Watching them closely, Merry heard some low-spoken words pass between them while the action of the piece was being carried on by other characters.
“Oh, I’ll fix you for that!” hissed “Legree.”
“You’re drunk!” declared the other, contemptuously.
“Am I? Well, it’s none of your business! I’ll soak you before the night is over!”
“Try it!”
“I will! I’ll kill ye!”
Then they went on playing their parts as if nothing unusual had happened.
“There is bad blood between them,” decided Frank, “and the fellow with the rum in him is dangerous.”
He did not realize how dangerous till the scene was being played where “Legree” lashes “Uncle Tom” to death with a heavy whip.
“Simon” came on with the whip, and there was a strange glitter in his dark eyes. With his first blow at the old slave, he caused “Uncle Tom” to collapse, uttering a yell of pain.