Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-04-23
the speed at which they were travelling h

the speed at which they were travelling h missed.
 They were fully three-fourths of milo from the house when the sharp report of . rife broke on the air, and the foremost horse and rider went down. A white pun of smoke from behind a tree marked the place from whence the shot had been fired. The horse pitched his nder 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 near enough to have fired it, but he never for . moment slackened his speed. As his horse flew through the woods, leaping logs and whizzing past trees, he saw the fallen rebel 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 Q thicket with blood-curdling yell, and club ping his rife ran upon the fallen man to dash out his brains. Down came the gun as curse of vengeance escaped the black, but at the instant it fell horseman was along side and sword was thurst forward ward ing of the blow.
 "What! would you kill wounded man," cried Luke.
 "God almighty, massa, don't stand in my way" cried the negro, panting with rage.
 cOu GWCuGy-GWO Sd ! IS Occu 6 pT0ylu VO de debil to give me a chance to kill dat man, an I'll kill hate him!-I hate himw
 In the momentary glances Colonel Mason had been able to give the belligerents, he discovered that the white man was Dick Sneed and the negro Blackhawk. Never had he seen such 8 picture of rage and fury in his life as the negro presented. He was more like some ravenous beast than . human, his eyes almost started from then sockets, he was foamlng at the mouth and he had gnashed his teeth until the froAh about his lips had grown crimson.
 "Blackhawk, you shall not kill helpless man," cried the Colonel, finging himself from his horse before the furious negro.
 "I will, by I'll kill um if hab to kill you fust-" Luke had not considered what 8 furious madman he had to deal with until the negro aimed blow at 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 hurling 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 if he ever lays eyes on you"
 He lifted the still dazed man in the sad. dle and started the horse away at gallop which the Confederate kept up until out o1 sight. Luke then turned toward Black hawk, who was just getting up. Not know. ing what the black might do, he cooked his pistol, intend ing to shoot him, should i, become necessary, to preserve his owr life. The negro noticed hlm, and in 8 deep solemn voice said:
 "Kiu me, nsdssd, aud dc secret ob vo' bi,J dies"
 He was cool and reasonable once moro, and | Luke lowered his revolver, astonished al the strange words so solemnly uttered Colonel Mason stood for Q moment stnpe | fled, and then demanded:
 "What do you meant" "I kin tell ye mo- bout yerse'f dan v knows, massa; but I'll not tell ye now" "Yes, you will" Luke's teeth were set his ey es giaring with intensity, and he wa, panting with excitement. "If you know | any thing of this mystery of my life vii have it, if have to wiring it from you" 1T won't tell you now-'fore God wonr tell $ long as dat man lives; when he die: tole ye.''
 "Ten me now or die" He raised ths pistol. The negro, knowing that he hete the winning card, coolly folded his arm. across his breast, and, facing the furlou. officer, said:
 "shoot, masss, an' de trufe you'll nebbs1 know" ;
 Colonel Mason turned aside, his hea1 very faint and mist coming over hii