more
attached to each other. After satisfying herself that these two really
loved, Georgiana advised their marriage. But Jerome contemplated his
escape at some future day, and therefore feared that if married it might
militate against it. He hoped, also, to be able to get Clotelle away
too, and it was this hope that kept him from trying to escape by
himself. Dante did not more love his Beatrice, Swift his Stella, Waller
his Saccharissa, Goldsmith his Jessamy bride, or Burns his Mary, than
did Jerome his Clotelle. Unknown to her father, Miss Wilson could
permit these two slaves to enjoy more privileges than any of the other
servants. The young mistress taught Clotelle, and the latter imparted
her instructions to her lover, until both could read so as to be well
understood. Jerome felt his superiority, and always declared that no
master should ever flog him. Aware of his high spirit and determination,
Clotelle was in constant fear lest some difficulty might arise between
her lover and his master.

One day Mr. Wilson, being somewhat out of temper and irritated at what
he was pleased to call Jerome's insolence, ordered him to follow him to
the barn to be flogged. The young slave obeyed his master, but those who
saw him at the moment felt that he would not submit to be whipped.

"No, sir," replied Jerome, as his master told him to take off his coat:
"I will serve you, Master Wilson, I will labor for you day and night, if
you demand it, but I will not be whipped."

This was too much for a white man to stand from a negro, and the
preacher seized his slave by the throat, intending to choke him. But
for once he found his match. Jerome knocked him down, and then escaped
through the back-yard to the street, and from thence to the woods.

Recovering somewhat from the effect of his fall, the parson regained his
feet and started in pursuit of the fugitive. Finding, however, that the
slave was beyond his reach, he at once resolved to put the dogs on his
track. Tabor, the negro-catcher, was sent for, and in less than an hour,
eight or ten men, including the parson, were in the woods with hounds,
trying the trails. These dogs will attack a negro at their master's
bidding; and cling to him as the bull-dog will cling to a beast. Many
are the speculations as to whether the negro will be secured alive or
dead, when these dogs once get on his track. Whenever there is to be a
negro hunt, there is no lack of participants. Many go to enjoy