Mr.Covey enjoyed the unbounded and very valuable reputation, of being a first rate overseer and _Negro breaker_.
By means of this reputation, he was able to procure his hands for _very trifling_ compensation, and with very great ease.

His interest and his pride mutually suggested the wisdom of passing the matter by, in silence.

The story that he had undertaken to whip a lad, and had been resisted, was, of itself, sufficient to damage him; for his bearing should, in the estimation of slaveholders, be of that imperial order that should make such an occurrence _impossible_.

I judge from these circumstances, that Covey deemed it best to{192} give me the go-by.

It is, perhaps, not altogether creditable to my natural temper, that, after this conflict with Mr.Covey, I did, at times, purposely aim to provoke him to an attack, by refusing to keep with the other hands in the field, but I could never bully him to another battle.