His air of offended pride was very rueful, and it did indeed seem a pathetic reversal of fortunes for the two races.

To be sure, the youth was a scion of one of the foremost families of South Carolina, and when I considered the wrongs which the black race had encountered from those of his blood, first and last, it seemed as if the most scrupulous Recording Angel might tolerate one final kick to square the account.

But I reproved the corporal, who respectfully disclaimed the charge, and said the kick was an incident of the scuffle.

It certainly was not their habit to show such poor malice; they thought too well of themselves.
His demeanor seemed less lofty, but rather piteous, when he implored me not to put him on board any vessel which was to ascend the upper stream, and hinted, by awful implications, the danger of such ascent.

This meant torpedoes, a peril which we treated, in those days, with rather mistaken contempt.