Study Guide

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing: Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party Part 3, Chapter 4

By M.T. Anderson

Part 3, Chapter 4

A letter from Elijah Tolley to Mr. Gitney, May 6, 1775, Lincoln, Massachusetts:
Tolley describes to Mr. Gitney how his son found a "beast" in their smokehouse.
When Tolley gets there, he notices that it isn't an animal but a N**** boy, about fifteen or seventeen years old, who looks just about dead.
Tolley figures out that they boy is probably a gentleman's valet because he's dressed in fancy clothes.
He tells the boy that he's caught and points his gun at the boy, but Octavian (obviously it's him) just stands up.
And when he does, Octavian's so tall that Tolley gets scared.
He tells Octavian that he'll shoot, but that doesn't scare Octavian—in fact, that's what Octavian wants, and he puts his chest against the gun and asks Tolley to fire the gun.
But Tolley refuses to do it because it would be a sin.
But Octavian's not budging, so finally Tolley goes to hit him over the head, but Octavian fights him off and runs away.
Tolley and his son, along with their neighbors, try to catch him, but he escapes.
They look through the papers for ads and find Mr. Gitney's public notice about Octavian.
They figure it's him and apologize to Mr. Gitney about losing him, although they hope that they might get some financial reward for leading Mr. Gitney in the right direction.

Ask questions, get answers, and discuss with others.

Join today and never see them again.

Get started