CHAPTER XVIII. DRED.

HarryspentthenightattheplaceofMr.JohnGordon,andarosethenextmorninginaverydiscontentedmoodofmind.NothingismorevexatioustoanactiveandenterprisingpersonthantobethrownintoastateofentireidlenessandHarry,afterloungingaboutforashorttimeinthemorning,foundhisindignationincreasedbyeverymomentofenforcedabsencefromthesceneofhisdailylaborsandinterest.Havingalwaysenjoyedsubstantiallytheprivilegesofafreemanintheabilitytoregulatehistimeaccordingtohisownideas,tocomeandgo,tobuyandsell,andtransactbusinessunfetteredbyanyfeltcontrol,hewasthemorekeenlyalivetothedegradationimpliedinhispresentposition. "HereImustskulkaround,"saidhetohimself,"likeapartridgeinthebushes,allowingeverythingtorunatlooseends,preparingthewayformybeingfoundfaultwithforalazyfellowbyandbyandallforwhat?Becausemyyoungerbrotherchoosestocome,withoutrightorreason,todomineeroverme,toinsultmywifeandbecausethelawswillprotecthiminit,ifhedoesit!Ah!ah!that'sit.Theyareallleaguedtogether!NomatterhowrightIam—nomatterhowbadheis!Everybodywillstandupforhim,andputmedownallbecausemygrandmotherwasborninAfrica,andhisgrandmotherwasborninAmerica.Confounditall,Iwon'tstandit!Whoknowswhathe'llbesayinganddoingtoLisettewhileIamgone?I'llgobackandfacehim,likeaman!I'llkeepstraightaboutmybusiness,and,ifhecrossesme,lethimtakecare!Hehasn'tgotbutonelife,anymorethanIhave.Lethimlookout!" AndHarryjumpeduponhishorse,andturnedhisheadhomeward.Hestruckintoacircuitouspath,whichledalongthatimmensebeltofswampylandtowhichthenameofDismalhasbeengiven.Ashewasridingalong,immersedinthought,theclatterofhorses'feetwasheardinfrontofhim.AsuddenturnoftheroadbroughthimdirectlyfacingtoTomGordonandMr.Jekyl,whohadrisenearlyandstartedoffonhorseback,inordertoreachacertainstagedepotbeforetheheatoftheday.TherewasamomentarypauseonbothsideswhenTomGordon,likeonewhoknowshispower,andisdeterminedtouseittotheutmost,brokeout,scornfully:— "Stop,youd——dnigger,andtellyourmasterwhereyouaregoing!" "Youarenotmymaster!"saidHarry,inwordswhoseconcentratedcalmnessconveyedmorebitternessandwraththancouldhavebeengivenbythemostviolentoutburst. "Youd——dwhelp!"saidTomGordon,strikinghimacrossthefacetwicewithhiswhip,"takethat,andthat!We'llseeifI'mnotyourmaster!There,now,helpyourself,won'tyou?Isn'tthatamaster'smark?" Ithadbeenthelife-longhabitofHarry'spositiontorepresseveryemotionofangerwithinhimself.But,atthismoment,hisfaceworeadeadlyandfrightfulexpression.Still,therewassomethingmajesticandalmostcommandingintheattitudewithwhichhereinedbackhishorse,andslowlyliftedhishandtoHeaven.Hetriedtospeak,buthisvoicewaschokedwithrepressedpa