Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-06-20

leaves IN showS
crates still thumb
harmed.
In his eagerness
Mason never stoppe
WAS emily one man on hofsesM94,
der of his STAFF being in another p.
An occasional glimpse of the fleei..
coats spurred him on, and he drol
horae at the top Of his speed through
woods Two or ihrce times he fred his re
volver, but oW.ug to intervening trees and
the speed ~ Inch they were travelling b,
missed.
They were fully three-fourths of mil,
from the house when tho sharp report of 1
rifle broke on the air, and the foremost
horse and rider went down. A white puff
Of smoke from behlad tree marked the
place from whence the shot had been fired
The horse pitched his rider over his head,
throwing him with such force against tree
as to stun him.
Colonel Mason was astonished at the shot
for he knew none of his men were neal
enough TO have fired il, but he never for !
moment slackened his speed. As his horse
flew through the woods, leaping logs anc
whizzing past trees. he saw the fallen rebe
trying to rise, the blood streaming from a
cut in his forehead, caused by his fall against
the tree.
A large, powerful negro bounded from o
thicket with a blood-curding yell, and club.
bling his rifle ran upon the fallen man to
dash out his brains. Down camo the gun as
curse of vengeance escaped the black, but
at the instant il fell horseman was along.
side and a sword was thurst forward ward
ing off the blow
"What would you kill wounded manq'
cried Luke.
GOD almighty, massa, don't stand in my
wayl" cried the negro, painting with rage
"Foh twenty-five ya's is been u prayin' to
de debil to give me chance to kill dat man,
an I'll kill hate him IL hate himw
In the momentary chances Colonel Mason
had been ablo TO give the belligerents, he
discovered that the white man was Dick
Sneed and the negro Blackhawk. Never
had he seen such picture of rage and fury
IN his life as the negro presented. He was
more like some ravenous beast than a
human, his eyes almost started from their
sockets, he was foammg at the mouth and
he had CRASHED his teeth until the froth
about his lips had grown crimson.
"Blackhawk, you shah not kill q helpless
man." cried the Colonel, tiinglng himself
from his horse before the furious negro.
II will, by IN kill um If hab to kill
you fust.n
Luke had rot considered what q furious
mailman he had to deal with until the negro
aimed blow ut his head, which, if he had
not parried it with his sword, would have
killed him on the spot. With such force
was the blow given that it shivered his
trusty blade. Luke was almost as furious
as the negro, and hurting the broken hilt
into the blacks face, he closed in on him
and, whipping out his revolver, struck Black
hawk such blow on the head with the butt
Of the heavy weapon that he sent him
down TO the earth insensible.
Turning TO Dick Sneed he found him on
his feet.
Here, Dick, quick, mount my horse and
fly for your life, That negro will kill you
il he ever lays eyes on you"
He lifted the still dazed man in the sad
die and started the horse away at gallop,
which the Confeae rate kept up until out Of
sight. Luke then turned toward Black
hawk, who was just getting up Not know
ing what the black might do, he cooked
his pistol, intending to shoot him, should it
become necessary, to preserve his own
life. The negro noticed HIM, and in deep,
solemn voice said:
'huI me- mdsSd, ara de secret 90 uO' OtIJ
dies"
He was cool and reasonable once moro, and
Luke lowered his revolver, astonished at
the strange words so solemnly uttered.
Colonel Mason stood for a moment stupe-
fed, and then demanded:
"What do you meant"
81 kin tell We mo- bout yersef dan We
knows, massa; but I'll not tell We now"
Eyes, you will" Luke's teeth were set,
his eyes glaring with intensity, and he was
painting with excitement. "If you know
any thing Of this mystery Of my life will
have it, if have to wiring il from you.n
81 won't tell you now-'fore God won't
tell IS long as dat man lives; when he dies
tole ye,n
"Tell me now or die . He raised the
pistol The negro, knowing that he held
the winning card, coolly folded his arms
across his breast, and, facing the furious
officer, said:
"Shoot, massa, an de trufe you'n nebber
know"
Colonel Mason turned aside, his heart
very faint and a mist coming over his