CHAPTER LI. THE SLAVE HUNT.

TomGordon,forthenexttwoorthreedaysafterhisinjury,wasaboutascomfortabletomanageasawoundedhyena.Hehadathousandvaryingcapriceseveryhourandmomentandnowoneandnowanotherprevailed.Themiserablegirlswhowereheldbyhimashisparticularattendantsweretormentedbyeveryspeciesofannoyancewhicharestlessandpassionateman,inhisimpatience,coulddevise. TherecentdeathofMilly'smistressbythecholerahadreducedherunderTom'sauthorityandshewassummonednowfromherworkeveryhourtogivedirectionsandadvice,which,theminutetheyweregiven,wererepudiatedwithcurses. "Ideclare,"saidAuntKaty,thehousekeeper,"ifMas'rTomisn't'noughtouseabodyoffo'derfeet.It'sjistfourtimesI'sgotgruelreadyforhimdislasttwohours—doingallIcouldtosuithimandheswarsatit,andflingsitroundrealundecent.Why,he'sgotfever,anddoeshespecttomakethingstastegoodtohim,whenhe'sgotfever!Why,courseIcan't,andnoneedofhimcallingmeadevil,andallthat!Thatar'sveryunnecessary,Ithink.Idon'tbelieveinnosuch!TheGordonsallersusedtohavesomesenseto'em,eveniftheywascrossbuthean'tgotagrain.Ishouldthinkhewas'sessedwidOldSam,formypart.Bringing'sgraceonusall,thewayhecutsup!Wereallydon'knowhowtoholdupourhead,noneofus.TheGordonshaveallersbeensichagenteelfamily!Laws,wedidn'tknowwhatprivilegeswehadwhenwehadMissNina!Themnewgirls,dressedupinalltheirflouncesandferbuloes!Guesstheyhastotakeit!" Intime,however,eveninspiteofhischafing,andfretfulness,andcontemptofphysicians'prescriptions,Tomseemedtorecover,bythesamekindoffatalitywhichmakesill-weedsthriveapace.Meanwhileheemployedhisleisurehoursinlayingplansofrevenge,tobeexecutedassoonasheshouldbeabletotaketohishorseagain.Amongotherthings,hevoweddeepvengeanceonAbijahSkinflint,who,hesaid,heknewmusthavesoldthepowderandam