If he could make the tryout of his plan sufficiently2 sensational3, hisprestige would be restored, his chief disciples become trained veteransand his treasury4 be filled.
When he arrived, the Free State forces had again completely triumphed atthe ballot5 box. They had swept the Territory by a majority of three toone in the final test vote on the new Constitution. The issue of Slaveryin Kansas was dead. It had been settled for all time.
Such an inglorious end for all his dreams of bloodshed did not depressthe man of visions. Kansas no longer interested him except as arehearsal ground for the coming drama of the Great Deed.
He had carefully grown a long gray beard for the make-up of his newrole. It completely changed his appearance. He not only changed hismake-up, but he also changed his name. The title he gave to the newcharacter which he had come to play was, "Shubel Morgan."The revelation of his identity would be all the more dramatic when itcame.
When his men and weapons had been selected, he built his camp fire onthe Missouri Border. His raid was carefully planned in consultation7 withStevens, Kagi and Tidd. With these trusted followers8 he had rallied adozen recruits who could be depended on to obey orders. Among them was anotorious horse thief and bandit known in the Territory by the title of"Pickles."As they entered the State of Missouri on the night of the twenty-fifthof January, Brown divided his forces. Keeping the main division underhis personal command, he despatched Stevens with a smaller force toraid the territory surrounding the two plantations9 against which he wasmoving.
Between eleven and twelve o'clock Brown reached the home of Harvey G.
Hicklin, the first victim marked on his list.
Without the formality of a knock he smashed his door down and spranginside with drawn10 revolver.
Hicklin surrendered.
"We have come to take your slaves and such property as we need," the oldman curtly11 answered.
"I am at your mercy, gentlemen," Hicklin replied.
Gill was placed in charge of the robbers who ransacked12 the bureaudrawers, closets and chests for valuables.
Brown collected the slaves and assured them of protection. When everywatch, gun, pistol, and every piece of plate worth carrying had beencollected, and the stables stripped of every horse and piece of leather,the old man turned to his victim and coolly remarked:
"Now get your property back if you can. I dare you and the whole UnitedStates Army to follow me to-night. And you tell this to your neighborsto-morrow morning."Hicklin kept silent.
Brown knew that his tongue would be busy with the rising sun. He alsoknew that his message would be hot on the wires to the East before thesun would set. He could feel the thrill it would give his sentimentalfriends in Boston. And he could see them reaching for their purses.
The men were still emptying drawers on the floor in a vain search forcash. Hicklin never kept cash over night in his house. He lived too nearthe border.
Brown called his men from their looting and ordered them to the nexthouse which he had marked for assault--the house of James Lane,three-quarters of a mile away.
They smashed Lane's door and took him a prisoner with Dr. Erwin, a guestof the family.
From Hicklin he had secured considerable booty and his men were keen forricher spoils. The first attack had netted the raiders two fine horses,a yoke13 of oxen, a wagon14, harness, saddles, watches, a fine collectionof jewelry15, bacon, flour, meal, coffee, sugar, bedding, clothing, ashotgun, boots, shoes, an overcoat and many odds16 and ends dumped intothe wagon.
From Lane they expected more. They were sore over the results. They gotsix good horses, their harness and wagons17, a lot of bedding, clothingand provisions, but no jewelry except two plain silver watches.
Brown added five negroes to his party and told them he would take themto Canada. Thus far no blood had been shed. The attacks had been madewith such quiet skill, the surprise was complete. In spite of all thetalk and bluster18 of frontier politicians no sane19 man in the State ofMissouri could conceive of the possibility of such a daring crime. Thevictims were utterly20 unprepared for the assault. And no defense21 had beenattempted.
Stevens had better luck. His party had encountered David Cruise, aman who was rash enough to resist. He was an old man, too, of quiet,peaceable habits and exemplary character. He proved to be the man whodidn't know how to submit to personal insult.
He owned but one slave who did the cooking for his family. When Stevensbroke into his house and demanded the woman, he indignantly refused tosurrender his cook to a gang of burglars.
The ex-convict, who had served his term for an assault with intent tokill, didn't pause to ask Cruise any questions.
His revolver clicked, a single shot rang out and the old man dropped onthe floor with a bullet through his heart.
Passing the body, Stevens looted the house. He made the largest haul ofthe night. He secured four oxen, eleven mules22, two horses, and a wagonload of provisions. Incidentally he picked up a valuable mule23 from aneighbor of Cruise as they passed his house on the way to join Brown.
