passed his right hand over to seize me. I caught his right hand with
my left, and passing the knife across his wrist, more than half
divided it from his arm. He gave a shriek of surprise and pain, and
fell back.

"He has a knife," exclaimed he, with surprise, holding his severed
wrist with the other hand.

"Yes, he has a knife, and more than one," replied I, "and you see
that he knows how to use it. Will you come again? or will you believe
that I'm master?"

"If you have any charity or mercy, kill me at once," said he, as he
sat up in the moonlight, in the centre of the floor of the cabin.

"Charity and mercy," said I, "what are they? I never heard of them."

"Alas! no," replied he, "I have shewed none--it's a judgment on me--
a judgment on me for my many sins; Lord, forgive me! First my eyes,
now my right hand useless. What next, O Lord of Heaven?"

"Why, your other hand next," replied I, "if you try it again."

Jackson made no reply. He attempted to crawl back to his bed, but,
faint with loss of blood, he dropped senseless on the floor of the
cabin. I looked at him, and satisfied that he would make no more
attempts upon me, I turned away, and fell fast asleep. In about two
hours, I awoke, and looking round, perceived him lying on the floor,
where he had fallen the night before. I went to him and examined him--
was he asleep, or was he dead? He lay in a pool of blood. I felt him,