The Octoroon

Point. Fifteen thousand bid for the Octoroon.

Enter Dora, L. U. E

Dora. Twenty thousand.

Omnes. Bravo!

M'Closky. Twenty-five thousand.

Omnes. [Groan.] O! O!

George. [L.] Yelping hound – take that. [Rushes on M'Closky – M'Closkydraws his knife.]

Scud. [Darts between them.] Hold on, George Peyton – stand back. This is your own house; we are under your uncle's roof; recollect yourself. And, strangers, ain't we forgetting there's a lady present. [The knives disappear.] If we can't behave like Christians, let's try and act like gentlemen. Go on, Colonel.

Lafouche. He didn't ought to bid against a lady.

M'Closky. O, that's it, is it? Then I'd like to hire a lady to go to auction and buy my hands.

Point. Gentlemen, I believe none of us have two feelings about the conduct of that man; but he has the law on his side – we may regret, but we must respect it. Mr. M'Closky has bid twenty-five thousand dollars for the Octoroon. Is there any other bid? For the first time, twenty-five thousand – last time! [Brings hammer down.] To Jacob M'Closky, the Octoroon girl, Zoe, twenty-five thousand dollars. [Tableaux.]

END OF ACT THIRD

Act IV

Scene. – The Wharf, The Steamer "Magnolia" alongside, L.; a bluff rock, R. U. E.

Ratts discovered, superintending the loading of ship. Enter Lafoucheand Jackson, L

Jackson. How long before we start, captain?

Raits. Just as soon as we put this cotton on board.

Enter Pete, with lantern, and Scudder, with note book, R

Scud. One hundred and forty-nine bales. Can you take any more?

Ratts. Not a bale. I've got engaged eight hundred bales at the next landing, and one hundred hogsheads of sugar at Patten's Slide – that'll take my guards under – hurry up thar.

Voice. [Outside.] Wood's aboard.

Ratts. All aboard then.

Enter M'Closky, R

Scud. Sign that receipt, captain, and save me going up to the clerk.

M'Closky. See here – there's a small freight of turpentine in the fore hold there, and one of the barrels leaks; a spark from your engines might set the ship on fire, and you'd go with it.

Ratts. You be darned! Go and try it, if you've a mind to.

Lafouche. Captain, you've loaded up here until the boat is sunk so deep in the mud she won't float.

Ratts. [Calls off.] Wood up thar, you Polio – hang on to the safety valve – guess she'll crawl off on her paddles. [Shouts heard, R.]

Jackson. What's the matter?

Enter Solon, R

Solon. We got him!

Scud. Who?

Solon. The Injiun!

Scud. Wahnotee? Where is he? D'ye call running away from a fellow catching him?

Ratts. Here he comes.

Omnes. Where? Where?

Enter Wahnotee, R.; they are all about to rush on him

Scud. Hold on! stan' round thar! no violence – the critter don't know what we mean.

Jackson. Let him answer for the boy, then.

M'Closky. Down with him – lynch him.

Omnes. Lynch him!

[Exit Lafouche, R.

Scud. Stan' back, I say I I'll nip the first that lays a finger on Him. Pete, speak to the red-skin.

Pete. Whar's Paul, Wahnotee? What's come ob de child?

Wahnotee. Paul wunce – Paul pangeuk.

Pete. Pangeuk – dead.

Wahnotee. Mort!

M'Closky. And you killed him? [They approach again.]

Scud. Hold on!

Pete. Um, Paul reste?

Wahnotee. Hugh vieu. [Goes L.] Paul reste el!

Scud. Here, stay! [Examines the ground.] The earth has been stirred here lately.

Wahnotee. Weenee Paul. [Points down, and shows by pantomime how he buried Paul.]

Scud. The Injiun means that he buried him there! Stop! here's a bit of leather; [draws out mail-bags] the mail-bags that were lost! [Sees tomahawk in Wahnotee's belt – draws it out and examines it.] Look! here are marks of blood – look thar, red-skin, what's that?

Wahnotee. Paul! [Makes sign that Paul was killed by a blow on the head.]

M'Closky. He confesses it; the Indian got drunk, quarreled with him, and killed him.

Re-enter Lafouche, R., with smashed apparatus

Lafouche. Here are evidences of the crime; this rum-bottle half emptied – this photographic apparatus smashed – and there are marks of blood and footsteps around the shed.

