“’Now, Mouchat,’ says I, ‘you see the white men can show mercy. Now you must tell all the negroes what has been reported of them; that they regard nothing but the whip; that if they are used gently they are the worse, not the better; and that this is the reason why the white men show them no mercy; and convince them that they would be much better treated and used kindlier if they would show themselves as grateful for kind usage as humble after torment; and see if you can work on them.’ “’Me go, me go,’ says he; ‘me muchee talk to them. They be muchee glad as me be, and do great work to be used kind by de great master.’” _Mast_. Well, but now what testimony have you of this gratitude you speak of? Have you seen any alteration among them? _Jacque_. I come next to that part, sir. About a month after this I caused a report to be spread abroad in the plantation that I had offended you, the great master, and that I was turned out of the plantation, and was to be hanged. Your honour knows that some time ago you sent me upon your particular business into Potuxent River, where I was absent twelve days; then I took the opportunity to have this report spread about among the negroes, to see how it would work. _Mast_. What! to see how Mouchat would take it? _Jacque_. Yes, sir; and it made a discovery indeed. The poor fellow did not believe it presently, but finding I was still absent, he went to the head-clerk, and standing at his door, said nothing, but looked like a fool of ten years old. After some time the upper overseer came out, and seeing him stand there, at first said nothing, supposing he had been sent of some errand; but observing him to stand stock-still, and that he was in the same posture and place during the time that he had passed and repassed two or three times, he stops short the last time of his coming by. “What do you want,” says he to him, “that you stand idle here so long?” “’Me speakee; me tell something,’ says he. “Then the overseer thought some discovery was at hand, and began to listen to him. ‘What would you tell me?’ says he. “’Me tell! Pray,’ says he, ‘where be de other master?’ “He meant he would ask where he was. ‘What other master do you mean?’ says the clerk. ‘What! do you want to speak with the great master? He can’t be spoke with by you. Pray what is your business? Cannot you tell it to me?’ “’No, no; me no speakee the great master—the other master,’ says Mouchat.” “’What! the colonel?’ says the clerk. “’Yes, yes; the colonel,’ says he. “’Why, don’t you know that he is to be hanged to-morrow,’ says the clerk, ‘for making the great master angry?’[9] “’Yes, yes,’ says Mouchat; ‘me know, me know; but me want speak; me tell something.’ “’Well, what would you say?’ says the clerk. “’Oh! me no let him makee de great master angry.’ With that he kneeled down to the clerk. “’What ails you?’ says the clerk. ‘I tell you he must be hanged.’ “’No, no,’ says he; ‘no hang de master. Me kneel for him to great master.’