For four months in various disguises Brown had reconnoitered themountains around the gorge3 of the two rivers. He had climbed thepeak and looked into the county of Fauquier with its swarming4 slavepopulation. Each week he piloted his wagon6 to the town of Chambersburg,Pennsylvania, thirty-five miles back in the hills.
The Humanitarians7 through their agents were shipping8 there, day by day,the powder, lead, guns, knives, torches and iron pikes the Chosen Onehad asked.
These pious9 men met him for a final conference in the home of GerritSmith, the preacher philanthropist of Peterboro.
The canny10 old huntsman revealed to them just enough to excite theunconscious archaic11 impulse beneath the skin of culture. He told themthat he was going to make a daring raid into the heart of the Old Southand rescue as many of the "oppressed" as possible. They knew that theraid into Missouri had resulted in murder and that he rode back intoKansas with the red stains on his hands.
Brown gained their support by this carefully concealed12 appeal to theirsubconscious natures. As the crowd of eager faces bent13 close to catch,the details of his scheme, the burning eyes of the leader were suddenlyhalf closed. Silence followed and they watched the two pin points oflight in vain.
Each pious man present caught the smell of human blood. Yet each piousman carefully concealed this from himself and his neighbor until itwould be approved by all. Had the bald facts behind the enterprise beentold in plain English, religion and culture would have called ahalt. The elemental impulse of the Beast must therefore be carefullyconcealed.
Every man present knew that they were sending Brown on a man-hunt. Theyknew that the results might mean bloodshed. They knew, as individuals,exactly what was being said and what was being planned. Its detailsthey did not wish to know. The moral significance--the _big_ moralsignificance of the deed was something apart from the bloody14 details.
The Great Deed could be justified15 by the Higher Law, the Greater Gloryof God. They were twisting the moral universe into accord with theelemental impulse of the brute16 that sleeps beneath every human skin.
The Great Deed about to be done would be glorious, its actors heroes andmartyrs of a Divine Cause. They knelt in prayer and their Chosen Leaderinvoked the blessings17 of the Lord of Hosts upon them and upon hisdisciples in the Divine Cause.
The hour of Action was now swiftly approaching. Cook had become a bookagent. With his pretty Virginia wife his figure became familiar to everyfarm, in the county. He visited every house where a slave was to befound. He sold maps as well as books. He also sketched19 maps in secretwhen he reached the quiet of his home while his happy little bride sangat her work.
He carefully compiled a census20 of slaves at the Ferry and in thesurrounding country. So sure had he become of the success of the blowwhen it should fall, that he begged his Chief to permit him to beginto whisper the promise of the uprising to a few chosen men among theslaves.
The old man's eyes; flamed with anger.
"You have not done this already?" he growled21.
"No--no.""You swear it?"Brown had seized Cook by both arms and searched his eyes for the truth.
The younger man was amazed at the volcanic22 outburst of anger.
"A hundred times I've told you, Cook, that you talk too much," he wenton tensely. "You mean well, boy, but your marriage may prove a tragedyin more ways than one.""It has proven my greatest weapon.""If you're careful, if you're discreet23, if you can control your foolishimpulses. I've warned you again and again and yet you've been writingletters--"Cook's eyes wavered.
"I only wrote one to an old girl friend in Tabor.""Exactly. You told of your marriage, your happiness, your hopes of agreat career--and I got a copy of the letter.""How?""No matter. If I got it, somebody else could get one. Now will you swearto me again to obey my orders?"The burning eyes pierced his soul and he was wax.
"Yes. I swear!""Good. I want a report from you daily from now on. Stop your excursionsinto the country, except to meet me in broad daylight in the woods thisside of our headquarters. You understand?""Yes. You can depend on me."Brown watched him with grave misgivings24. He was the one man on whomhe depended least and yet his life and the life of every one in hisenterprise was in his hands. There were more reasons than one why hemust hasten the final preparations for the Deed.
The suspicions of the neighbors had been roused in spite of the utmostvigilance. He had increased his disciples18 to twenty men. He had inducedhis younger son, Watson, to leave North Elba and join them. His owndaughter, Annie, and Oliver's wife had come with Watson, and the twowomen were doing the work for his band--cooking, washing, and scrubbingwithout a murmur25.