M'Closky. What more d'ye want – ain't that proof enough? Lynch him!

Omnes. Lynch him! Lynch him!

Scud. Stan' back, boys! He's an Injiun – fair play.

Jackson. Try him, then – try him on the spot of his crime.

Omnes. Try him! Try him!

Lafouche. Don't let him escape!

Ratts. I'll see to that. [Draws revolver.] If he stirs, I'll put a bullet through his skull, mighty quick.

M'Closky. Come, form a court then, choose a jury – we'll fix this varmin.

Enter Thibodeaux and Caillou, L

Thibo. What's the matter?

Lafouche. We've caught this murdering Injiun, and are going to try him. [Wahnotee sits L., rolled in blanket.]

Pete. Poor little Paul – poor little nigger!

Scud. This business goes agin me, Ratts – 'tain't right.

Lafouche. We're ready; the jury's impanelled – go ahead – who'll be accuser?

Ratts. M'Closky.

M'Closky. Me?

Ratts. Yes; you was the first to hail Judge Lynch.

M'Closky. [R.] Well, what's the use of argument whar guilt sticks out so plain; the boy and Injiun were alone when last seen.

Scud. (L. C.) Who says that?

M'Closky. Everybody – that is, I heard so.

Scud. Say what you know – not what you heard.

M'Closky. I know then that the boy was killed with that tomahawk – the red-skin owns it – the signs of violence are all round the shed – this apparatus smashed – ain't it plain that in a drunken fit he slew the boy, and when sober concealed the body yonder?

Omnes. That's it – that's it.

Ratts. Who defends the Injiun?

Scud. I will; for it is agin my natur' to b'lieve him guilty; and if he be, this ain't the place, nor you the authority to try him. How are we sure the boy is dead at all? There are no witnesses but a rum bottle and an old machine. Is it on such evidence you'd hang a human being?

Ratts. His own confession.

Scud. I appeal against your usurped authority. This lynch law is a wild and lawless proceeding. Here's a pictur' for a civilized community to afford; yonder, a poor, ignorant savage, and round him a circle of hearts, white with revenge and hate, thirsting for his blood; you call yourselves judges – you ain't – you're a jury of executioners. It is such scenes as these that bring disgrace upon our Western life.

M'Closky. Evidence! Evidence! Give us evidence. We've had talk enough; now for proof.

Omnes. Yes, yes! Proof, proof.

Scud. Where am I to get it? The proof is here, in my heart.

Pete. [Who has been looking about the camera.] Top, sar! Top a bit! O, laws-a-mussey, see dis; here's a pictur' I found stickin' in that yar telescope machine, sar! look sar!

Scud. A photographic plate. [Pete holds lantern up.] What's this, eh? two forms! The child – 'tis he! dead – and above him – Ah! ah! Jacob M'Closky, 'twas you murdered that boy!

M'Closky. Me?

Scud. You! You slew him with that tomahawk; and as you stood over his body with the letter in your hand, you thought that no witness saw the deed, that no eye was on you – but there was, Jacob M'Closky, there was. The eye of the Eternal was on you – the blessed sun in heaven, that, looking down, struck upon this plate the image of the deed. Here you are, in the very attitude of your crime!

M'Closky. 'Tis false!

Scud. 'Tis true! the apparatus can't lie. Look there, jurymen. [Shows plate to jury.] Look there. O, you wanted evidence – you called for proof – Heaven has answered and convicted you.

M'Closky. What court of law would receive such evidence? [Going.]

Ratts. Stop; this would. You called it yourself; you wanted to make us murder that Injiun; and since we've got our hands in for justice, we'll try it on you. What say ye? shall we have one law for the red-skin and another for the white?

Omnes. Try him! Try him!

Ratts. Who'll be accuser?

Scud. I will! Fellow-citizens, you are convened and assembled here under a higher power than the law. What's the law? When the ship's abroad on the ocean, when the army is before the enemy where in thunder's the law? It is in the hearts of brave men, who can tell right from wrong, and from whom justice can't be bought. So it is here, in the wilds of the West, where our hatred of crime is measured by the speed of our executions – where necessity is law! I say, then, air you honest men? air you true? Put your hands on your naked breasts, and let every man as don't feel a real American heart there, bustin' up with freedom, truth, and right, let that man step out – that's the oath I put to ye – and then say, Darn ye, go it!

