The
wound was deep, and proved fatal. For this he was arraigned before a
jury, tried for his life. He proved the accident by an existing
friendship-he was honourably acquitted. His employer, after
reproaching him for his proceedings, again admitted him into his
employment. Such, however, was his inclination to display the
desperado, that before the expiration of another year he killed a
negro, shot two balls at one of his fellows, one of which was well
nigh proving fatal, and left the state. His recklessness, his
previous acts of malignity, his want of position, all left him
little hope of escaping the confines of a prison. Fleeing to parts
unknown, his absence relieved the neighbourhood of a responsibility.
For a time, he roamed among farmers and drovers in the mountains of
Tennessee; again he did menial labour, often forced to the direst
necessity to live. One day, when nearly famished, he met a
slave-driver, conducting his coffle towards the Mississippi, to whom
he proffered his services. The coarse driver readily accepted them;
they proceeded on together, and it was not long before they found
themselves fitting companions. The one was desperate-the other
traded in desperation. An ardent nature, full of courage and
adventure, was a valuable acquisition to the dealer, who found that
he had enlisted a youngster capable of relieving him of inflicting
that cruelty so necessary to his profession. With a passion for
inflicting torture, this youth could now gratify it upon those
unfortunate beings of merchandise who were being driven to the
shambles: he could gloat in the exercise of those natural
propensities which made the infliction of pain a pleasant
recreation.
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