The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-06-27
CHAPTER XIV.


Although surprised aud confounded
by the sudden turn of events, Uncle Ben
did not entirely lose his head. When
he heard the men crying out for revenge
and looked into their pitiless faces, he
felt that his last hour had come. And
yet the devotion Of the old slave was
never better illustrated than in what
followed. AS portion of the crowd
started for the house, no doubt fully e1-
pecting to find Kenton there, the old
man shouted at the top Of his voice:
Cum back yere-cum back! Yo'
kin kill me if 20 wants to, but fur
Gods sake doan' put yo'r feet in dat
house!''
What's the matter:' asked one as
the gang came to halt.
DE ole missus am lyin in dar dead
an ali alone. an it hain't fitten dat 20
should go in!''
"Whar's that Yankee? Whar's the
gal? Whar's Steve Brayton:' was
shouted at him.
''Dun gone-all dun gone." he an
swered. Its jest like I tole yo'-no-
body in dar but de dead missus!!''
go on, go on!'' yelled Ike Baxter,
but look ont fur yo'selves! The hull
crowd of 'em ar in thar, and they'll
likely make fight fur it,"
The men cautiously entered the house,
firearms held ready for instant use, but
at the end of seven or eight minutes
they came out to report that the cussed
old niger" had told the truth.
dead, eh:" exclaimed Ike Baxter as
they told of the corpse cn the bed.
..Waal, I'm goin to burn the house jest
the same. though mebbe some of yo'
uns will lug the body outdoors fust.
Time 'nuff fur that after we sit through
with this old niger. Run he un up to
that post! Now, then, chain him there!
Yo' old black devil, but I'll make yo
suffer fur the rap yo' Civ me last night!
I'm go,n to begin at yo'1 chin and skin
yo' cl'ar down to yo'r heels: After
yo've bin skun we'll build fire around
yo' and roast what's left!!''
He went to his saddle for a rawhide.
one he had seemingly brought along for
the occasion. When he returned with 1t,
Uncle Ben was stripped of coat and vest
and his shirt torn away from his Shout
ders. They were going to take his life,
not mercifully, as one kills a savage
beast by bullet through the heart or
brain, but they would torture him for
hours perhaps. He could not fail to re-
alize this, but he did not beg for mercy.
He simply shut his eyes and prayed God
to give him strength to endure every
thing for the sake of these in hiding
down the road. He would be asked to
betray them. His refusal would bring
other tortures, but he would refuse.
Now, then, yo' black hound, whar
ar the rest Of the folks::" demanded
Ike Baxter as he walked up to Uncle
! Ben and fourished the cruel whip.
'.Aye, he knows the exact spot whar
they ar hidin, and he's got to tell"'
shouted two or three in the crowd.
"Cf co'se he knows. and I'll hev it
outer he un mighty Quick!!'' replied Ike
"I'm goin to give yo' powerful lickin,
ole man, fur the way yo' banged me last
night, but III make it leetle easier If
yo'll tell whar they all is hid away.
II has nuthin to say quietly re-
piled the old man as he looked about
! him.
"What! Yo' won't tell me:'
Give it to him! Cut his hide into
strings!" yelled the crowd.
Ike responded by striking Uncle Ben
about 20 blows across the bare back.
Each blow raised welt, and as each
one fell the victim strained and tugSed
at his lashings. Uncle Ben had been
whipped the night before, but that was
more in the nature of an assault or an
attack by armed men. For the first
time in his life he had been tied up and
his back barred. He felt the shame and
indignity almost as much as the blows.
"Yo' kin see what brung on this yere
war" said Ike as he paused for breath.
"Them air Yankees was tellin our Mig
gers that they was jest as good as thar
masters. Yere's case of it right yere.
If he'd bin my niger, he'd hev bin as
humble as pumpkin pie, but the Percys,
who hev allus bin half Yankee them
selves, brung him up to think he un was
as good as anybody
Hurry up. Give he un some more
yelled the crowd.
Thar hain't no rush about it, . re-
piled Ike as be fourished the whip. Il
want to make it last as long as kin.
It's dod gasted pity we hain't got 10
or 90 other niggers yere to look on and
take warnin by his fate. I've allus
itched to lick a niger, but never had
tho nhanca hafo, AR, ro, fynin TO fell