Omnes. Go on. Go on.

Scud. No! I won't go on; that man's down. I won't strike him, even with words. Jacob, your accuser is that picter of the crime – let that speak – defend yourself.

M'Closky. [Draws knife.] I will, quicker than lightning.

Ratts. Seize him, then! [They rush on M'Closky, and disarm him.] He can fight though he's a painter; claws all over.

Scud. Stop! Search him, we may find more evidence.

M'Closky. Would you rob me first, and murder me afterwards?

Ratts. [Searching him.] That's his programme – here's a pocket-book.

Scud. [Opens it.] What's here? Letters! Hello! To "Mrs. Peyton, Terrebonne, Louisiana, United States." Liverpool post mark. Ho! I've got hold of the tail of a rat – come out. [Reads.] What's this? A draft for eighty-five thousand dollars, and credit on Palisse and Co., of New Orleans, for the balance. Hi! the rat's out. You killed the boy to steal this letter from the mail-bags – you stole this letter, that the money should not arrive in time to save the Octoroon; had it done so, the lien on the estate would have ceased, and Zoe be free.

Omnes. Lynch him! Lynch him! Down with him!

Scud. Silence in the court; stand back, let the gentlemen of the jury retire, consult, and return their verdict.

Ratts. I'm responsible for the crittur – go on.

Pete. [To Wahnotee.] See Injiun; look dar [shows him plate], see dat innocent: look, dar's de murderer of poor Paul.

Wahnotee. Ugh! [Examines plate.]

Pete. Ya! – as he? Closky tue Paul – kill de child with your tomahawk dar; 'twasn't you, no – ole Pete allus say so. Poor Injiun lub our little Paul. [Wahnotee rises and looks at M'Closky– he is in his war paint and fully armed.]

Scud. What say ye, gentlemen? Is the prisoner guilty, or is he not guilty?

Omnes. Guilty!

Scud. And what is to be his punishment?

Omnes. Death! [All advance.]

Wahnotee. [Crosses to M'Closky.] Ugh!

Scud. No, Injiun; we deal out justice here, not revenge. 'Tain't you he has injured, 'tis the white man, whose laws he has offended.

Ratts. Away with him – put him down the aft hatch, till we rig his funeral.

M'Closky. Fifty against one! O! if I had you one by one, alone in the swamp, I'd rip ye all. [He is borne off in boat, struggling.]

Scud. Now then to business.

Pete. [Re-enters from boat.] O, law, sir, dat debil Closky, he tore hisself from de gen'lam, knock me down, take my light, and trows it on de turpentine barrels, and de shed's all afire! [Fire seen, R.]

Jackson. [Re-entering.] We are catching fire forward; quick, set free from the shore.

Ratts. All hands aboard there – cut the starn ropes – give her headway!

All. Ay, ay! [Cry of "fire" heard – Engine bells heard – steam whistle noise.]

Ratts. Cut all away for'ard – overboard with every bale afire.

The Steamer moves off – fire kept up —M'Closky re-enters, R.,swimming on

M'Closky. Ha! have I fixed ye? Burn! burn! that's right. You thought you had cornered me, did ye? As I swam down, I thought I heard something in the water, as if pursuing me – one of them darned alligators, I suppose – they swarm hereabout – may they crunch every limb of ye!

[Exit, L.Wahnote swims on – finds trail – follows him. The Steamer floats on at back, burning. TableauxCURTAINEND OF ACT FOURTH

ACT V

Scene I. – Negroes' Quarters in 1 Enter Zoe, L. 1. E

Zoe. It wants an hour yet to daylight – here is Pete's hut – [Knocks.] He sleeps – no; I see a light.

Dido. [Enters from hut, R. F.] Who dat?

Zoe. Hush, aunty! 'Tis I – Zoe.

Dido. Missey Zoe! Why you out in de swamp dis time ob night – you catch de fever sure – you is all wet.

Zoe. Where's Pete?

Dido. He gone down to de landing last night wid Mas'r Scudder; not come back since – kint make it out.

Zoe. Aunty, there is sickness up at the house; I have been up all night beside one who suffers, and I remembered that when I had the fever you gave me a drink, a bitter drink, that made me sleep – do you remember it?

Dido. Didn't I? Dem doctors ain't no 'count; dey don't know nuffin.

Zoe. No; but you, aunty, you are wise – you know every plant, don't you, and what it is good for?