The men were becoming restless in their close confinement26. Five of themwere negroes. Brown's disciples made no objections to living, eatingand sleeping with these blacks. Such equality was one of the cardinalprinciples of their creed27.
But the danger of the discovery of the presence of freed negroesliving in this farmhouse with two white women and a group of white menincreased each day.
The headquarters had a garrulous28 old woman for a neighbor. Gradually,Mrs. Huffmeister became curious about the doings at the farm. She beganto invent daily excuses for a visit. They might be real, of course, butthe old man's daughter became uneasy. As she cleaned the table, washedthe dishes and swept the floors of the rooms and the porch, she wasconstantly on the lookout29 for this woman.
The thing that had fascinated her was the man whom this girl calledfather. His name was "Smith," but it didn't seem to fit him. She was anilliterate German and knew nothing of the stirring events in Kansas. Buther eyes followed the head huntsman with fascinated curiosity.
At this time his personal appearance was startling in its impressivepower, when not on guard or in disguise. His brilliant eyes, his flowingwhite beard and stooped shoulders arrested attention instantly and heldit. He was sixty years old by the calendar and looked older. And yetalways the curious thing about him was that the impression of age was onthe surface. It was given only when he was still. The moment he movedin the quick, wiry, catlike way that was his habit, age vanished. Theobserver got the impression of a wild beast crouching to spring.
It was little wonder that Mrs. Huffmeister made excuses to catch aglimpse of his figure. It was little wonder that she had begun to talkto her friends about "Mr. Smith" and his curious ways.
She had talked to him only once. She was glad that he didn't talk much.
There was an expression to his set jaw30 and lips that was repulsive31.
Especially there was something chill in the tones of his voice. Theynever suggested tenderness or love, or hope or happiness--only theimpersonal ring of metal. The agile32 and alert body of a man of his agewas an uncanny thing, too. The woman's curiosity was roused anew witheach glimpse she got of him until her coming at last became a terror tothe daughter.
She warned her father and he hastened his preparations. If the worldbelow once got a hint of what was going on behind those rough logs therewould be short shrift for the men who were stalking human game.
It became necessary for the entire party of twenty men to lie concealedin the low attic33 room the entire day. Not more than two of them could beseen at one time.
The strange assortment34 of ex-convicts, dreamers, theorists, adventurersand freed negroes were kept busy by their leader until the eve of theGreat Deed. They whittled35 into smooth shape the stout36 hickory handlesfor a thousand iron pikes, which Blair, the blacksmith of Collinsville,Connecticut, had finally delivered. To these rude weapons the fondesthopes of the head-huntsman had been pinned from the first. The slavewas not familiar with the use of firearms. His strong, black arm couldthrust these sharp pieces of iron into human breasts with deadlyaccuracy. Brown saw that every nail was securely set in the handles.
Each day he required the first stand of rifles to be burnished37 anew.
The swords and knives were ground and whetted38 until their blades wereperfect.
There was not work enough to stop discussion toward the end. Cook hadfinally whispered to Tidd that the leader intended to assault and takethe United States Arsenal39 and Rifle Works. Cook's study of law revealedthe fact that this act would be high treason against the Republic.
The men had all sworn allegiance to Brown under his Constitution but therank and file of the little provisional army did not understand that heintended to attack the National authority by a direct assault.
A violent discussion broke out in the attack led by Tidd. At the end ofthe argument Tidd became so infuriated by Brown's imperious orders forsubmission to his will that he left the place in a rage, went down tothe Ferry and spent the week with Cook.
Brown tendered his resignation as Commander in Chief. There was no otherman among them who would dare to lead. A frank discussion disclosed thisfact and the disciples were compelled to submit. They voted submissionand authorized40 Owen to put it in writing which he did briefly41 but to thepoint:
Harper's Ferry, Aug. 18, 1859.
DEAR SIR,We have all agreed to sustain your decisions, until you have _provedincompetent_, and many of us will adhere to your decisions as long asyou will.
Your friend, OWEN SMITH.
The rebellion was suppressed within the ranks and the leader's authorityrestored. But the task of watching and guarding became more and moretrying and dangerous.
