CHAPTER LIV. THE ESCAPE.

rtworespectablegentlemen,whowereinthehabitoftakingtheNationalEra,werevisitedbymembersofavigilancecommittee,andinformedthattheymustimmediatelydropthepaperorleavethestateandwhenoneofthemtalkedofhisrightsasafreecitizen,andinquiredhowtheywouldenforcetheirrequisitions,supposinghedeterminedtostandforhisliberty,thepartyinformedhimsuccinctlytothefollowingpurport:"Ifyoudonotcomply,yourcorn,grain,andfodder,willbeburnedyourcattledrivenoffand,ifyoustillpersist,yourhousewillbesetonfireandconsumed,andyouwillneverknowwhodoesit." Whenthegoodgentlemaninquiredifthiswasfreedom,hisinstructorsinformedhimthatfreedomconsistedintheirrightandpowertomaketheirneighborssubmittotheirownwillanddictationandhewouldfindhimselfinafreecountrysofarasthis,thateveryonewouldfeelatlibertytoannoyandmaltreathimsolongasheopposedthepopularwill. Thismoderndoctrineoflibertyhasoflatebeenstrikinglyandedifyinglyenforcedonthemindsofsomeofourbrethrenandsistersinthenewstates,towhomtheofferofrelinquishingtheirprinciplesortheirpropertyandliveshasbeentenderedwiththesameadmirableexplicitness. Itisscarcelynecessarytoremarkthatboththeseworthygentlemen,tousethelanguageoftheirconquerors,"cavedin,"andthusescapedwithnootherdisadvantagethanageneralplunderingoftheirsmoke-houses,thehamsinwhichwerethoughtadesirableadditiontoatriumphalentertainmentproposedtobegiveninhonoroflawandorderbyTheAssociateBandsoftheGloriousImmortalCoons,thebody-guardwhichwasTomGordon'sinstrumentinalltheseexploits. Infact,thisassociation,althoughwantingtheadvantageofanordainingprayerandadistributionofBibles,ashasbeenthecasewithsomemorerecentlysentfromSouthernStates,tobeatthemissionarydrumofstaterightsandtheprinciplesoflawandorderonourfrontiers,yetconductedthemselvesinamannerwhichmighthavewonthemapprobationeveninCol.Buford'sregiment,givingsuchexhibitionsoflibertyasweresufficienttojustifyalldespotsforputtingitdownbyforceforcenturiestocome. TomGordonwasthegreatorganizerandleaderofalltheseoperationshissuspicionshadconnectedClaytonwiththedisappearanceofhisslaves,andhefolloweduponhistrackwiththesagacityofabloodhound. Theoutragewhichhehadperpetrateduponhimintheforest,sofarfrombeingamatterofshameorconcealment,wasparadedasacauseforopenboastandtriumph.Tomrodeaboutwithhisarminaslingasawoundedhero,andreceivedtouchingtestimonialsanddemonstrationsfromsundryladiesofhisacquaintanceforhisgallantryandspirit.Whenonthepresentoccasionhefoundthepursuitofhisslaveshopeless,hiswrathandmaliceknewnobounds,andhedeterminedtostirupandenkindleagainstClaytontotheutmostdegreetheanimositiesoftheplantersaroundhisestateofMagnoliaGrove. Thisitwasnotdifficulttodo.Wehavealreadyshownhowmuchlatentdiscontentandheart-burninghadbeenexcitedbythecoursewhichClaytonandhissisterhadpursuedontheirestate. TomGordonhadacollegeacquaintancewiththeeldestsonofoneoftheneighboringfamilies,ayoungmanofasrecklessanddissipatedhabitsashisown. Hearing,therefore,thatClaytonhadretiredtoMagnoliaGrove,heacceptedaninvitationofthisyoungmantomakehimavisit,principally,asitwouldappear,forthepurposeofinstigatingsomemischief.