured forth a few energetic sentences of that wondrous One,?his life, his death, his everlasting presence, and power to save They wept,?both the two savage men ?Why didn?t I never hear this before?? said Sambo; ?but I do believe!?I can?t help it! Lord Jesus, have mercy on us!? ?Poor critters!? said Tom, ?I?d be willing to bar? all I have, if it?ll only bring ye to Christ! O, Lord! give me these two more souls, I pray!? That prayer was answered! 1 This poem does not appear in the collected works of William Cullen Bryant, nor in the collected poems of his brother, John Howard BryantIt was probably copied from a newspaper or magazine Chapter 41 The Young Master Two days after, a young man drove a light wagon up through the avenue of China trees, and, throwing the reins hastily on the horse?s neck, sprang out and inquired for the owner of the place It was George Shelby; and, to show how he came to be there, we must go back in our shop story

As it was, the point just cut the cloth of his coat, making a wide gap whence a bundle of bank notes and a stream of gold fell outThe expression of the Count's face was so hellish, that for a moment I feared for Harker, though I saw him throw the terrible knife aloft again for another strokeInstinctively I moved forward with a protective impulse, holding the Crucifix and Wafer in my left handI felt a mighty power fly along my arm, and it was without surprise that I saw the monster cower back before a similar movement made spontaneously by each one of usIt would be impossible to describe the expression of hate and baffled malignity, of anger and hellish rage, which came over the Count's faceHis waxen hue became greenish-yellow by the contrast of his burning eyes, and the red scar on the forehead showed on the pallid skin like a palpitating woundThe next instant, with a sinuous dive he swept under Harker's arm, ere his blow could fall, and grasping a handful of the money from the floor, dashed across the room, threw himself at the windowAmid the crash and glitter of the falling glass, he tumbled into the flagged area belowThrough the sound of the shivering glass I could hear the "ting" of the gold, as some of the sovereigns fell on the flagging We ran over and saw him spring unhurt from the groundHe, rushing up the steps, crossed the flagged yard, and pushed open the stable doorThere he turned and spoke to us "You think to baffle me, you with your pale faces all in a row, like sheep in a butcher'sYou shall be sorry yet, each one of you! You think you have left me without a place to rest, but I have moreMy revenge is just begun! I spread it over centuries, and time is on my sideYour girls that you all love are mine alreadyAnd through them you and others shall yet be mine, my creatures, to do my bidding and to be my jackals when I want to feedBah!" With a contemptuous sneer, he passed quickly through the door, and we heard the rusty bolt creak as he fastened it behind himA door beyond opened and shutThe first of us to speak was the ProfessorRealizing the difficulty of following him through the stable, we moved toward the hall "We have learnt something? much! Notwithstanding his brave words, he fears usHe fears time, he fears want! For if not, why he hurry so? His very tone betray him, or my ears deceiveWhy take that money? You follow quickYou are hunters of the wild beast, and understand it soFor me, I make sure that nothing here may be of use to him, if so that he returns As he spoke he put the money remaining in his pocket, took the title deeds in the bundle as Harker had left them, and swept the remaining things into the open fireplace, where he set fire to them with a match Godalming and Morris had rushed out into the yard, and Harker had lowered himself from the window to follow the CountHe had, however, bolted the stable door, and by the time they had forced it open there was no sign of himVan Helsing and I tried to make inquiry at the back of the houseBut the mews was deserted and no one had seen him depart It was now late in the afternoon, and sunset was not far offWe had to recognize that our game was upWith heavy hearts we agreed with the Professor when he said, "Let us go back to Madam MinaPoor, poor dear Madam MinaAll we can do just now is done, and we can there, at least, protect herBut we need not despairThere is but one more earth box, and we must try to find itWhen that is done all may yet be well I could see that he spoke as bravely as he could to comfort shop Harker

