The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-03-24

But he they sefved-he 10 not wnai ne wa. -,
al rs IS. llE,e4A -.afgE .PhiiiP Van Art<fedsI
What was Herman to do? What he ought
have done, l leave to each of my readers to de
eide, according to his or her strength Of mind,
or strength of feeling, sex, associations, or
knowledge Of casuistry and moral philosophy.
AS it is q question, which find myself unable
to answer, am glad that my business il only
to say what he did.
The legal consultation, recorder in tie hast
chapter, was no sooner over, than he was of
again and he went over the river, which form
ed the nearest boundary line of the State, to
the Lighthouse of family of gallant backwoods-
men and women, whom he knew very well by
name and reputation. Ichabod Kuhn, the Sec
ond son, a merry, broad-chested, sturdy man OF
twenty, eagerly undertook to show him an al
most overgrown foot-path, little known and less
travelled, which led by trudge of seven or
eight hours through the forest, TO the highway,
alias carttrack, which ran by St. Dominique's
plantation. Farther, he promised to be on the
bank Of the river, opposite to the end of this
path, at seven o'clock in the morning, the next
time it had rained in the night, with a canoe,
and to paddle across for our hero, at the very
first sound of a most discordant trumpet Of his
own manufacture, which was diverted from the
use of his younger brother to Herman's, to the
great relief of the formers mother. The whole
family agreed to be Sans sponsors if he ever
came among them. The good wife packed up
a goodly parcel of provisions for the young men
to carry out with :" and Ichabod at once took
Herman through the path and back that he
might be perfectly familiar with it. His COM
panion entered into the spirit of the thing so
heartily, and enjoyed it SO much, that Herman
began almost to believe that running off with a
negro, if not one of the most desirable, was one
I<1f he 1o~ H. q A
able and skiful ally won, is often half victory.
Herman procured, from the wellstocked farm
house, revolver, and suitable ammunition
two bowie-knives, an onion, and paper OF
super of soda, which he thought
might have more effect in battling the scent Of
the blood-hounds; pair of large, stout shoes,
into the soles of which he rubbed the soda thor
oughly within, applying to them snuff and red
pepper without; and pair of woollen socks,
which he perfumed with camphor and lavender.
All these things, and some meaty bones, of tough
but tempting quality, he locked into his valise,
and, the next morning that promised foul
weather, crossed the border again.
The greatest difficulty in the way of his plans
seemed to be, that the escape must be made on
foot. The foot-path was impossible on horse
back in many, and indeed most places, from
the close, low, dense growth of the bonghs
which screened it. How was he to be upon the
right spot at the right time, and still fresh and
vigorous enough for the return march? The
Kuhns recommended that he should take the
daily stage-coach, alight from it at dusk near a
certain small village, about seven miles from
St. Dominique's plantation, as if he intended
to pass the night at the village, and then walk
till he came within a quarter of mile of the
plantation, and lie down to rest himself within
the cover of the woods, until his time had
come.
This, therefore, Herman did, He reached
the opening of the footpath at nine, as his
watch told him. All was dark and still, except
now and then the lightning and thunder, which
seemed to belong to the place; the faint bark of
some far-away dog, talking as it were in dull,
unintelligible accents with the Night; the
whispering mysterious voices of the wood, and
the rain, which fell heavily. He unlocked his
vaGse softly-ior some one might be listening
took out his pistol, and put it into his bosom,
with strange and awful feeling. In whose
cold breast might some its six cold bullets be
resting before the day One sheathed knife
he Put into his pocket, and took one in his
hand. Then, Ike hunted felon, he threw
himself down upon the 6spk, spOngy leaves
and earth, and, while the rain fell upon him,
and the lightning and thunder flashed and
crashed over him, had time to think and feel
that be was an outlaw out in that wild night
upon lawless errand-a strange thought and
feeling for him! "God keep all His children
from bloodshed this night he said but he
no longer felt that it rested with himself to keep
himself from bloodshed. A dark Destiny seemed
to him to have seized upon him, and to be car
rying him on whittier she would-whither God
would-or whittier the devil would He
thought, he hoped the former but--oh, mis-
cry he was bcwildered now, and he could not
tell. Oh, cruel, cruel Tyranny, to drive such
souls into such straits as his
By strong effort, he endeavored to brace
and calm his mind, While the dripping drops
licked out the moments on the leaves around
him, like the hurrying clock of Nature. There
was time enough still for consideration. If, ON
consideration, what he was doing proved to be
wrong, he must not, he would not, 20 on. II
had hitherto been his care, and his happiness,
to avoid all questionable deeds; this deed was
questionable but was it more questionable
one than it would be to go on his way, and
leave poor Sam, even now painting and throb-
bling with expectation, no doubt, so near him,
to die of hope deferred, or perhaps under the
infections of his tormentor as has happened
before now, under the happily peculiar in
stitution The latter appeared him to be
not questionable merely, but simply impossible.
He had already, he said to himself, done all
that in him lay to avoid the issue-he had Of
tered almost carte blanche, be had endured in
suit, he had appealed to the law, in vain. The
case was very singular one and to him un.
precedented. Common rules and customs did
not cover it. 1t could be decided, If at all, only
by recurrence to. first principles, generally, in
new cases, Of very uncertain application.
| Justice arstl Constance owed Sam, in strict
equity, for the wages of la: lifetime, much
mOrs than would have enabled him to buy him,
self, his pistol, knife, and onion. Whatever
Herman might think aboat taking the life of a
fellow-creature in selfdefence, had he any right
to impose his perhaps extravsgant theories
harshly and vigorously upon another man, and
that other man in such extremity? Besides, one
of his two reasons for accompanying Sam in his
fight, instead of as the latter expected, merely
giving him what he wanted, and leaving him to
shift for himself was to see thet in his despe-
ration, he did no unnecessary violence to himself
nor his pursuers.
| Secondly, Human Brotherhood Could he
have seen Edward beset as Sam was, or pursued,
as he was likely to see him in few hours, by
blood.hounds and man-hunters, and crying to
him for help, without putting q weapon into his
hands? He could not. But the map-hpnters
were his fellow-men, as well as Sam. Then
could he, even for the love he bore to Edward
deep and strong as brother ever felt-have con-
nived at his brothers. hunting slave? He
could not but this be said with less emphasis
and satisfaction; for he could not likewise as
sert that he should have armed a fugitive slave
against his brother. So he lay, wet more with
perspiration than with rain, and wrestled with
his thoughts, while the thunder struck the
hours, and the rain.drops licked the seconds
away. fl.'g y-sa "a. A.ts,s
| Ten o'clock. There was still time left, he
must compose himself and use IL If he cOuld