"I care not if I were in your hands," replied I; "I am as strong as
you." For I had thought so many a day, and meant to prove it.

"Indeed! well, come here, and let us try."

"No, no," replied I; "I'm not such a fool as you say I am--not that
I'm afraid of you; for I shall have an axe in my hand always ready,
and you will not find another."

"I wish that I had tossed you over the cliffs when you were a
child," said he, bitterly, "instead of nursing you and bringing you
up."

"Then why have you not been kind to me? As far back as I can
remember you have always treated me ill; you have made me work for
you; and yet never even spoken kindly to me. I have wanted to know
things, and you have never answered my questions, but called me a
fool, and told me to hold my tongue. You have made me hate you, and
you have often told me how you hated me--you know you have."

"It's true, quite true," replied he, as if talking to himself. "I
have done all that he says, and I have hated him. But I have had
cause. Come here, boy."

"No," replied I; "do you come here. You have been master, and I have
been boy, long enough. Now I am master and you are boy, and you shall
find it so."

Having said this, I walked out of the cabin and left him. He cried