Quincey Morris tightened his belt with that quick movement which I knew so wellIn our old wandering days it meant "actionHarker grew ghastly white, so that the scar on her forehead seemed to burn, but she folded her hands meekly and looked up in prayerHarker smiled, actually smiled, the dark, bitter smile of one who is without hope, but at the same time his action belied his words, for his hands instinctively sought the hilt of the great Kukri knife and rested there "When does the next train start for Galatz?" said Van Helsing to us generally "At 6:30 tomorrow morning!" We all started, for the answer came from Mrs "How on earth do you know?" said Art "You forget, or perhaps you do not know, though Jonathan does and so does DrVan Helsing, that I am the train fiendAt home in Exeter I always used to make up the time tables, so as to be helpful to my husbandI found it so useful sometimes, that I always make a study of the time tables nowI knew that if anything were to take us to Castle Dracula we should go by Galatz, or at any rate through Bucharest, so I learned the times very carefullyUnhappily there are not many to learn, as the only train tomorrow leaves as I say "Wonderful woman!" murmured the Professor "Can't we get a special?" asked Lord Godalming Van Helsing shook his head, "I fear notThis land is very different from yours or mineEven if we did have a special, it would probably not arrive as soon as our regular trainMoreover, we have something to prepareYou, friend Arthur, go to the train and get the tickets and arrange that all be ready for us to go in the morningDo you, friend Jonathan, go to the agent of the ship and get from him letters to the agent in Galatz, with authority to make a search of the ship just as it was hereQuincey Morris, you see the Vice Consul, and get his aid with his fellow in Galatz and all he can do to make our way smooth, so that no times be lost when over the DanubeJohn will stay with Madam Mina and me, and we shall consultFor so if time be long you may be delayedAnd it will not matter when the sun set, since I am here with Madam to make report "And I," said MrsHarker brightly, and more like her old self than she had been for many a long day, "shall try to be of use in all ways, and shall think and write for you as I used to doSomething is shifting from me in some strange way, and I feel freer than I have been of late!" The three younger men looked happier at the moment as they seemed to realize the significance of her wordsBut Van Helsing and I, turning to each other, met each a grave and troubled glanceWe said nothing at the time, however When the three men had gone out to their tasks Van Helsing asked MrsHarker to look up the copy of the diaries and find him the part of Harker's journal at the CastleShe went away to get it When the door was shut upon her he said to me, "We mean the same! Speak out!" "Here is some changeIt is a hope that makes me sick, for it may deceive usDo you know why I asked her to get the manuscript?" "No!" said I, "unless it was to get an opportunity of seeing me alone "You are in part right, friend John, but only in partI want to tell you somethingAnd oh, my friend, I am taking a great, a terrible, riskBut I believe it is shop right

It is not well that her very thoughts go into the hands of strangers I went on with my part of the work, and in another half hour had found the name and address of MrsWestenra's solicitor and had written to himAll the poor lady's papers were in orderExplicit directions regarding the place of burial were givenI had hardly sealed the letter, when, to my surprise, Van Helsing walked into the room, saying, "Can I help you friend John? I am free, and if I may, my service is to you "Have you got what you looked for?" I asked To which he replied, "I did not look for any specific thingI only hoped to find, and find I have, all that there was, only some letters and a few memoranda, and a diary new begunBut I have them here, and we shall for the present say nothing of themI shall see that poor lad tomorrow evening, and, with his sanction, I shall use some When we had finished the work in hand, he said to me, "And now, friend John, I think we may to bedWe want sleep, both you and I, and rest to recuperateTomorrow we shall have much to do, but for the tonight there is no need of usAlas!" Before turning in we went to look at poor LucyThe undertaker had certainly done his work well, for the room was turned into a small chapelle ardenteThere was a wilderness of beautiful white flowers, and death was made as little repulsive as might beThe end of the winding sheet was laid over the faceWhen the Professor bent over and turned it gently back, we both started at the beauty before usThe tall wax candles showing a sufficient light to note it wellAll Lucy's loveliness had come back to her in death, and the hours that had passed, instead of leaving traces of 'decay's effacing fingers', had but restored the beauty of life, till positively I could not believe my eyes that I was looking at a corpse The Professor looked sternly graveHe had not loved her as I had, and there was no need for tears in his eyesHe said to me, "Remain till I return," and left the roomHe came back with a handful of wild garlic from the box waiting in the hall, but which had not been opened, and placed the flowers amongst the others on and around the bedThen he took from his neck, inside his collar, a little gold crucifix, and placed it