"Striking through the thought of his dear ones was sound which he could neither ignore nor understand, a sharp, distinct, metallic percussion like the stroke of a blacksmith's hammer upon the anvil..."See in text(I)
In addition to the experience distorting his perception of time, the condemned man’s perception of sound is greatly enhanced. He is not imagining the "sharp, distinct, metallic percussion" but is actually hearing his own watch ticking.
"A piece of dancing driftwood caught his attention and his eyes followed it down the current. How slowly it appeared to move! What a sluggish stream..."See in text(I)
The water is actually moving very swiftly, a fact established in the beginning of the story; the man's perceptions are altered as he is about to die.
"While she was fetching the water her husband approached the dusty horseman and inquired eagerly for news from the front...."See in text(II)
The narrator introduces Farquhar's wife and at the same time gets her out of the way so that the two men can have their conversation about the Owl Creek Bridge. The narrator explains that Mrs. Farquhar is honoring the soldier by serving him with "her own white hands." This honor explains why she doesn't simply order one of her black household slave women to fetch the water. The inclusion of the word "white" is intended to suggest that the job of serving water would ordinarily be done by slaves. Later she will be an important symbol in the story.
"Circumstances of an imperious nature..."See in text(II)
This is most likely the narrator's way of explaining why Farquhar is not in the Confederate army. Under ordinary circumstances, a man of his class would have been expected to fight, not stay home on the plantation.
"Suppose a man--a civilian and student of hanging--should elude the picket post and perhaps get the better of the sentinel," said Farquhar, smiling, "what could he accomplish..."See in text(II)
Peyton sees an opportunity to contribute to the South's war against Union.
"Mrs. Farquhar was only too happy to serve him with her own white hands..."See in text(II)
Mrs. Farquhar, as the wife of a man who owns slaves, is not accustomed to serving food or drink to those who come to her home; she is accustomed to being served.
