Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-07-21
CHAPTER XXI.


aiuut three miles from Rest Haven, he
kuddcnly encountered about dozen
,uau. most of whom were mounted.
AL but one were in citizens dress, and
be- at first supposed them to be farmers.
THty rushed upon the old man with a
shout. and pistols and knives were -four
she'd before his face Us the gang cried
out:
Hang him up"
slice oil his ears!"
BUILD a fire and roas. him If he lies
10 u.s.
70 do Lawd, len, but what's
e. mattrr?" asked the old man as soon
Us br could get in word.
1--WE want them two Yankees." shout-
rd ihr yr four men in chorus.
"W-what Yankees? l nebher DIM
seen a Yankee scnce dat big army went
Us Gp house on hors 'hack.''
"Io' lie, yo' old black faced dcvil.'
said the leader as he got off his horse
and seized Cnclo Ben by tho collar.
Vow. then, tell us whore they are hid
lug. bun't pretend to us that yo' have
MT seen EN-, for we know better. Ont
with it now. or yo' won't 1.-Two two min
ut,s,'
What yo' mcan?" asked the old
mau, VINO was badly upset over the sud
d.u attack.
We mean just this: We've been fol-
lowing two Yankee spies along the
mountain nearly all day. One OF them
was wounded about an hour ago. They
vtrr headed this way. and yo' must
have mot them and know where they
now are. Did they send yo' for doc
tr:'
"Nchher. sab. ncbber, / tole yo' dc
tr0ot. | nehber did meet mp wild nobody
su"y ! started from de house!''
From what house;"
Dat house back dar which b'lonrs
Co. Missus Percy. Mcbbe yo knowed dc
lurrys Of Winchester"
"rhr Percys, ELI? Are you Percy
ustgcr:"
Yes. sab. an de only one OATS left"
And whore were You going?"
Down to Harrisonburg. sab, to git
Rows bout dat battle dey fout dar de
oii. day. | hain't seed single pus-
-uu "a dc road, an if 20 was to kill me
] iru couldn't tell yo' muffin bout no
lanke,s"'
They had looked upon it as Just a
chance that Uncle Ben had encountered
tu' men they were after. and their Wig
rrII- measures were intended to fright
90 the information out of him. While
j. was trembling and afraid, his tones
satisfied Che crowd that he was telling
,Ho truth. IL wouldn't do to let him
h.. p. goai1,. haun,-av I'll,
ui the country were breaking over all
rules and regulations and travelling
about ut night to confer with each other
aud plan escapes to the Federal camps
Now, them" said the leader of the
band. 'yo' have had powerful close
call. and yo' want To- remember il. Mig
gurs have no bust 'ess away from home
after dark. Yo' were probably going
90 Harrisonburg to give yo'self up to
Tho Yankees, hut we'll spoil that little
-Iino' This viii do yo' Il heap of gocdH'
And thcrcupon, holding Uncle Ben
with his left hand Ivy firm grip on his
collar. hG used rawhide over the old
mans back and legs with his right and
administered tho first whipping of his
hi". When his arm had grown weary,
ne stopped ana said:
Vow. yo' make u bc6line for home
and don't stop to rest on the way. 1t any
other prowling niggers ask yo' about
that battle at Harrisonburg. yo' tell
mm 20 was i'll IL and got licked! Gee
up"
y The old man headed for Rest Ia.
ven the gang of men rode in the o:l,cr
direction. He stepped out at lively
lI", until hidden Ivy the darkness and
Then stopped and turned to shake his
list and whispers:
White man. I'zc only pore ole mig
ger. but somebody has got to bleed fur
dis Nobody ebbcr put n whip on Uncle
Ben lriu' scIcc Inc wasa pickaninny, an
III kill yo' fur dat rs shore as / ebber
elt de- chancc."
He nc first thought Of rcsuming his
journey toward Hgrrisonbury. but q mo-
m'ut s reflection convinced him that If
j." tell into the hands of til. same party
a-ain his life would I've in peril. He re-
Wli,d how much disappointed Marian
would be, Tut he would return and re-
port and perhaps make u new start. lie
had covered two miles of the back track
ped out from the rocks Mt his left and
ordered him to- halt and added:
Who are yo':"
Uncle Ben Percy"
What. is that yo. Uncle Benz"
Fur shore. but hain't dun met NJ
wild no Yankee spies, jess us told 20
bufo'."
Uncle Ben, don't yo' I'm know ne?''
q. Red the man us he came nearer. I've
talked with yo' many time in Win.
chester befo' the war. I'm Steve Bray
ton"
Fo' 10 Lawd, Yes. member 20 I
Voice! dun reckoned yo' was some mo
ut dat crowd what was gwine ter kill
me-"
'lIcv 20 met up with anybody"
9e I.awd furGive me. but ] has
Back Inr fbout two ,uilpa n OnDO a