CHAPTER LIV. THE ESCAPE.

ntaughttoworship,tohelphimoutoncemore.Hewasreturninghome,hastening,inordertobeinseasonforhismaster'sbed-time,hopingtoescapeunquestionedastowherehehadbeen. Theappointmentshadallbeenmade,and,betweentwoandthreeo'clockthatnight,thewholepartyweretostrikeoutupontheircourse,anderemorningtohavetravelledthefirststageoftheirpilgrimagetowardsfreedom. AlreadythesenseofanewnaturewasbeginningtodawnonJim'smind—asenseofsomethinggraver,steadier,andmoremanly,thanthewild,frolicsomelifehehadbeenleadingandhisbosomthrobbedwithastrange,new,unknownhope. Suddenly,ontheveryboundaryofthespotwherethewoodjoinstheplantation,whomshouldhemeetbutTomGordon,sentthereasifhehadbeenwarnedbyhisevilstars. "Now,Lordhelpme!ifdereisanyLord,"saidJim."Well,I'sgottoblazeitoutnowdebestwayIken." Hewalkeddirectlyuptohismaster,withhisusualairofsaucyassurance. "Why,Jim,"saidTom,"wherehaveyoubeen?I'vebeenlookingforyou." "Why,blessyou,mas'r,honey,I'sbeenouttodemeetin'." "Didn'tItellyou,youdog,"saidTom,withanoath,"thatyouwerenottogotoanymoreofthosemeetings?" "Why,laws,mas'r,honey,chile,'foremyheavenlymas'r,Idoneforgoteverywordyousaid!"saidJim."I'ssokindo'tumbledupanddownthisday,andthingshasbeensocur'us!" Theludicrousgrimaceandtone,andattitudeofaffectedcontrition,withwhichallthiswassaid,ratheramusedTomand,thoughhestillmaintainedanairofsternness,thesubtlenegrosawatoncehisadvantage,andadded,"'ClareifIisn'tmostdead!OlePomp,hepreached,andhegetsmesofullo'graceI'sfittobust.Hastodosomethingwicked,elseI'llgettranslatedonedeseyerdays,like'Lijah,anddenwho'dmas'rhavefurtowaitonhim?" "Idon'tbelieveyou'vebeentomeeting,"saidTom,eyeinghimwithaffectedsuspicion."You'vebeenoutonsomespree." "Why,laws,mas'r,honey,youhurtsmyfeelings!Why,now,I'sinhopesyou'dsayyouseedegraceashiningoutalloverme.Why,I'sbeeninaclarstateofglorruficationalldisevening.DatarolePomp,dar'snomistake,hedoesliftabodyuppowerful!" "Youdon'trememberawordhesaid,now,I'llbet,"saidTom."Wherewasthetext?" "Text!"saidJim,withassurance"'twasindetwenty-fourthchapterofJerusalem,sixteenthverse." "Well,"saidTom,"whatwasit?Ishouldliketoknow." "Laws,mas'r,Ib'lieveIcan'peatit,"saidJim,withanindescribableairofwaggishsatisfaction."'Twasdisyer:'Yeshallsarchfurmeindemornin'andyewon'tfindme.'Datar'samightysolemntext,mas'r,andyeoughttobe'flectingon't." AndTomhadoccasiontoreflectuponit,thenextmorning,when,havingstormed,andsworn,andpulleduntilhebrokethebell-wire,noJimappeared.Itwassometimebeforehecouldactuallyrealizeorbelievehewasgone. Theungratefuldog!Theimpudentpuppy,whohadhadallhislifeeverythinghewanted,torunawayfromhim! Tomarousedthewholecountryinpursuitand,asservantswerefoundmissinginmanyotherplantations,therewasageneralexcitementthroughthecommunity.TheTrumpetofLibertybegantoblowdolorousnotes,andarticlesheaded,"TheresultsofAbolitionistteaching,andcovertincendiarism,"begantoappear.Itwasrecommendedthatageneralsearchshouldbemadethroughthecountryforallpersonstincturedwithabolitionistsentiments,andimmediatemeasurespursuedtoobligethemtoleavethestateforthwith. Oneo