Dido. Dat you drink is fust rate for red fever. Is de folks head bad?

Zoe. Very bad, aunty; and the heart aches worse, so they can get no rest.

Dido. Hold on a bit, I get you de bottle.

[Exit, L. R.

Zoe. In a few hours that man, my master, will come for me; he has paid my price, and he only consented to let me remain here this one night, because Mrs. Peyton promised to give me up to him to-day.

Dido. [Re-enters with phial.] Here 'tis – now you give one timble-full – dat's nuff.

Zoe. All there is there would kill one, wouldn't it?

Dido. Guess it kill a dozen – nebber try.

Zoe. It's not a painful death, aunty, is it? You told me it produced a long, long sleep.

Dido. Why you tremble so? Why you speak so wild? What you's gwine to do, missey?

Zoe. Give me the drink.

Dido. No. Who dat sick at de house?

Zoe. Give it to me.

Dido. No. You want to hurt yourself. O, Miss Zoe, why you ask ole Dido for dis pizen?

Zoe. Listen to me. I love one who is here, and he loves me – George. I sat outside his door all night – I heard his sighs – his agony – torn from him by my coming fate; and he said, "I'd rather see her dead than his!"

Dido. Dead!

Zoe. He said so – then I rose up, and stole from the house, and ran down to the bayou; but its cold, black, silent stream terrified me – drowning must be so horrible a death. I could not do it. Then, as I knelt there, weeping for courage, a snake rattled beside me. I shrunk from it and fled. Death was there beside me, and I dared not take it. O! I'm afraid to die; yet I am more afraid to live.

Dido. Die!

Zoe. So I came here to you; to you, my own dear nurse; to you, who so often hushed me to sleep when I was a child; who dried my eyes and put your little Zoe to rest. Ah! give me the rest that no master but One can disturb – the sleep from which I shall awake free! You can protect me from that man – do let me die without pain. [Music.]

Dido. No, no – life is good for young ting like you.

Zoe. O! good, good nurse: you will, you will.

Dido. No – g'way.

Zoe. Then I shall never leave Terrebonne – the drink, nurse; the drink; that I may never leave my home – my dear, dear home. You will not give me to that man? Your own Zoe, that loves you, aunty, so much, so much. – [Gets phial.] Ah! I have it.

Dido. No, missey. O! no – don't.

Zoe. Hush!

[Runs off, L. 1. E.

Dido. Here, Solon, Minnie, Grace.

They enter

All. Was de matter?

Dido. Miss Zoe got de pizen.

[Exit, L.

All. O! O!

[Exeunt, L. Scene II. – Cane-brake Bayou. – Bank, C.– Triangle Fire, R. C.– Canoe, C. – M'Closky discovered asleep

M'Closky. Burn, burn! blaze away! How the flames crack. I'm not guilty; would ye murder me? Cut, cut the rope – I choke – choke! – Ah! [Wakes.] Hello! where am I? Why, I was dreaming – curse it! I can never sleep now without dreaming. Hush! I thought I heard the sound of a paddle in the water. All night, as I fled through the cane-brake, I heard footsteps behind me. I lost them in the cedar swamp – again they haunted my path down the bayou, moving as I moved, resting when I rested – hush! there again! – no; it was only the wind over the canes. The sun is rising. I must launch my dug-out, and put for the bay, and in a few hours I shall be safe from pursuit on board of one of the coasting schooners that run from Galveston to Matagorda. In a little time this darned business will blow over, and I can show again. Hark! there's that noise again! If it was the ghost of that murdered boy haunting me! Well – I didn't mean to kill him, did I? Well, then, what has my all-cowardly heart got to skeer me so for? [Music.]

[Gets in canoe and rows off, L. – Wahnotee paddles canoe on, R. —gets out and finds trail – paddles off after him, L.] Scene III. – Cedar Swamp Enter Scudder and Pete, L. 1. E

Scud. Come on, Pete, we shan't reach the house before midday.

Pete. Nebber mind, sar, we bring good news – it won't spile for de keeping.

Scud. Ten miles we've had to walk, because some blamed varmin onhitched our dug-out. I left it last night all safe.

Pete. P'r'aps it floated away itself.

Scud. No; the hitching line was cut with a knife.

