"Take hold of him--take hold of him!" said Covey.

With a toss of his head, peculiar to Bill, he said, "indeed, Mr.Covey I want to go to work." _"This is_ your work," said Covey; "take hold of him." Bill replied, with spirit, "My master hired me here, to work, and _not_ to help you whip Frederick." It was now my turn to speak.

"Bill," said I, "don't put your hands on me." To which he replied, "My GOD! Frederick, I ain't goin' to tech ye," and Bill walked off, leaving Covey and myself to settle our matters as best we might.
But, my present advantage was threatened when I saw Caroline (the slave-woman of Covey) coming to the cow yard to milk, for she was a powerful woman, and could have mastered me very easily, exhausted as I now was.

As soon as she came into the yard, Covey attempted to rally her to his aid.

Strangely--and, I may add, fortunately--Caroline was in no humor to take a hand in any such sport.