CHAPTER XXII. THE WORSHIPPERS.

enwasamightyhunterhehadthebestpackofdogswithinthirtymilesroundandhisadvertisements,stilltobeseenstandinginthepapersofhisnativestate,detailedwithgreataccuracytheprecisetermsonwhichhewouldhuntdownandcaptureanyman,woman,orchild,escapingfromserviceandlaborinthatcountry.OurreadersmustnotnecessarilysupposeBentohavebeenamonsterforallthis,whentheyrecollectthat,withinafewyears,boththegreatpoliticalpartiesofourUnionsolemnlypledgedthemselves,asfarasinthemlay,toacceptasimilarvocationand,asmanyofthemwereingoodandregularstandinginchurches,andhadministerstopreachsermonstothesameeffect,wetrustthey'llentertainnounreasonableprejudiceagainstBenonthisaccount. Infact,Benwasatall,broad-shouldered,bluff,hearty-lookingfellow,whowoulddoakindturnforaneighborwithasmuchgood-willasanybodyand,exceptthathenowandthentookalittletoomuchwhiskey,ashehimselfadmitted,heconsideredhimselfquiteaspromisingacandidateforthekingdomasanyofthecompanywhoweregoinguptocamp-meeting.HadanyoneventuredtoremonstratewithBenagainstthenatureofhisprofession,hewouldprobablyhavedefendeditbyprettymuchthesameargumentsbywhichmoderntheologiansdefendtheinstitutionofwhichitisabranch. Benwasjustoneofthosejovialfellowswhonevercouldbeartobeleftbehindinanythingthatwasgoingoninthecommunity,andwasalwaysoneoftheforemostinacamp-meeting.Hehadabig,loudvoice,andcouldrolloutthechorusofhymnswithastonishingeffect.Hewasgenerallyconvertedateverygatheringofthiskindthough,throughthemelancholyproclivitytowhiskey,beforealludedto,heusuallyfellfromgracebeforetheyearwasout.Likemanyotherbigandheartymen,hehadalittle,pale,witheredmoonshinywispofawife,whohungonhiselbowmuchlikeanemptywork-bagandBen,todohimjustice,waskindtothewiltedlittlemortal,asifhealmostsuspectedthathehadabsorbedhervitalityintohisownexuberantgrowth.Shewasgreatlygiventoeatingclay,cleaningherteethwithsnuff,andsingingMethodisthymns,andhadaverysincereconcernforBen'ssalvation.Thelittlewomansatresignedlyonthemorningwespeakof,whilealong-limbed,broad-shoulderedchild,oftwoyears,withbristlywhitehair,waspullingherbyherearsandhair,andotherwisemaltreatingher,tomakehergetuptogivehimapieceofbreadandmolassesandshe,withoutseemingtoattendtothechild,wasgivingearnestheedtoherhusband. "There'sadespitpressofbusinessnow!"saidBen."There'sJames'sniggers,andSmith'sPolly,andweoughttobeonthetrail,rightaway!" "Oh,Ben,yououghtto'tendtoyoursalvationaforeanythingelse!"saidhiswife. "That'strueenough!"saidBen"meetingsdon'tcomeeveryday.Butwhatarewetodowithdisyer'un?"pointingtothedoorofaninnerroom. "Disyer'un"wasnootherthananegro-woman,namedNance,whohadbeenbroughtinbythedogs,thedaybefore. "Laws!"saidhiswife,"wecansethersomethingtoeat,andleavethedogsinfrontofthedoor.Shecan'tgetout." Benthrewopenthedoor,anddisplayedtoviewalowkindofhutch,withoutanyotherlightthanthatbetweenthecrevicesofthelogs.Onthefloor,whichwasofhard-troddenearth,satasinewy,leannegro-woman,drawingupherkneeswithherlongarms,andrestingherchinuponthem. "Hollo,Nance,howareyou?"saidBen,rathercheerily. "Por'ly,mas'r,"saidtheother,inasullentone. "Nance,youthinkyouroldmanwillwhaleyou,whenhegetsyou?"saidBen. "Ireckonshewill,"saidNance"heallersdoes." "Well,Nance,theoldwomanandIwanttogotoacamp-meetingandI'lljusttellyouwhatitis,—youstayherequiet,whilewearegone,andI'llmaketheoldfellowpromisenottowallopyou.Iwouldn'tmindtakingoffsomethingoftheprice—that'sfair,an'tit?" "Yes,mas'r!"saidthewoman,inthesamesubduedtone. "Doesyourfoothurtyoumuch?"saidBen. "Yes,mas'r!"saidthewoman. "Letmelookatit,"saidBen. Thewomanputoutonefoot,whichhadbeenlooselyboundupinoldrags,nowsaturatedinblood. "Ideclar,ifthatardogan'tapealer!"saidBen."Nance,yououghtterhavestoodstillthenhewouldn'thavehurtyouso." "Lord,hehurtmesoIcouldn'tstandstill!"saidthewoman."Itan'tnaturtostandstillwithacritter'steethinyerfoot." "Well,Idon'tknowasitis,"saidBen,good-naturedly."Here,MissDakin,youbindupthisheregal'sfoot.Stopyournoise,sir-ee!"headded,totheyoungaspirantforbreadandmolasses,who,havingdespatchedonepiece,wasclamoringvigorouslyforanother. "I'lltellyouwhat!"saidBentohiswife,"IamgoingtotalktothataroldElderSettle.Irunsmoreniggersforhimthananymaninthecounty,andIknowthere'ssomereasonforit.Niggersdon'trunintoswampswhenthey'streatedwell.Folksthatprofessesreligion,Ithink,oughtn'ttostarvetheirniggers,noway!" SoonthevehicleofBenwasalsoontheroad.Hegatheredupthereinsvigorously,threwbackhisheadtogetthefullbenefitofhislungs,andcommencedavehementcamp-meetingmelody,tothetuneof "AmIasoldierofthecross, AfolloweroftheLamb?" Ahymn,bytheby,whic