Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1860-12-08


bales ana oo1es, casks and furniture, aud miseel
laneous merchandise, lying in murky Gloom. A
few dark, uncouth forms of sleeping men, heavil,
breathing, were strown about in various protesop,
attitudes on the piles of cotton. In the stiffness
he heard the regular snort ani cank of the en-
ginc, tho rushing Of tho water, and fel, with q
dull glddlness tho floor rocking and swayinr in
long, regular unduatons
Somehow, minute afterward he f,rrl bir,.ol,
out on the edge of the deck sick and dizzv s,ood.
ing himself against a heap Of bales. and looking
out on broad, dim river, rolling in mighty, Ian.
guld surges under a large low, yellow moon
Logs ana trees and masses of cbaf and refuse
lifted blackly in the tawny light on the long svells
All around the water led by, churned into mill
race OF soothing iroth and foam. Beyond was n
huge steamboat black smoke trailing from its
double tunnels; Gre 1aring from them and from
its escape pipes; balls light cleaning rr, m hang
ing lanterns here and there: light streaming ont
from the rows of OGlOng windows, and from every
hoie end Granny; the strong current beaten up
into Hood OF foam beneath its wheels: ana the
darks and the lights Of an inverted phantom steam
boat hung below it in tbe water. Far away were
low, black shores, with here and there a raupt
spectral tree, aud dull lights glimmering. lie was
on mighty tide Of river which ran THROUGH
he'll.
o!cK and dizzy. and with q horror on his mind
be staggered back with the heavy browse on all
his faculties through the tortaous lone os eot,on-
bales, and sinking down on one Of them, fell into
his former letlargy
lie did not sleep through tho night, but lay in
utter torPor thinking of nothing fearing and hop
ing nothing, only vaguely conscious of where he
was, and of the forms around him. Oyerstrung
Tor many years with the unnatural tolls Of a slave
aud still more tensely overstrung with the terrible
laoors OF his journey through the morass-over-
strung both in body and spirit, as few but slaves
ever are--be had sunk back now that season 0!
relaxation had come, into Iassituie as excessive as
were tie latigucs! and agitatious Of which it was
inc iSoucn. Safe for the present, with no imme
diase stimulus to urge him into activity, he lay
bodYand spirit, in the sentient sleep of the
tomb.
TcT.ra morning. he sank away again into a
heavy dreamless slumber, Once during the day
he dreamed ,ha! he was aroused by some one
whom be did not recognize and bid to come along
and get something to eat. 10 his dream he tried
TO shake the stupor from his blearei eyes, which
even the dim light among the bales painted, and
to obey. Dut the browse was heavy upon him,
aud be could only humble out that be didn't want
10 cat, and the dream instantly issolged in obliy
ion. lie was left undsturbed for his cantor was
not without pity for him, aud that he was ter
ribly atigued.
But late that night when midnight was two
hours gone and the moon was westering paleIy
from the sky, the trump of Liberty or Death SCUM
ded again in the of the fugitive, and his spirit
arose from It's tomb. A hand shook him, voice
shouted in his ear that they were near the city,
and instantly springing to his feet with fresh
blood leapinG through his veins, with new pulses
;hrobbing in his heart, aud all his faculties awake
aud alive, and armed with the utmost cunning.
their fullest courage. and their most desperate res
olutiOn, he followed his captor out on deck. The
boat was within mile Of the city, which lay be-
youd forest of masts and hulis, and scattered
igLts hung in the rigging. or glmmerng on the
leyce, dark and silent, with its roofs aud spires
ma:sed against the purple sky, and gliusring in
the moon. The night was hot and still, aad
Ecs7y languor hung over the great breadth Of reg
ulaT rolling swells. Ships lay at anchor ell about
the stream, lifting with the lifting of the surge,
and here and there a aat-boat with lights on
board and the men plying thoir long sweeps, Iazi-
iy sleered its way the DRIFT between the bulls.
Antony watched the scene, with his heart fercely
beating az the thought of the coming trial.
Meanwhile, the boat, with be: bell ringing, was
slowly clan king and snOrting on through the foam
ing and bralIing fcod around her bows and
wheels, and the passengers were pouring forth, !
men, women and children, on her decks. The
fugitive stood silently by bis captor, the lower
forward deck, amidst the tumult aud crowdiDg of
lbe risen multitude, hiding his time. The moment
the boat touched the levee, he was determined to
quietly slip aside from his companion, aud lose
himself in the crowd To this end he stood lit
lie to one side OF him, watching his every move
nent.
Suddenly the clstter of conversation and the
rampling Of feet stricken still BY wild yell,
above which was heard the slow, imFassiye snott
Ind elshk Of the engine, and the brattlng wash
+ the water. Then burst forth a sbrill clamor Of
ries and screams from the after deck followed By
trampling rush which threw all forward, as by 4
be pouring crowd, suddenly lighted red fare,
olowed By q tremendous volume of black smoke,
I'D at once, amidst terrific disorder, uprose
readful storm of yells aud screams, frOu the hor-
1r- stricken multitude. The next instant the up
oar of voices was stiaed in multitudinous chok-
ng and gssping, as the thick, poisonous smoke
wept over the decks. and presently up shot a
heeting burst of clear flame with shrivelliDg
iugleis Of black vapOr Writhing and vanishing
way in IT, lighting the ghastly pallOr Of the hun
reds Of terrified faces, ali turned one way, and
hrOwing its lurid glare on the chUrniug froth and
he lifting swell, and Oh the myriad masts and
pars and rigging Of the surrounding vessels,
Thieh started oct suddenly in lines and bars Of
awny sp.endOr against a background Of gloom. J
Even in that awful moment. Antony did not lose
sht Of hi. caPior. With his whole soul feresly