--Buckskin was thrust into the sack, feet foremost; the mouth of
it was then gathered round his throat with a string, and I was set to
splice a bight in the rope, so as to fit under his arms without running,
which might have choked him. All things being prepared, the slack end was
thrown over the beam. He was soused in the tub, the word was given to
hoist away, and we ran him up to the roof, and then belayed the rope round
the body of the overseer, who was able to sit on his chair, and that was
all. The cold bath, and the being hung up to dry, speedily sobered the
American, but his arms being within the sack, he could do nothing for his
own emancipation; he kept swearing, however, and entreating, and dancing
with rage, every jerk drawing the cord tighter round the waist of the
overseer, who, unaware of his situation, thought himself bewitched as he
was drawn with violence by starts along the floor, with the chair as it
were glued to him. At length the patient extricated one of his arms, and
laying hold of the beam above him, drew himself up, and then letting go
his hold suddenly, fairly lifted the drunken overseer, chair and all,
several feet from the ground, so as to bring him on a level with himself,
and then, in mid air, began to pummel his counterpoise with right
goodwill. At length, fearful of the consequences from the fury into which
the man had worked himself, Fyall and I dashed out the candles, and fled
to our rooms, where, after barricading the doors, we shouted to the
servants to let the gentlemen down.
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