Semester 2 HW4

Andrew Krell
English 1001
Professor Young
February 21, 2016

After Frederick's death, all the brothers are ready to give up on their fight against slavery.  They have had enough.  Jason speaks for the brothers.  Owen, who is usually the leader of the brothers sits silently, even when asked by his father.  " 'Is that how you want it, Owen?'  Owen, setting atop his horse, looked away" (McBride 122).  

While Onion and Bob wait for Owen, they are found in the woods by pro-slavers named Chase and Randy.  They insist that it is not safe for Onion and Bob to travel alone on the trail, even if Onion claims he has papers.  As a result, Chase insists they travel with them and they are taken to Pikesville Hotel, a middle-rank hotel/whorehouse owned by an elderly white woman named Miss Abby.  

Along the way, Chase claims he saw John Brown get his head chopped off.  However, in Pikesville, he tries to take credit for John Brown's death.  Chase boasts, "I throwed every bullet I had at him sure as you standing there-" (McBride 140) to the several men and later to Pie, a beautiful prostitute with an explosive temper.

Upon seeing her, Onion instantly falls in love with Pie, despite her apparent bad attitude and derogatory comments towards him.  She discovers Onion's secret (the fact that he's a boy) but goes along with the coverup and even convinces Miss Abby to allow him to work waiting tables.    

One evening, Onion decides to visit the local slave pen in search of Bob.  When he sees a feeble-minded old lady named Sibonia, she starts throwing mud balls at him, stopped only by her sister, Libby.  Onion has a conversation with them both, and they can tell that he's a liar.  Once Libby leaves, Sibonia proves that she is faking her insanity when she glares at Onion and says "You sporting trouble, . . . playing folks for a fool" (McBride 164).