over the mouthHe restored the sheet to its place, and we came away I was undressing in my own room, when, with a premonitory tap at the door, he entered, and at once began to speak "Tomorrow I want you to bring me, before night, a set of post-mortem knives "Must we make an autopsy?" I askedI want to operate, but not what you thinkLet me tell you now, but not a word to anotherI want to cut off her head and take out her heartAh! You a surgeon, and so shocked! You, whom I have seen with no tremble of hand or heart, do operations of life and death that make the rest shudderOh, but I must not forget, my dear friend John, that you loved her, and I have not forgotten it for is I that shall operate, and you must not helpI would like to do it tonight, but for Arthur I must notHe will be free after his father's funeral tomorrow, and he will want to see her, to see itThen, when she is coffined ready for the next day, you and I shall come when all sleepWe shall unscrew the coffin lid, and shall do our operation, and then replace all, so that none know, save we alone "But why do it at all? The girl is shop dead

Westenra driving by the road and Lucy and I walking by the cliff-path and joining her at the gateI felt a little sad myself, for I could not but feel how absolutely happy it would have been had Jonathan been with meBut there! I must only be patientIn the evening we strolled in the Casino Terrace, and heard some good music by Spohr and Mackenzie, and went to bed earlyLucy seems more restful than she has been for some time, and fell asleep at onceI shall lock the door and secure the key the same as before, though I do not expect any trouble tonight-My expectations were wrong, for twice during the night I was wakened by Lucy trying to get outShe seemed, even in her sleep, to be a little impatient at finding the door shut, and went back to bed under a sort of protestI woke with the dawn, and heard the birds chirping outside of the windowLucy woke, too, and I was glad to see, was even better than on the previous morningAll her old gaiety of manner seemed to have come back, and she came and snuggled in beside me and told me all about ArthurI told her how anxious I was about Jonathan, and then she tried to comfort meWell, she succeeded somewhat, for, though sympathy can't alter facts, it can make them more bearable-Another quiet day, and to bed with the key on my wrist as beforeAgain I awoke in the night, and found Lucy sitting up in bed, still asleep, pointing to the windowI got up quietly, and pulling aside the blind, looked outIt was brilliant moonlight, and the soft effect of the light over the sea and sky, merged together in one great silent mystery, was beautiful beyond wordsBetween me and the moonlight flitted a great bat, coming and going in great whirling circlesOnce or twice it came quite close, but was, I suppose, frightened at seeing me, and flitted away across the harbour towards the abbeyWhen I came back from the window Lucy had lain down again, and was sleeping peacefullyShe did not stir again all night-On the East Cliff, reading and writing all dayLucy seems to have become as much in love with the spot as I am, and it is hard to get her away from it when it is time to come home for lunch or tea or dinnerThis afternoon she made a funny remarkWe were coming home for dinner, and had come to the top of the steps up from the West Pier and stopped to look at the view, as we generally doThe setting sun, low down in the sky, was just dropping behind KettlenessThe red light was thrown over on the East Cliff and the old abbey, and seemed to bathe everything in a beautiful rosy glowWe were silent for a while, and suddenly Lucy murmured as if to herself? "His red eyes again! They are just the same It was such an odd expression, coming apropos of nothing, that it quite startled meI slewed round a little, so as to see Lucy well without seeming to stare at her, and saw that she was in a half dreamy state, with an odd look on her face that I could not quite make out, so I said nothing, but followed her eyesShe appeared to be looking over at our own seat, whereon was a dark figure seated aloneI was quite a little startled myself, for it seemed for an instant as if the stranger had great eyes like burning flames, but a second look dispelled the illusionThe red sunlight was shining on the windows of StMary's Church behind our seat, and as the sun dipped there was just sufficient change in the refraction and reflection to make it appear as if the light movedI called Lucy's attention to the peculiar effect, and she became herself with a start, but she looked sad all the sameIt may have been that she was thinking of that terrible night up thereWe never refer to it, so I said nothing, and we went home to dinnerLucy had a headache and went early to bedI saw her asleep, and went out for a little stroll myself I walked along the cliffs to the westward, and was full of sweet sadness, for I was thinking of shop Jonathan