We passed out together to the auction stand. Selma and her brother ascended the block, while Larkin and I mingled with the buyers, who had collected in even larger numbers than before. The auctioneer brought down his hammer:
'Attention, gentlemen! The sale has begun. I offer you again the girl, Lucy Selma. You've h'ard the description, and (glancing at Joe, and smiling) you know the _conditions_ of the sale. A thousand dollars is bid for the girl, Lucy Selma; do I hear any more? Talk quick, gentlemen; I shan't dwell on this lot; so speak up, if you've anything to say. One thousand once--one thousand twice--one thousand third and last call. Do I hear any more?' A pause of a moment. 'Last call, gentlemen. Going--g-o-i-n-g--go--'
The word was unfinished; the hammer was descending, when a voice called out:
'Whose bid is that?' cried Joe, striding across the bench, the glare of a hyena in his eyes.
'Mine, sir!' said the man, with a look of sudden surprise. His face was shaded by a broad-brimmed Panama hat, and his hair and whiskers were dyed, but there was no mistaking his large, eagle nose, his sharp, pointed chin, and his rat-trap of a mouth. It was Hallet! Springing upon a bench near by, I cried out:
'John Hallet, withdraw that bid, or your time has come! I warn you. You cannot leave this place alive!'
He gave me a quick, startled look--the look of a thief caught in the act--but said nothing.
'A Yankee nigger-trader! A man that seduced and murdered the woman who should have been his wife; that cast out and starved his own child, and now would debauch this poor girl, who is to marry his only son!'
'Wall, he _ar_ a han'some critter.' ''Bout like th' Yankees gin'rally.' 'Clar him out!' cried several voices.
'If you allow him to bid here, you are as bad as he,' I continued, unintentionally fanning the growing excitement.
'Wall, we woan't.' 'Pitch inter him!' 'Douse him in th' pond!' 'Ride him on a rail!' 'Give him a coat uv tar!' and a hundred similar exclamations rose from the crowd, which swayed toward the obnoxious man with a quick, tumultuous motion.
'He'm in de darky trade; leff de darkies handle him!' cried Ally, seizing Hallet by the collar, and dragging him toward the pond.