When Stevens reported the murder and gave the inventory24 of the valuablegoods stolen, "Shubel Morgan" stroked his long gray beard and spoke25 butone word:
"Good."In his grim soul he knew that the blood stain left on Cruise's floorwould be worth more to his cause than all the stolen jewelry, horses andwagons. Its appeal to the East would be the one secret force needed torouse the archaic26 instincts of his pious27 backers. They would deny withindignation the accusation28 of murder against his men. They would inventthe excuse of self-defense. He did not need to make it. From the deepsof their souls would come the shout of the ancient head-hunter returningwith the bloody29 scalp of a foe30 in his hand. Brown felt this. He knew it,because he felt it in his own heart. He was a Puritan of Puritans.
With deliberate daring the caravan31 moved back into the Territory. Forthe moment the audacity32 of the crime stunned33 the frontier. He hadfigured on this hour of uncertainty34 and amazement35 to make good hisescape. He knew that he could depend on the people along the way to Iowato protect the ten slaves which he had brought out of Missouri.
The press of Kansas unanimously condemned36 the outrage37. Brown knew theywould. He could spit in their faces now. He was done with Kansas. Hiscaravan was moving toward the North; his eyes were fixed38 on the hills ofVirginia.
His experiment had been a success.
The President of the United States, James Buchanan, offered a rewardof $250 for his arrest. The Governor of Missouri raised the reward to$3,000. The press flashed the news of the daring rescue of ten slaves byold John Brown. He regained39 in a day his lost prestige. The stories ofthe robberies which accompanied the rescue were denied as Border Ruffianlies, as "Shubel Morgan" knew they would be denied.
His enterprise had met every test. He got his slaves safely through toCanada and started a reign40 of terror. The effect of the raid into aSlave State had tested his theory of direct, bloodstained action as thesolution and the only solution of the problem.
The occasional frowns of pious people on his methods caused him nouneasiness or doubt. He was a man of daily prayer. He was on moreintimate terms with God than his critics.
The one fly in the ointment41 of his triumph was the cold reception givenhim by the religious settlement at Tabor, Iowa. These good people hadtreated him as a prophet of God in times past and his caravan had headedfor Tabor as their first resting place.
He entered the village with a song of triumph. He would exhibit hisfreed slaves before the Church and join with the congregation in a hymnof praise to God.
But the news of his coming had reached Tabor before his arrival. Theyhad heard of the stealing of the oxen, the horses, the mules, thewagons.
They had also heard of the murder of David Cruise. Brown had denied thePottawattomie crimes and they had believed him. This murder he couldnot deny. They had not yet reached the point of justifying42 murder in anunlawful rescue. These pious folks also had a decided43 prejudice againsta horse thief, however religious his training and eloquent44 his prayers.
When his caravan of stolen wagons, horses and provisions, moved slowlyinto the village, a curious but cold crowd gazed in silence. He placedthe negroes in the little school house and parked his teams on theCommon.
The next day was Sunday and the old Puritan hastened to church with hisfaithful disciples. Amazed that he had received from the Rev6. JohnTodd no invitation to take part in the services, he handed Stevens ascribbled note:
"Give it to the preacher when he comes in."Stevens gave the minister the bit of paper without a word and resumedhis seat in the House of God.
The Rev. John Todd read the scrawl45 with a frown:
"John Brown respectfully requests the church at Tabor to offer publicthanksgiving to Almighty46 God in behalf of himself and company: _and oftheir rescued captives, in particular_, for His gracious preservationof their lives and health: and His signal deliverance of all out of thehands of the wicked. 'Oh, give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: forHis mercy endureth forever.'"The Rev. Dr. King was in the pulpit with the militant47 preacher Todd thatday and the perplexed48 man handed the note to King.
The two servants of Christ were not impressed with the appeal. The wordsBrown had marked in italics and his use of the Psalms49 failed to rousethe religious fervor50 of the preachers. They knew that somewhere in thecrowd sat the man who had murdered Cruise and stolen those horses. Theyalso knew that John Brown had approved the deeds of his followers.
Todd rose and announced that he had received a petition which he couldnot grant. He announced a public meeting of the citizens of the town inthe church the following day to take such action as they might see fit.
When Brown faced this meeting on Monday he felt its hostility51 from themoment he rose. He made an excuse for not speaking by refusing to go onwhen a distinguished52 physician from Missouri entered the church.
