1 A place was cleared, and the bidding began.
2 The bidding for the poor old creature was summary.
3 It's always safest, all round, to do as He bids us.
4 He is silent; the auctioneer grows warmer; but bids gradually drop off.
5 The fellow made me a high bid on Eliza, if that would suit you any better, said Mr. Shelby.
6 "I'll do anything in reason," said the benevolent-looking gentleman, pressing in and joining with the bids.
7 A crowd of all the old and young hands on the place stood gathered around it, to bid farewell to their old associate.
8 The auctioneer sees his advantage, and expatiates volubly in mingled French and English, and bids rise in rapid succession.
9 His fine figure, alert limbs, and bright face, raised an instant competition, and half a dozen bids simultaneously met the ear of the auctioneer.
10 My servants were my father's, and, what is more, my mother's; and now they are mine, they and their increase, which bids fair to be a pretty considerable item.
11 He owned to that, and, when I bid him tell me where they was, he up and said he knew, but he wouldn't tell; and stood to it, though I gave him the cussedest flogging I ever gave nigger yet.
12 Two of these, on opposite sides of the area, were now occupied by brilliant and talented gentlemen, enthusiastically forcing up, in English and French commingled, the bids of connoisseurs in their various wares.