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
out, "Don't leave me," but I heeded him not, and sat down at the edge
of the fiat ledge of the rock before the cabin. Looking at the white
dancing waves, and deep in my own thoughts, I considered a long while
how I should behave towards him. I did not wish him to die, as I knew
he must if I left him. He could not obtain water from the rill
without a great chance of falling over the cliff. In fact, I was now
fully aware of his helpless state; to prove it to myself, I rose and
shut my own eyes; tried if I could venture to move on such dangerous
ground, and I felt sure that I could not. He was then in my power; he
could do nothing; he must trust to me for almost everything. I had
said, let what would follow, I would be master and he boy; but that
could not be, as I must still attend upon him, or he would die. At
last the thought came suddenly upon me—I will be master,
nevertheless, for now he shall answer me all my questions, tell me
all he knows, or he shall starve. He is in my power. He shall now do
what I have ever tried to make him do, and he has ever refused.
Having thus arranged my plans, I returned to the cabin, and said to
him:
"Hear what I say—I will be kind to you, and not leave you to
starve, if you will do what I ask."
"And what is that?" replied he.
"For a long while I have asked you many questions, and you have
refused to answer them. Instead of telling me what I would know, you
have beaten or thrown stones at me, called me names, and threatened
me. I now give you your choice—either you shall promise to answer
every question that I put to you, or you may live how you can, for I
shall leave you to help yourself. If you do as I wish, I will do all
I can to help you, but if you will not, thank yourself for what may
happen. Recollect, I am master now; so take your choice."
"Well," replied he slowly, "it's a judgment upon me, and I must
agree to it. I will do what you wish."
"Well, then, to begin," said I, "I have often asked you what your
name was, and what was mine. I must call you something, and Master I
will not, for I am master now. What is your name?"
He groaned, ground his teeth, and then said, "Edward Jackson."
"Edward Jackson! very well; and my name?"
"No, I cannot bear the name. I cannot say it," replied he, angrily.
"Be it so," replied I. "Then I leave you."
"Will you bring me some water for my eyes? they burn," said he.
"No, I will not, nor anything else, unless you tell me my name."
"Frank Henniker—and curses on it."
"Frank Henniker. Well, now you shall have the water."
I went out, filled a kid, and put it by his side,
"There is the water, Jackson; if you want anything, call me. I shall
be outside."
"I have gained the mastery," thought I,—"it will be my turn now. He
don't like to answer, but he shall, or he shall starve. Why does he
feel so angry at my name? Henniker! what is the meaning of Henniker,
I wonder? I will make him tell me. Yes, he shall tell me everything."
I may here observe, that as for pity and compassion, I did not know
such feelings. I had been so ill-treated, that I only felt that might
was right; and this right I determined upon exercising to the utmost.
I felt an inconceivable pleasure at the idea of my being the master,
and he the boy. I felt the love of power, the pride of superiority. I
then revolved in my mind the daily task which I would set him, before
he should receive his daily sustenance. He should talk now as much as
I pleased, for I was the master. I had been treated as a slave, and I
was now fully prepared to play the tyrant.
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