One of the women remained on guard every moment from dawn to dusk. Whenwashing dishes she stood at the end of the table where she could see theapproach to the house. The meals over, she took her place on the porchor just inside the door. Always she was reading or sewing. She not onlyhad to watch for foes42 from without, but she was also the guard set overthe restless "invisible" upstairs. In spite of her vigilance, Hazlettand Leeman would slip off into the woods and wander for hours. Hazlettwas a fine-looking young fellow, overflowing44 with good nature and socialfeelings. The prison life was appalling45 to him. Leeman was a boy fromSaco, Maine, the youngest man among the disciples. He smoked and drankoccasionally and chafed46 under restraint.
In spite of the women's keen watch these two fellows more than oncebroke the rules by slipping into Harper's Ferry in broad daylight andspending the time at Cook's house. They loved to watch the slender,joyous, little wife at her work. They envied Cook, and, while theywatched, wondered at the strange spell that had bound their souls andbodies to the old man crouching on the hill to strike the sleepingvillage.
The reports of these excursions reached Brown's ears and increased hisuneasiness. The thing that hastened the date for the Great Deed to itsfinal place on the calendar was the fact that a traitor47 from ambush48 hadwritten a letter to the Secretary of War, John B. Floyd, revealing thewhole plot and naming John Brown of Kansas as the leader.
The Secretary of War was at the time in the mountains of Virginia ona vacation. The idea of any sane49 human being organizing a secretassociation to liberate50 the slaves of the South by a generalinsurrection was too absurd for belief--too puerile51 for attention. Theletter was tossed aside.
If this were not enough, his friend and benefactor52, Gerrit Smith, hadmade an unfortunate speech before a negro audience in which he hadbroadly hinted of his hope of an early slave insurrection.
It was the last straw. He was awaiting recruits but he dare not delay.
He summoned his friend, Frederick Douglas, from Rochester to meet him atChambersburg. If he could persuade Douglas to take his place by his sideon the night the blow would be struck, he would need no other recruits.
Brown knew this negro to be the foremost leader of his race and that thefreedmen of the North would follow him.
The old man arranged through his agent in Chambersburg that the meetingshould take place in an abandoned stone quarry53 just outside of town.
The watcher on the hill over Harper's Ferry was disguised as afisherman. His slouch hat, and also rod and reel, rough clothes, madehim a typical farmer fisherman of the neighborhood. He reached the stonequarry unchallenged.
With eager eloquence54 he begged for the negro's help.
Douglas asked the details of his attack.
Brown bared it, in all its daring. He did not omit the Armory55 or theRifle Works.
Douglas was shocked.
With his vivid eloquence as a negro orator56, he possessed57 far more commonsense58 than the old Puritan before whom he stood. He opposed his pleaas the acme59 of absurdity60. The attack on the Federal Arsenal would betreason. It would array the whole Nation against him. It would hurl61 thearmy of the United States with the militia62 of Virginia on his back in aninstant.
Brown; boldly faced this possibility and declared that with it he couldstill triumph, if once he crossed the line of Farquier county and thrusthis pikes into the heart of the Black Belt.
All day Saturday and half the day on Sunday the argument between the twomen continued. At noon on Sunday the old man slipped his arm around thenegro and pressed it close. His voice was softer than Douglas had everheard it and it sent the cold chills down his spine63 in spite of his firmdetermination never to yield.
"Come with me, Douglas, for God's sake," he begged. "I'll defend youwith my life. I want you for a special purpose. I'll capture Harper'sFerry in two hours. They'll be asleep. When I cross the line on themountain top and call the ten thousand slaves in Fauquier County--thebees will swarm5, man! Can't you see them? Can't you hear the roar whenI've placed these pikes in their hands?--_I want you_ to hive them."Douglas hesitated for only a moment. His vivid imagination had seen theflash of the hell-lit vision of the slave insurrection and his soulanswered with a savage64 cry. But he slipped from Brown's arms, rubbed hiseyes and flung off the spell.
"My good friend," he said at last, "you're walking into a steel trap.
You can't come out alive."He turned to Shields Green, the negro guard who was now one of the oldman's disciples. Green had been a friend of Douglas' in Rochester. Hehad introduced him to the Crusader. He felt responsible for his life. Hehad a duty to perform to this ignorant black man and he did it, painfulas it was.
"Green, you have heard what I've just said to my friend. He has changedhis plans since you volunteered. You understand, now. You can go withhim or come home with me to Rochester. What will you do?"His answer was coolly deliberate.
