“Well, you know, you young nigger, you have no business here at this hour of the night.”
“Yes, Massa, I knowed de night am for white folks, and I jus’ cum for to see—”
“Some d—d abolitionist who is trying to get you away.”
“No, no, Massa.”
“Well, come along and we shall see,” saying which he rudely hurried the boy away to a place of safe keeping.
In the early morning Jim was recognized by his master, who vainly tried to extort from him by questioning the cause of his nocturnal ramble. Failing in this, the boy was taken to a blacksmith shop and his thumbs placed end to end in the jaws of a vice.
“Now,” said the master, “tell me why you were abroad last night.”
“I dunno,” replied Jim.
A half turn of the screw, and a groan of pain escaped the boy; another turn and he writhed in agony.
“Now you black son of a b——ch, why were you at the Capitol last night?”