CHAPTER LIV. THE ESCAPE.

iswellknownthatthereare,duringthegreaterpartoftheyear,lumberersengagedinthecuttingandmakingofshingles,whohaveextensivecampsintheswamp,andlivethereformonthsatatime.Thesecampsaremadebylayingfoundationsoflogsonthespongysoil,thusformingplatformsonwhichrudecabinsareerected.Inthesamemannerroadsareconstructedintodistantpartsoftheswamp,bymeansofwhichtransportationiscarriedon.Thereisalsoacanalcutthroughthemiddleoftheswamp,onwhichsmallsailingcraftpassbackwardsandforwardswithshinglesandproduce. Intheemployoftheselumberersaremultitudesofslaveshiredfromsurroundingproprietors.Theylivehereinasituationofcomparativefreedom,beingobligedtomakeacertainnumberofstavesorshingleswithinastipulatedtime,andbeingfurnishedwithverycomfortableprovision.Livingthussomewhatintheconditionoffreemen,theyaresaidtobemoreintelligent,energetic,andself-respecting,thanthegeneralityofslaves.Thecampofthefugitiveshadnotbeenwithoutintercoursewiththecampoflumberers,somefivemilesdistant.Incasesofstraitstheyhadreceivedsecretsuppliesfromthem,andoneortwoofthemoredaringandintelligentoftheslavelumberershadattendedsomeofDred'smidnightmeetings.Itwasdetermined,therefore,tonegotiatewithoneoftheslaveswhocommandedalighter,orsmallvessel,inwhichlumberwasconveyedtoNorfolk,toassisttheirescape. Onsomeconsultation,however,itwasfoundthatthenumberswantingtoescapeweresolargeasnottobeable,withoutexcitingsuspicion,totraveltogether,anditwasthereforedecidedtomaketwodetachments.Millyhaddeterminedtocastinherlotwiththefugitives,outofregardtohergrandchild,poorlittleTomtit,whoseutterandmerrythoughtlessnessformedatouchingcontrasttothegravityandearnestnessofheraffectionsanddesiresforhim.Hewastohertheonlyremainingmemorialofalargefamily,whichhadbeentornfromherbytheordinaryreversesandchancesofslaveryandsheclungtohim,therefore,withtheundividedenergyofhergreatheart.Asfarasherownrightswereconcerned,shewouldhavemadeawillingsurrenderofthem,remainingpatientlyintheconditionwhereinshewascalled,andbearinginjusticeandoppressionasameansofspiritualimprovement,andseekingtodowhatgoodlayinherpower. Everyindividualhasanundoubtedright,ifhechooses,thustoresigntherightsandprivilegesofhisearthlybirthrightbutthequestionisaverydifferentonewhenitinvolvestheimprovementandtheimmortalinterestsofthoseforwhomthetiesofbloodobligehimtohavecare. Milly,whoviewedeverythingwiththeeyeofaChristian,wasfarlessimpressedbytherigorandseverityofTomGordon'sadministrationthanbythedreadfuldemoralizationofcharacterwhichhebroughtupontheplantation. Tomtitbeingabright,handsomechild,hismasterhadtakenaparticularfancytohim.Hewouldhavehimalwaysabouthisperson,andtreatedhimwiththesamemixtureofindulgenceandcapricewhichonewouldbestowuponaspaniel.Hetookparticularpleasureinteachinghimtodrinkandtoswear,apparentlyfornothingelsethantheidleamusementitaffordedhimtowitnesstheexhibitionofsuchaccomplishmentsinsoyoungachild. InvainMilly,whodaredusemorefreedomwithhimthananyotherservant,expostulated.Helaughedorsworeather,accordingtothestateinwhichhehappenedtobe.Milly,therefore,determinedatoncetojointheflyingparty,andtakeherdarling