Brown demanded that the man from Missouri be expelled. The citizens ofTabor refused. And the old man sullenly53 took his seat.
Stevens, the murderer, sprang to his feet and in his superb bass54 voiceshouted:
"So help me, God, I'll not sit in council with one who buys and sellshuman flesh."Stevens led the disciples out of the church.
At the close of the discussion the citizens of Tabor unanimously adoptedthe resolution:
"_Resolved_, That while we sympathize with the oppressed and will do allthat we conscientiously55 can to help them in their efforts for freedom,nevertheless we have no sympathy with those who go to slave states toentice away slaves and take property or life, when necessary, to attainthis end.
"J. SMITH, _Sec. of Meeting._" Tabor, Feb. 7, 1857.
John Brown shook the dust of Tabor from his feet after a long prayer tohis God which he took pains to make himself.
At Grinnell, Iowa, his reception was cordial and he began to feel theconfidence which his exploit would excite in the still more remote East.
His caravan had moved Eastward56 but fourteen days' journey from Taborand he had been received with open arms. The farther from the scene ofaction Brown moved, the more heroic his rugged57 patriarchal figure withits flowing beard loomed58.
On reaching Boston his triumph was complete. Every doubt and fear hadvanished. Sanborn, Higginson, Stearns, Howe, and Gerrit Smith, in ashort time, secured for him more than four thousand dollars and theGreat Deed was assured.
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1
disciples
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| n.信徒( disciple的名词复数 )；门徒；耶稣的信徒；（尤指）耶稣十二门徒之一 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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sensational
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| adj.使人感动的，非常好的，轰动的，耸人听闻的 | |
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treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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ballot
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| n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票 | |
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rev
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| v.发动机旋转，加快速度 | |
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consultation
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| n.咨询；商量；商议；会议 | |
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followers
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| 追随者( follower的名词复数 )； 用户； 契据的附面； 从动件 | |
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plantations
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| n.种植园，大农场( plantation的名词复数 ) | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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curtly
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| adv.简短地 | |
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ransacked
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| v.彻底搜查( ransack的过去式和过去分词 )；抢劫，掠夺 | |
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yoke
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| n.轭；支配；v.给...上轭，连接，使成配偶 | |
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wagon
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| n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车 | |
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jewelry
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| n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝 | |
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odds
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| n.让步，机率，可能性，比率；胜败优劣之别 | |
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wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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18
bluster
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| v.猛刮；怒冲冲的说；n.吓唬，怒号；狂风声 | |
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sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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utterly
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| adv.完全地，绝对地 | |
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defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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mules
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| 骡( mule的名词复数 )； 拖鞋； 顽固的人； 越境运毒者 | |
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mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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archaic
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| adj.(语言、词汇等)古代的，已不通用的 | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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accusation
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| n.控告，指责，谴责 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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caravan
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| n.大蓬车；活动房屋 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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stunned
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| adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词 | |
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uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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amazement
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| n.惊奇，惊讶 | |
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condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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outrage
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| n.暴行，侮辱，愤怒；vt.凌辱，激怒 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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39
regained
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| 复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地 | |
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40
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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41
ointment
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| n.药膏，油膏，软膏 | |
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42
justifying
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| 证明…有理( justify的现在分词 )； 为…辩护； 对…作出解释； 为…辩解（或辩护） | |
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43
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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eloquent
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| adj.雄辩的，口才流利的；明白显示出的 | |
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45
scrawl
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| vt.潦草地书写；n.潦草的笔记，涂写 | |
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almighty
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| adj.全能的，万能的；很大的，很强的 | |
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militant
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| adj.激进的，好斗的；n.激进分子，斗士 | |
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48
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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psalms
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| n.赞美诗( psalm的名词复数 )；圣诗；圣歌；(中的) | |
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50
fervor
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| n.热诚；热心；炽热 | |
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51
hostility
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| n.敌对，敌意；抵制［pl.］交战，战争 | |
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52
distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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sullenly
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| 不高兴地，绷着脸，忧郁地 | |
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bass
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| n.男低音(歌手)；低音乐器；低音大提琴 | |
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conscientiously
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| adv.凭良心地；认真地，负责尽职地；老老实实 | |
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56
eastward
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| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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rugged
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| adj.高低不平的，粗糙的，粗壮的，强健的 | |
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loomed
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| v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的过去式和过去分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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