| OCR Text |
Show RICHARD HURDJS. 2-10 ")Ioney ! why, what can yon give, that we might not take 1 \\'hat nrc yon worth, that you talk so freely of money 1 We can take your life and money too. You only liYe by Ol\1' indulgence. And why <lo we indulge you 1 Not because of any ufi'cct ion that we bear you, nor because of any admiration which we entertain of your abilities and valor, but simply because we ' l ack assistants, here and there, throughout the wh ole South· west, in order to facilitate the progress of certain great events which we have in preparation. But for tl1 is, "•'C shouhl compound with you, an<l take a portion of your wealth, in lien of your life, which you l~nve forfeited. This is what we do daily. Whenever we detect a criminal-a friend, as it were, 1·cady made to our hands- we do not expose, but guard, l1is secret; and when he becomes one of us, l1is secret becomes ours, which it is then no less our policy than principle to prcsmve. No, n o, my brother-we want you, not your money. Do yon keep your lliOnCy, but we will keep you." "Great God!" muttered the miserable wretch, in self-rebuke, "into what a pit have I fallen! Better die-better perish at once, than submit to such a bondage as tl1is." "As you }Jleasc, my friend; but to one or the other you must submit. You have he:ud my terms: you must decide quickly. I have not much time to waste-1 have otl1er members to secure for the confederacy, and must leave you in a day or so." "'Vhat am I to do 1 what is it yon require~" "Your oath-your solemn oath to (lo what I sltall enjoin upon yon now, and whatever else may at times be enjoined upon you by the grand council." "\Vhat may that be~ what sort of duties do they enjoin 1" "I can uot answer you that. Our duties arc various, and are accommodated to tl1c se\·cral capacities nnd conditions of our members. You, for exam ple, are a man of substrmcc and family. :From you the tasks exacted wonld seldom be of an arduous character. Yon will, perhaps, be required to furnish monthly reports of the conduct, wealth, principles, and pursuits, of your neighbors, particularly the most wealthy, active, and intelligent. It is the most important branch of our study to know all those who are able to serve or to annoy us. You must also communicate to us the names of all who intend emigrating from your TilE SLAVERY OF GUILT. 241 ~~a~s; find out and let us know 1 . . . . t.tke, the mnount of t ten clcstm::t.tJOn, the rout th and resolution I ·tin o~cy they have with them tl . e cy . wt gtvc you n dd ' Jetr arms yot~ to communicate tl•ese thin s" n a rcss which will enabl~ . 'I he enumeration of these d g . . of ~olm Ilurdis's humiliation cgraclmg offices filled the measure servitude vexed his soul, and jt ~ sense of the most shnmeful th~' extremity of his despair h: ~bsolutcly moaned aloud, as in )Iny there be m . l . emnnded- " II.nrdly. You"~;~ t t~n tlus 1" crho~d before long, in ~;c~:~tafos, lbe required to meet the broth-may tmpose." earn what further duties the "Mectthcm!-where l· Y .,. "E':crywhere-but "~~: ~~:e do they meet?" 'You_wlll be warned in season b not to be said at this time posstbly by myself, who will sho y one of our messengers and must fo1low. Let me sl w you the sign. and wltot • the .oatll." •ow you the sign now, and admi~i~t::~ 1 he victim submitted . p· bonds_ of iniquity were s~:l:d ~:~et~ had already done, and the llurdJs began to feel that tl . stgned between them. J h tyranny so unscrupulous n~e; et was no slavery so accursed on: ~!most began to steel hi,;,self ~v~t;~ ~wful, Rs that of guilt. 'He e an ~asiCr matter for him to . t te ?onvtctwn that it would executiOner of the laws. '\Vith gtve. lumself up at once to the he beheld tile cool emissar t a feelmg _almost akin to des air the uncertain light of the ni hake out lus_ pocket- book, an~ i~ nlJ! tax both himself and P~c~ record thetr. names-nay, actu· domg so-with all the ex ett for the rJgbt orthogra h . "learned in the law·" emplary and courtly nicety opf yo nIDe 11 |
