He used frequently to curse and swear about him, and devise plans for punishing him on account of his impudence as he called it.
A pretext was at last afforded him.

Sometime in August of this year, there was a large quantity of yellow unpicked cotton lying in the gin house.

Harry was employed at night in removing the cotton see, which has been thrown out by the gin.

The rest of the male hands were engaged during the day in weeding the cotton for the last time, and in the nigh, in burning brush on the new lands clearing for the next year's crop.
Harry was told one evening to go with the others and assist in burning the brush.

He accordingly went and the next night a double quantity of seed had accumulated in the gin house: and although he worked until nearly 2 o'clock in the morning, he could not remove it all.
The next morning the overseer came into the field, and demanded of me why I had not whipped Harry for not removing all the cotton seed.