The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-30

eVa0eQ were DO QOuDl SlONiY anu silently
! following them on foot. They were to be
| caught between two fires
What Is there TO tile left of us?" whis-
| pered CORTLAND, quickly.
DE swamp"
CORTLAND set his teeth together His
| dull-witted companion had evidently walked
| them both into the trap. Nevertheless, his
resolve was quickly made. He could al
| ready see through the thinning fringe Of
timber the figures Of mounted men In the
moonlight.
| This should be the boundary line OF the
| plantation? This field beside US is ours?" ne
| said interrOgatiVely.
Yes, returned the negro, but de quar-
| tiers is mile furder"
Good Stay here until l come back or
call you; Pm going to talk to these fello VS..
But If you value your life don't you speak
or stir"
He strobe quickly through the intervening
trees and stepped out into the moonlight.
A suppressed shout greeted him, and half a
dozen mounted men. masked and carrying
rifles, rode down toward him. But he re-
NAMED quietly waiting there ana as the
nearest approached him he made a step for
ward and cried: HAIR
The men pulled up sharply and mechan-
ically at that ring Of military impeTOus-
ness.
What are you doing here ?" said Court
land.
I'VE reckon that's our business, Cun'el."
IT'S mine when you're on property that
l control"
The man hesitated and looked lnterroga-
lively toward his fellows: 81 allow you We
got US there, cun'el," he said at last, with
the lazy insolence Of conscious power;
but | don't mind telling You that we're
wanting a niger about the size of your
Cato. We hain't got anything agin you,
cun'el; we don't want To interfere with
your property and your ways but we don't
calculate to have strangers interfere with
our ways and our customs. Trot out your
nIggsT-you No'th'n folks don'e call him
property. you know - and We'll clear of
your land"
And may ! ask what you want of Cato ?"
said CORTLAND quietly.
''Fo show him that all the Federal law in
HI won't protect him when he strikes a
white man.. burst out one Of the masked
figures, riding forward.
Then you compel me TO show you" said
CORTLAND immOyably, what any Federal
citizen may do in the defense Of Federal
law, for I'll kin the first man that attempts
10 lay hands upon him as my property.
Some OF you who have already tried to
aSsassinate him IN cold blood, IN your own
limits, have met before in less dishOnor-
able warfare than this. and they know am
able TO keep my word.
There was moments silence; the barrel
OF the revolver he was holding by his side
Elst6UE1 iDI an luSldUL IN tue moonlight,
but he did not move. The two men rode up
to the first speaker and exchanged words.
A light laugh followed, and the first speaker
turned again to CORTLAND with a mocking
polteness.
very well, cun'el, II that's your opinion
and you allow we can't follow our game
over your property, why, we reckon We'll
have 70 give way to those who can. Sorry
to have troubled you. Goodnight"
he lifted his hat ironically, waved il 10
his followers. and the next moment the
whole party was gallOping furiously toward
the high road.
For the first time that evening a nervous
sense Of apprehension passed over Court
land. The impending Of some unknown
danger is always more terrible TO a brave
man than the most overwhelming odds that
he can see and realize. lie felt instinct
lively that they had uttered no vague
bravado TO cover up their defeat there was
still some advantage on which they conf
IDENTIFY reckoned-but what? Was it only a
reference 10 the other party tracking them
through the woods on which their enemies
now solely reliedP he regained Cato
quickly; the white teeth Of the foolishly
confident negro were fairly flashing his i'm
agined triumph 10 his employer. Court
lands heart grew sick as he saw il.
"We're not out Of the woods yet, Cato"
said he, dryly, nor are they. Keep your
eyes and ears open and attend to me. How
long can we keep the cover of these woods
and still push on in the direction OF the
QuaTters"
There's way ronn' de edge O. de swamp,
sab. but we'd have to go back a spell to
find it."
Go on"
"And dar's moccasins and copperheads
lying round here in de trail. Dey don't 20
for US ginerally, but" he hesitated, white
men don't stand much show"
"GDod Then II Is as bad for those who
are chasing US as for me. That will do
Lead on"
They retraced their steps cautiously, until
the negro turned into lighter byway. A
strange mephitic odor seemed to come from
sOdden leaves and MOSES that began TO
oOze under their feet. They had picked
their way in silence for some minutes; the
stunted willows and cypress standing fur
Their and further apart, and the openings
with clumps of sedge were frequent. Court
land was beginning to fear this exposure of
his follower, and had moved up beside him,
when suddenly the negro caught his arm
and trembled violently. His lips we're
parted over his teeth; the whites Of mis-
eyes glistened; he seemed gasping and
speechess with fear.
Whats the matter, Cato?" said Court
land, glancing instinctively at the ground
beneath: Speak, mani Have you been
bitten?"
The word seemed TO wiring an agonized
cry from the miserable man.
Bitten No; but don't you hear 'em CON-
ingl Darl God Almighty Don't you hear
dot?"
"WhatP"
Ode dogs! de bounsl de bloodhouns!
Dey've set 'em loose on mep'
1t was true. A faint baying in the dis
lance was now distinctly audible to Court
land. lie knew now as plainly the full,
cruel.purpOrt of the leaders speech Those
who could go anywhere were tracking their
gamew
Every trace Of manhood had vanished
from the Degro's covering frame. Court
land laid his hand assuringly-appealiDg
and then savagely on his shoulder
Come. Enough of thisl am here and
viii stand by you whatever comes. These
dogs are no more to be feared than the
other Rouse yourself. man, and at least
help me make fight of it,"
NO! Nor screamed the terrified man.
Lemme goi Lemme 90 back to de massa'sl
Tell EN- I'll comei Tell 'em to call de
nouns OF me, and I'll 90 quietl Lemme
go! lie shrugged violently in his COM
pani0n's grasp.
With all COurtland's self-control. habits
OF coolness and discipline it is to be feared
there was still something OF the old Ber-
serker temper. His face was white. his
eyes blaZed in the darkness; only his voice
kept that level distinctness which made il
Tor moment more terrible than ever the
bayiDg Of the tracking hounds TO tile negro's