She was a wife and a mother; her husband was a valued and favorite slave.

Besides, he was one of the first hands on board of the sloop, and the sloop hands--since they had to represent the plantation abroad--were generally treated tenderly.

The overseer never was allowed to whip Harry; why then should he be allowed to whip Harry's wife?
Thoughts of this kind, no doubt, influenced her; but, for whatever reason, she nobly resisted, and, unlike most of the slaves,{73 COMBAT BETWEEN MR.

SEVIER AND NELLY} seemed determined to make her whipping cost Mr.Sevier as much as possible.

The blood on his (and her) face, attested her skill, as well as her courage and dexterity in using her nails.