Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-21

So they crept back to the hut, holding
their heads as low as possible, for the light
was increasing, although the moon was
not yet up, and they feared lest they
should be seen against the sky line. Here
they found boxes containing nippcrs,
chisels and other instruments such rs are
used to undo the irons upon slaves; also
they found the keys of the padIocks that
locked the iron bars to which the captives
were tcthercd. Taking n lantern with
them, but leaving another burning as be-
fore, in the hut, lest its absence should ex-
cite suspicion, they passed through two
strong gates and down the steps on the
farther side of the cmbankment. \ few
PAGES beyond was the first slave shed, n
rough erection supported on posts, but
without sides.
They entered the she'd Otter leading the
way with the lantern. In the middle was
n pathway, and on either side of this path
way ran the long bars to which the cap
tives were fastened in n double row. Per
haps there might have been ESQ of them in
this shed. Here the sights and scenes were
such as need not be described. OF the
miserable captives some lay on the wet
ground, men and women together, trying
TO forget their sorrows in sleep, but the
most part of them were awake, and the
sound of means ran up and down their
lines like the moaning of trees in gusts OF
slaves ceased moaning, for they thought
that this was n visit from their captors,
and crouchcd upon the ground like dogs
that await the whip.
Some of them indeed stretched up their
manacled hands, imploring pity, but these
were the exceptions. The most of them
had abandoned hope and were sunk in
dull despair. 1t was pitiful to see the
glance of their terror filled eyes and the
sympathetic CULVER of their whcaled frames
whenever an arm was lifted or a sudden
/ movement made
Soa went down the line, rapidly examin-
| ing the faces of the slaves.
DO you see any of Mavoom's people,
asked Leonard anxiously.
Not here, white man. Let us go to the
next shed unless you want to loose these"
No good in that, mother" said Otter.
They would only betray us.
so they went TO the next shed-in all
there were four-and here at the second
man who was sleeping his head bowed on
his chained hands, Soa stopped suddenly
| like pointer dog when he scents game.
Peter, Peter, she said.
The man awoke-he was fine fellow
about so years OF agc-and glarcd round
wildly.
Who called me by my old name;" he
said hoarscly. Nay, dream. Peter is
dead
Peter said the woman again, awake,
child of Mavoom. 1t is 1, Soa, who am
come TO save you
The man cried aloud and began to trem-
bile, but the other slaves took no notice,
thinking only that he had been smitten
with a scOurGc.
- Be silent, " said Soa again, or we are
lost. Loose the bar black one. This is a
headman from the settlement, IA brave
man" Soon the bar was undonc- Then
| Otter badc Peter hold out his wrists while
| he twisted off the fcttcrs Presently they
were gone, and in the ecstasy OF his rccov-
end liberty the man lcapcd high into the
| air, then fell at Offers feet as though he
! would embrace them.
Get up, you fool, said the dwarf
| roughly. and if there are any more of the
| men Of Mavoom here show them To us
| Quick, ar you will s"on be fast again.
There should In 40 or morr," Peter
answered. recovering himself. ''bcsides n
few women and children. The rest of us
arr dead, except the Shcphcrdcss alone, and
she is yondcr.
| Then they went down the lines slipping
| the chains from the settlement men. Soon
| they had unmanaclcd ten or moro men
| whom Soa selected, and others stood about
| thCm with their hands still chained. As
| they Welt about the work SOa explained
| something of the position To Peter, who
WAS fortunately a native of intelligence.
| He soon graspcd 1t and earnestly seconded
| Lconard's efforts to preserve silence and
to prevent confusion.
Come. " said Leonard to Soa, we have
| got enough To begin with. l must be of.
You can looec the rest at your leisure. The
moon Is rising. it is n quarter To II, and
we have not IL moment To lose Now, OF
ter. before We 20. how can we send men to
fire the reeds through the GARDEN"
| A'\D | have fhOYlrhr Of "A hpt
way. the way by which escaped myself
that is if these men can swim.
They can all SWIM, said So;l. They
wcrc bred un the banks of the river
Good Then they must swim down the
dixie where l killed the sentry, four of
them. At the end are bars Of wood, but
In my day they were rotten. At the worst
they can he climbed. Then they will find
themselves in the morass among thick
rccsis. But they must not fire these until
they have worked round To the place of
| the sunrise. whence the wind blows strong
ly. Then they must go from spot to spot
and bend down the dricst Of the reeds, set
ting fire to them. Aftcrward they can get
to the back of the fire and wait till all is
done, one way or the other. II we win,
they will find us; if we arc killed, they
can try to run away. But will the men
co.
Soa stepped forward and chose four Of
their number. but Peter she did not
choose, for he also knew something of the
working of cannon.
Listen" sho said. You have heard
the words of this black one. Now obey,
and if you depart from them by ono jot
may and she poured out so fearful n
curse upon them that Leonard stared at
her astonishcd.
Aye" added Otter and If live
through this 1 will cut your throats.'
No need to threaten, - said one of the
men. We will do our best for our own
sakcs as well rs for yours and that of the
Shephcrticss. We understand the plan
but TO light the reeds we must have fire. -
Here are matches" said Otter.
, Wet matches will not light, and WI
must swim" answered the spokesman.
Fool, do you then swim with YOU
head under water? Tie them in your hair. -
All, he is clcver!" said the spokesman
, | Now, If we live to reach them. wher
| shall we fire the recds:''
As soon rs you are ready" answered.
Otter You will not come easily TO th'
, hack of them. Farewell, my children, ant
, II you dare To fail pray that you may di,
, rather than look upon my face again.
''Ou. We have seen II once. Is that no
: enough answered the spokesman, look
ing at Offers huge nose with wonder no
untouched by fear.
, Two minutes later the four men wer
, swimming swiftly down the dixie, taking
, their chance of the alligators.
, Drop the bridge said Leonard. wv
must he off"
q Otter lowered it, at the same time ex
= planning its mechanism, which was YER
o simple, to SOa, Peter and some other o
the settlement men.
i Now, mother, goodby," said Leonard
~ a..