MD3PAD 697-699

[Toby G Levy]

        Dixon warns the slave driver that inevitably "a slave must kill
his master." The slave driver nervously leaves the room but reminds
Dixon to come to the auction.

        A drinker in the tavern tells Dixon that Baltimore has many
auctions, mainly slaves, horses and tobacco.

        Mason ruminates over the flooding of Pennsylvanians into
Baltimore after Braddock's defeat, and then thinks about how much
affection he now has for Dixon.  Several in Wicks' audience protest at
this point. But Wicks insists that Mason appreciated Dixon's bravery in
acting when it was not strictly required.

        They meet the slaver in the street, driving a group of unsold
slaves, slashing his whip everywhere. He seems to be in a frenzy.  Mason
says to Dixon he will go to "seek assistance."  Dixon asks Mason to look
after him and he steps out into the street, between the whip and the
slaves. He asks to have the whip handed to him. The slaver threatens
Dixon, and Dixon snatches the whip and then punches the slaver in the
face. Dixon threatens to kill the slaver and he begs for mercy, shouting
out the names of his three children.

        Dixon tears a ring of keys from the slaver's belt and frees the
slaves. They thank him but advise him to leave immediately. Dixon still
wants to kill the slaver, but puts the whip inside his coat. He and
Mason run to the stable where their horses are being kept. Dixon gives
his horse, named rebel, an apple and thinks about the Jesuit priest
Christopher Maire's phrase "Instrument of God."

Toby