Pete. Say, Mas'r Scudder, s'pose we go in round by de quarters and raise de darkies, den dey cum long wid us, and we 'proach dat ole house like Gin'ral Jackson when he took London out dar.

Scud. Hello, Pete, I never heard of that affair.

Pete. I tell you, sar – hush!

Scud. What? [Music.]

Pete. Was dat? – a cry out dar in de swamp – dar agin!

Scud. So it is. Something forcing its way through the undergrowth – it comes this way – it's either a bear or a runaway nigger. [Draws pistol —M'Closky rushes on and falls at Scudder's feet.]

Scud. Stand off – what are ye?

Pete. Mas'r Clusky.

M'Closky. Save me – save me! I can go no farther. I heard voices.

Scud. Who's after you?

M'Closky. I don't know, but I feel it's death! In some form, human, or wild beast, or ghost, it has tracked me through the night. I fled; it followed. Hark! there it comes – it comes – don't you hear a footstep on the dry leaves?

Scud. Your crime has driven you mad.

M'Closky. D'ye hear it – nearer – nearer – ah! [Wahnotee rushes on, and at M'Closky, L. H.]

Scud. The Injiun! by thunder.

Pete. You'se a dead man, Mas'r Clusky – you got to b'lieve dat.

M'Closky. No – no. If I must die, give me up to the law; but save me from the tomahawk. You are a white man; you'll not leave one of your own blood to be butchered by the red-skin?

Scud. Hold on now, Jacob; we've got to figure on that – let us look straight at the thing. Here we are on the selvage of civilization. It ain't our sile, I believe, rightly; but Nature has said that where the white man sets his foot, the red man and the black man shall up sticks and stand around. But what do we pay for that possession? In cash? No – in kind – that is, in protection, forbearance, gentleness; in all them goods that show the critters the difference between the Christian and the savage. Now, what have you done to show them the distinction? for, darn me, if I can find out.

M'Closky. For what I have done, let me be tried.

Scud. You have been tried – honestly tried and convicted. Providence has chosen your executioner. I shan't interfere.

Pete. O, no; Mas'r Scudder, don't leave Mas'r Closky like dat – don't, sa – 'tain't what good Christian should do.

Scud. D'ye hear that, Jacob? This old nigger, the grandfather of the boy you murdered, speaks for you – don't that go through you? D'ye feel it? Go on, Pete, you've waked up the Christian here, and the old hoss responds. [Throws bowie-knife to M'Closky.] Take that, and defend yourself.

Exit Scudder and Pete, R. 1. E. – Wahnotee faces him. – Fight – buss. M'Closky runs off, L. 1. E. – Wahnote follows him. – Screams outside Scene IV. – Parlor at Terrebonne Enter Zoe, C. [Music.]

Zoe. My home, my home! I must see you no more. Those little flowers can live, but I cannot. To-morrow they'll bloom the same – all will be here as now, and I shall be cold. O! my life, my happy life; why has it been so bright?

Enter Mrs. Peyton and Dora, C

Dora. Zoe, where have you been?

Mrs. P. We felt quite uneasy about you.

Zoe. I've been to the negro quarters. I suppose I shall go before long, and I wished to visit all the places, once again, to see the poor people.

Mrs. P. Zoe, dear, I'm glad to see you more calm this morning.

Dora. But how pale she looks, and she trembles so.

Zoe. Do I? [Enter George, C.] Ah! he is here.

Dora. George, here she is!

Zoe. I have come to say good-by, sir; two hard words – so hard, they might break many a heart; mightn't they?

George. O, Zoe! can you smile at this moment?

Zoe. You see how easily I have become reconciled to my fate – so it will be with you. You will not forget poor Zoe! but her image will pass away like a little cloud that obscured your happiness a while – you will love each other; you are both too good not to join your hearts. Brightness will return amongst you. Dora, I once made you weep; those were the only tears I caused any body. Will you forgive me?

Dora. Forgive you – [Kisses her.]

Zoe. I feel you do, George.

George. Zoe, you are pale. Zoe! – she faints!

Zoe. No; a weakness, that's all – a little water. [Dora gets water.] I have a restorative here – will you poor it in the glass? [Doraattempts to take it.] No; not you – George. [George pours contents of phial in glass.] Now, give it to me. George, dear George, do you love me?

George. Do you doubt it, Zoe?

Zoe. No! [Drinks.]

Dora. Zoe, if all I possess would buy your freedom, I would gladly give it.