"I b'lieve I go wid de ole man!"With a heavy heart Brown saw Douglas leave. It was the shattering of hismost dramatic dream of the execution of the Great Deed. When the blackbees should swarm he had seen himself at the head of the dark, roaringtide of avengers, their pikes and rifles flashing in the Southern sun.
Around his waist was the sword of George Washington and the pistols ofLafayette. His Aide of Honor would ride, this negro, once a fugitiveslave. Side by side they would sweep the South with fire and sword.
On arrival at his headquarters on the hill he learned that a revivalof religion was going on in the town below and he fixed65 Sunday, theseventeenth of October, as the day of the Deed. Harper's Ferry would notonly be asleep that night--every foe43 would be lulled66 in songs of praiseto God.
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1
farmhouse
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| n.农场住宅（尤指主要住房） | |
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crouching
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| v.屈膝，蹲伏( crouch的现在分词 ) | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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swarming
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| 密集( swarm的现在分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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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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7
humanitarians
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| n.慈善家( humanitarian的名词复数 ) | |
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shipping
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| n.船运（发货，运输，乘船） | |
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pious
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| adj.虔诚的；道貌岸然的 | |
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canny
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| adj.谨慎的，节俭的 | |
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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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concealed
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| a.隐藏的，隐蔽的 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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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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15
justified
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| a.正当的，有理的 | |
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brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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blessings
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| n.（上帝的）祝福( blessing的名词复数 )；好事；福分；因祸得福 | |
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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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sketched
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| v.草拟（sketch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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census
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| n.(官方的)人口调查，人口普查 | |
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21
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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volcanic
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| adj.火山的；象火山的；由火山引起的 | |
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discreet
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| adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的 | |
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misgivings
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| n.疑虑，担忧，害怕；疑虑，担心，恐惧( misgiving的名词复数 )；疑惧 | |
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murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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confinement
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| n.幽禁，拘留，监禁；分娩；限制，局限 | |
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creed
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| n.信条；信念，纲领 | |
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garrulous
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| adj.唠叨的，多话的 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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jaw
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| n.颚，颌，说教，流言蜚语；v.喋喋不休，教训 | |
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repulsive
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| adj.排斥的，使人反感的 | |
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agile
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| adj.敏捷的，灵活的 | |
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attic
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| n.顶楼，屋顶室 | |
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assortment
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| n.分类，各色俱备之物，聚集 | |
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whittled
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| v.切，削（木头），使逐渐变小( whittle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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burnished
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| adj.抛光的，光亮的v.擦亮（金属等），磨光( burnish的过去式和过去分词 )；被擦亮，磨光 | |
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whetted
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| v.（在石头上）磨（刀、斧等）( whet的过去式和过去分词 )；引起，刺激（食欲、欲望、兴趣等） | |
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arsenal
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| n.兵工厂，军械库 | |
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authorized
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| a.委任的，许可的 | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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foes
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| 敌人，仇敌( foe的名词复数 ) | |
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foe
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| n.敌人，仇敌 | |
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overflowing
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| n. 溢出物,溢流 adj. 充沛的，充满的 动词overflow的现在分词形式 | |
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appalling
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| adj.骇人听闻的，令人震惊的，可怕的 | |
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chafed
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| v.擦热（尤指皮肤）( chafe的过去式 )；擦痛；发怒；惹怒 | |
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traitor
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| n.叛徒，卖国贼 | |
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48
ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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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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liberate
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| v.解放，使获得自由，释出，放出；vt.解放，使获自由 | |
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puerile
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| adj.幼稚的，儿童的 | |
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52
benefactor
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| n. 恩人，行善的人，捐助人 | |
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53
quarry
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| n.采石场；v.采石；费力地找 | |
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54
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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armory
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| n.纹章，兵工厂，军械库 | |
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orator
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| n.演说者，演讲者，雄辩家 | |
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57
possessed
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| adj.疯狂的；拥有的，占有的 | |
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commonsense
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| adj.有常识的；明白事理的；注重实际的 | |
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acme
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| n.顶点，极点 | |
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absurdity
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| n.荒谬，愚蠢；谬论 | |
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61
hurl
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| vt.猛投，力掷，声叫骂 | |
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militia
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| n.民兵，民兵组织 | |
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63
spine
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| n.脊柱，脊椎；(动植物的)刺；书脊 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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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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lulled
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| vt.使镇静，使安静（lull的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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