_Point._ Now, gentlemen, we shall proceed to business. It ain't necessary for me to dilate, describe, or enumerate; Terrebonne is known to you as one of the richest bits of sile in Louisiana, and its condition reflects credit on them as had to keep it. I'll trouble you for that piece of baccy, Judge--thank you--so, gentlemen, as life is short, we'll start right off. The first lot on here is the estate in block, with its sugar-houses, stock, machines, implements, good dwelling-houses and furniture. If there is no bid for the estate and stuff, we'll sell it in smaller lots. Come, Mr. Thibodeaux, a man has a chance once in his life--here's yours. _Thib._ Go on. What's the reserve bid? _Point._ The first mortgagee bids forty thousand dollars. _Thib._ Forty-five thousand. _Sunny._ Fifty thousand. _Point._ When you have done joking, gentlemen, you'll say one hundred and twenty thousand. It carried that easy on mortgage. _Lafouche._ [R.] Then why don't you buy it yourself, Colonel? _Point._ I'm waiting on your fifty thousand bid. _Caillou._ Eighty thousand. _Point._ Don't be afraid; it ain't going for that, Judge. _Sunny._ [L.] Ninety thousand. _Point._ We're getting on. _Thib._ One hundred-- _Point._ One hundred thousand bid for this mag-- _Caillou._ One hundred and ten thousand-- _Point._ Good again--one hundred and-- _Sunny._ Twenty. _Point._ And twenty thousand bid. Squire Sunnyside is going to sell this at fifty thousand advance to-morrow.--[_Looks round._] Where's that man from Mobile that wanted to give one hundred and eighty thousand? _Thib._ I guess he ain't left home yet, Colonel. _Point._ I shall knock it down to the Squire--going--gone--for one hundred and twenty thousand dollars. [_Raises hammer._] Judge, you can raise the hull on mortgage--going for half its value. [_Knocks._] Squire Sunnyside, you've got a pretty bit o' land, Squire. Hillo, darkey, hand me a smash dar. _Sunny._ I got more than I can work now. _Point._ Then buy the hands along with the property. Now, gentlemen, I'm proud to submit to you the finest lot of field hands and house servants that was ever offered for competition; they speak for themselves, and do credit to their owners.--[_Reads._] "No. 1, Solon, a guess boy, and good waiter." _Pete._ [R. C.] That's my son--buy him, Mas'r Ratts; he's sure to sarve you well. _Point._ Hold your tongue! _Ratts._ [L.] Let the old darkey alone--eight hundred for that boy. _Caillou._ Nine. _Ratts._ A thousand. _Solon._ Thank you, Mas'r Ratts; I die for you, sar; hold up for me, sar. _Ratts._ Look here, the boy knows and likes me, Judge; let him come my way? _Caillou._ Go on--I'm dumb. _Point._ One thousand bid. [_Knocks._] He's yours, Captain Ratts, Magnolia steamer. [Solon _goes down and stands behind_ Ratts.] "No. 2, the yellow girl Grace, with two children--Saul, aged four, and Victoria five." [_They get on table._] _Scud._ That's Solon's wife and children, Judge.