The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-08-07

how. l did not dare look at Herman as l hclt
! up my hands. He followed my example, and
Andy shouted TO the woman on the porch:
Mandy, bring some whauEs an tie theiI
hands behind EN-, while we keep 'em xiv
cred with the guns"
The woman did rs she was hidden, keeping
up all the while TRADE OF abuse against the
"uigCer-stealin' Yankees" who had come here
TO kill people who had not done them any
! harm, burn their houses and towns steal their
! negroes, and rob them OF their property. She
/ informed us thnt wo would certainly be hanged
which was entirely too good for us; we ought
! to be burned nj the stake by fire bult OF
green wood. But we could make mp our minds
that we would be hanged, at all events, in re-
vengo for the burning of Winton.
They brought us back TO the porch, and made
US sit down.
Reub you stay here an guard these,n said
Andy, while go down toward the creek and
see how the boys are gittin' long with the
other two what went a-fshin'. I'm afcared
they'll fool round an let 'em git way from
/ EN-"
Can you possibly imagine the depths to which
| sank rs ] sat there after he left? Was this
iEnOble termination TO he the end of all my
hopes and strvings2 Was all your loving care
IN rearing me-all my patriotic enthusiasm to
serve my country-all my longings that if
bad 10 die nv death should be ono Of heroic
I
chicken buying trip, and hung up like a sheep
killing dog in this obscure place?
paid no attention TO the fierce rawlings OF
Mandy who was reinforced from the inside of
the house by two other vile-tongued viragos.
Reub did not say much but sat quietly before
US holding his shotgun ready for instant use,
and watching every movement with wicked
leer.
The sun was going down-would ever see
it rise? flashed through my mind-when he
cast his eyes across the fields, and said
There comes Andy with the rest of the
boys. They've got the Yankees"
Then In a lazy drawl to the women:
We're agwinc L hev trouble a-gittin' rope
enuf for all o these. Y'd better 90 in an take
down the beds, an git the cords often EN-"
Only too glad to help in any way, the women
hurried of to get the ropes.
Andy aud four other rebels came up, having
with them Web and Cad. with their hands tep
behind their backs. and looking unutterably
forlorn. One of the rebels carried the long
string Of fish which the boys haSl caught.
Andy handed these to Mandy, saying:
Hed better git these ready for supper. Git
as good supper, for we'll be powerful hungry
arter it's all over"
! could not repress n shndder at the last
words, which Reub noticed, and leered more
wickedly than ever.
We bad a fresh storm Of denuuciations for
our "outrages in North Carolina our "mur-
ders and especially for the burning of the
town Of Winton, in which all of them seemed
TO have direct personal interest. The most
preposterous crimes were charged against us.
We were accused Of killing-eveu burning
aiive-women, children and old men. ! at
tempted TO deny the charges, hut was angriy
told by the women not TO add lying 10 my other
enormites, especially as | was on the brink Of
eternity. II would be much better for mo If !
confessed everything and asked forgiveness of
those whom ! and my fellows had so deeply in
jured. Reub threatened 10 strike me over the
mouth with his gun if did not shut up.
A discussion among the rebels followed as to
where was the best place Of execution The
knoll upon which we had been stationed was
decided upon, as this would be in plain sight of
our vessels in the river when morning came,
and our bodies swinging there, whore they
could be plainly seen, would make the ven
geance more complete.
There air two more on 'em up thar yit."
said andy an we'll slip on em in the dark
ketch 'cm, an add 'cm 10 these ere. Come
long with EN-"
He threw the ropes over his shoulder and
started, the rest following. Reub still had
special charge Of Herman and me. while the
other four came next with Cad aud Web.
Though Mandy had tied the whang about
my wrists as tightly rs she could draw IL, she
had fumbied in making the knots, and had
been conscious for some time that they were
gradually loosening. bad not dared so long
AS II was light. 10 make a movement that would
direct attention 90 my hands. aud fortunately,
ia the interest about other things, it had not
occurred 70 body 10 make an examination
IL had now become quite dark and vcnturing
10 move my hands cautiously, found that the
string was tolerabIy loose, and with a little
effort might drop il of ] determined to do
so at the first favorable opportunity, snatch my
heavy -bladed mess knife out Of my pocket, and
plunge il into the heart of Reub or some other
Of the rebels
The road was rough, and we all stumbled
along ii. One Of these uneven steps threw
Rcub few feet behind Us, while Herman and
almost fell against each other.
q can ket my hauts loose," he said in quick
whisper IN my car
+" 50 can ], answered instantly. Don't
let on but be ready"