One Drop of Blood by Scott Malcomson

Author:Scott Malcomson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Published: 2000-12-29T05:00:00+00:00

The black man shows Tom the trees roundabout, on which he has carved the names of prominent men toward whom he bears ill will—notably Deacon Peabody, “an eminent man, who had waxed wealthy by driving shrewd bargains with the Indians.” Having carved the names, the black man would chop the trees and bring death on the named men.

“But what right have you,” said Tom, “to cut down Deacon Peabody’s timber?”

“The right of a prior claim,” said the other. “This woodland belonged to me long before one of your white-faced race put foot upon the soil.”

“And pray, who are you, if I may be so bold?” said Tom.

“Oh, I go by various names. I am the wild huntsman in some countries; the black miner in others. In this neighborhood, I am known by the name of the black woodsman. I am he to whom the red men consecrated this spot, and in honor of whom they now and then roasted a white man, by way of sweet-smelling sacrifice. Since the red men have been exterminated by you white savages, I amuse myself by presiding at the persecutions of Quakers and Anabaptists; I am the great patron and prompter of slave-dealers, and the grand-master of the Salem witches.”

“The upshot of all which is, that, if I mistake not,” said Tom, sturdily, “you are he commonly called Old Scratch.”

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