“Yo’ mus’ pardon me sah. I’s not accustomed to law offices. If sitting down or anything else is contempt, I’m asking yo’r pardon this minute; for I didn’t mean to contempt this court.”
“It is contempt, sir!” thundered the judge, “and I put you under arrest, and dismiss this court till July the 8th at four o’clock in the evening.”
Some protestations were made on account of the lateness of the hour, but Rives insisted he could not leave his plantation labor earlier, and immediately declared the court adjourned.
Neither the day nor hour was satisfactory to the complainants, as it was on Saturday afternoon, when many country negroes were certain to visit the village shops, stores, and market; but as the whites were more generally masters of their own time, it is possible Rives feared he might need the presence and support of his own race should he not condemn the accused.
Harry Gaston was enraged and strutted about like a bantam cock; his face became almost livid, and his hands nervously bobbed in and out of the breast pockets of his short coat, where rested a well-prepared pistol on one side, and a flask of whiskey on the other. Alas, the flask knew little rest.
“I pray you be calm, my dear nephew,” said the Reverend Mr. Mealy, who, though inwardly seething, was so enswathed in his own innate mealiness, that he was measurably cool. “Do not allow this degraded black to disturb you. Remember your position in society. You have been raised by me as my own son. Do not disgrace yourself and me by condescending to dispute with one in his station, and of his color,” and grasping the young man’s arm, he moved towards the door.
Lieutenant Watta, who had been sitting beside his Captain, now sprung to his feet, and grasping Doc’s arm, rushed towards the door, attempting to lead him out.
Doc, however, hung back, and having extricated himself, said in a low tone, “Watta, keep cool!” and he sat down again.
“I won’t keep cool!” retorted the lieutenant. This white-livered judge has shown partiality. Look at the arms in this court room! and Rives is afraid!” (with a sneer.) “They may shed my blood if they can, but I won’t keep still and see my captain arrested for contempt just because in questioning, he got ahead of these unrebuked and cowardly bullies when you humbled us all, on the Fourth of July, to avoid a fuss and concilliate their lordships;” and the enraged man strode out of the building, threw the gate back upon its hinges, and standing in the opening thus made, drew himself to his full height, and threw out his empty palms exclaiming
“I carry no arms; but we’ve got arms.”