The weekly examiner., 1890-10-11
the speed at which they were travelling he

, the speed at which they were travelling he missed.
 They were fully three-fourths of mile from the house when the sharp report of q rife broke on the air, and the foremost horse and rider went down. A white puff of smoke from behlnd tree marked the place from whence the shot had been fired. The horse pitched his rlder over his head, throwing him with such force against 9 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 q 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 a thiclzet 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 Q horseman was along side and sword was thurst forward ward ing oh the blow.
 ssWhati would you kill wounded man?,' cried Luke.
 "God almighty, massa, don't stand in my wayl" cried the negro, pantlng with rage. aFoh twenty-two ya's is been prayin' to de debil to give me chance to kill dat man, an I'll kill hate him l-I hate himn'
 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 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 tEelr sockets, he was foamlng at the mouth and he had gnashed his teeth until the froth about his lips had grown crimson.
 "Blackhawk, you shall not kill a helpless man,n cried the Colonel, flinglng himself from his horse before the furious negro.
 ssI will, by I'll kill um if hab to kill you fust."
 Luke had rot considered what 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 de and started the horse away at gallop. which the Confederate 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 1t become necessary, to preserve his own life The negro noticed hlm, and in g deep, solemn voice said:
 "Ru me, rpdssd, dnd d. secret ob yo' bi.f dies"
 He was cool and reasonable once moro, and Luke lowered his revolver, astonished at the strange words so solemnly uttered. s Colonel Mason stood for moment stupe- fled, and then demanded:
 What do you meant"
 "I kin tell ye mo- bout yerse'f dan ye knows, massa; but I'll not tell ye now.n \ Il Yes, you wills Luke's teeth were set, his eyes glaring with intensity, and he was pantlng with excitement. {" If you know any thing of this mystery of my life will have it, if have to wiring it from you.''
 "I won't tell you now-fore God won't tell E long as dat man lives; when he dies l tole ye.n
 ssTell me now or dien 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:
 sShoot, massa, an de trufe you'll nebber know"
 Colonel Mason turned aside, his heart very faint and mist coming over his