An undefined suspicion of something of this sort had already crossed my
thoughts. I remembered the reply made from the boats, "You shall answer
to _us_. _We_ are the law." I had heard some mysterious innuendoes as
we passed through the woods--I had noticed too, that on our arrival in
the glade, we found those who had gone in the advance halted there, as
if waiting for the others to come up; and I could not comprehend why we
had stopped there at all.
I now saw that the men of the party were drawing to one side, and
forming a sort of irregular ring, with that peculiar air of solemnity
that bespeaks some serious business. It was only the boys, and some
negroes--for these, too, had taken part in our capture--who remained
near me. Ruffin had simply approached to gratify his revengeful
feelings by tantalising me.
All these appearances had aroused wild suspicions within me, but up to
that moment they had assumed no definite form. I had even endeavoured
to keep back such a suspicion, under the vague belief, that by the very
imagination of it, I might in some way aid in bringing it about!
It was no longer suspicion. It was now conviction. They were going to
Lynch me!
The significant interrogatory, on account of the manner in which it was
put, was hailed by the boys with a shout of laughter. Ruffin
continued--
"No; I guess you han't heerd ov that ar justice, since yur a stranger in
these parts, an' a Britisher. You han't got sich a one among yur
bigwigs, I reckin. He's the fellar that ain't a-goin' to keep you long
in Chancery. No, by God! he'll do yur business in double-quick time.
Hell and scissors! yu'll see if he don't."
Throughout all this speech the brutal fellow taunted me with gestures as
well as words--drawing from his auditory repeated bursts of laughter.
So provoked was I that, had I not been fast bound, I should have sprung
upon him; but, bound as I was, and vulgar brute as was this adversary, I
could not hold my tongue.
"Were I free, you ruffian, you would not dare taunt me thus. At all
events _you_ have come off but second best. I've crippled _you_ for
life; though it don't matter much, seeing what a clumsy use you make of
a rifle."
This speech produced a terrible effect upon the brute--the more so that
the boys now laughed at _him_. These boys were not all bad. They were
incensed against me as an Abolitionist--or "nigger-stealer," as they
phrased it--and, under the countenance and guidance of their elders,
their worst passions were now at play; but for all that, they were not
essentially wicked. They were rough backwoods' boys, and the spirit of
my retort pleased them. After that they held back from jeering me.
Not so with Ruffin, who now broke forth into a string of vindictive
oaths and menaces, and appeared as if about to grapple me with his one
remaining hand. At this moment he was called off by the men, who needed
him in the "caucus;" and, after shaking his fist in my face, and
uttering a parting imprecation, he left me.
I was for some minutes kept in suspense. I could not tell what this
dread council were debating, or what they meant to do with me--though I
now felt quite certain that they did not intend taking me before any
magistrate. From frequent phrases that reached my ears, such as, "flog
the scoundrel", "tar and feathers," I began to conjecture that some such
punishment awaited me. To my astonishment, however, I found, upon
listening a while, that a number of my judges were actually opposed to
these punishments as being too mild! Some declared openly, that
_nothing but my life could satisfy the outraged laws_!
The _majority_ took this view of the case; and it was to add to their
strength that Ruffin had been summoned!
A feeling of terrible fear crept over me--say rather a feeling of
horror--but it was only complete when the ring of men suddenly broke up,
and I saw two of their number lay hold of a rope, and commence reeving
it over the limb of a gum-tree that stood by the edge of the glade.
There had been a trial and a sentence too. Even Judge Lynch has his
formality.
When the rope was adjusted, one of the men--the negro-trader it was--
approached me; and in a sort of rude paraphrase of a judge, summed up
and pronounced the sentence!
I had outraged the laws; I had committed two capital crimes. I had
stolen slaves, and endeavoured to take away the life of a
fellow-creature. A jury of twelve men had tried--and found me guilty;
and sentenced me to death by hanging. Even this was not permitted to go
forth in an informal manner. The very phraseology was adopted. I was
to be hung by the neck until I should be dead--dead!
You will deem this relation exaggerated and improbable. You will think
that I am sporting with you. You will not believe that such lawlessness
can exist in a Christian--a civilised land. You will fancy that these
men were sporting with _me_, and that in the end they did not seriously
intend to _hang me_.
I cannot help it if you think so; but I solemnly declare that such was
their design: and I felt as certain at that moment that they intended to
have hanged me, as I now feel that I was not hanged!
Believe it or not, you must remember that I would not have been the
first victim by many, and that thought was vividly before my mind at the
time.
Along with it, there was the rope--there the tree--there stood my judges
before me. Their looks alone might have produced conviction. There was
not a ray of mercy to be seen.
At that awful moment I knew not what I said or how I acted.
I remember only that my fears were somewhat modified by my indignation.
That I protested, menaced, swore--that my ruthless judges answered me
with mockery.
They were actually proceeding to put the sentence into execution--and
had already carried me across to the foot of the tree--when the sound of
trampling hoofs fell upon our ears, and the next moment a party of
horsemen galloped into the glade.