Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-18
CHAPTER XXI.

! l ing, Don't pretend to us that yo' have i not seen 'em, for we know better! Out with it now, or yo' won't live two min utes!"
 What yo' mean?' asked the old man, who was badly upset over the sud | den 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 were headed this way. and yo' must | have met them and know where they now are. Did they send yo' for a doc tor?'
 "Nebber, sah, nebber! l tole yo' de troof. nebber did meet up wid nobody sence started from de house!" From what house?" Dat house back dar which b'longs to Missus Percy. Mebbe yo' knowed de Percys of Winchester"
 The Percys. eh? Are you Percy nigger:"
 Yes. sah, an de only one dat's left. " And where were you going?" Down tn Harrisonburg, sah, to git news bout dat battle dey fout dar de odder day l hain't seed a single pus- son on de road, an if yo' was to kill me dun couldn't tell yo' muffin bout no Yankees!'
 They had looked upon 1t as just a chance that Uncle Ben had encountered the men they were after, and their wig orous measures were intended to fright en the information out of him. While he was trembling and afraid, his tones satisfied the crowd that he was telling the truth. It wouldn't do to let him down too easily, however. The negroes of the country were breaking over all rules and regulations and travelling about at night to confer with each other and plan escapes to the Federal camps. Now, then" said the leader of the band. ''yo' have had powerful close call, and yo' want to to1emember it! Mig gers have no business away from home after dark. Yo' were probably going to Harrisonburg to give yo'self up to the Yankees, hut we'll spoil that little game! This will do yo' heap of good!"
 And thereupon, holding Uncle Ben with his left hand by firm grip on his collar, he used a rawhide over the old mans back and legs with his right and administered the first whipping of his life. When his arm had grown weary, he stopped and said:
 Now, yo' make a beeline for home and don't stop to rest on the way! If any other prowling niggers ask yo' about that battle at Harrisonburg, yo' tell him yo' was in it and got licked! Gee up."
 As the old man headed for Rest Ha- ven the gang of men rode in the other direction. He stepped out at a lively pace until hidden by the darkness and then stopped and turned to shake his fist and whisper:
 White man, I'ze only pore ole mig ger, but somebody has got to bleed fur dis! Nobody ebber put a whip on Uncle Ben befo' sence he was pickaninny, an I'll kill yo' fur dat as shore as ebber git de chance!'
 He at first thought of resuming his journey toward Harrisonburg, but mo- ment'S reflection convinced him that if he fell into the hands of the same party again his life would be in peril. He re- aliZed how much disappointed Marian would be. but he would return and re- port and perhaps make new start. He had covered two miles of the back track when at turn in the road man step ped out from the rocks at his left and ordered him to halt and added:
 Who are yo'?" Uncle Ben Percy" What. is that yo,' Uncle Ben?"
 Fur shore, but I hain't dun met up wid no Yankee spies, jess as told yo' befo'.'
 Uncle Ben, don't yo' un know mel" asked the man as be came nearer. I've talked with yo' many time in Win chester befo' the war. I'm Steve Bray ton.''
 "Fo' de Lawd! Yes, I mem Der yo'r voice! l dun Ieckoned yo' was some mo- of dat crowd what was gwine ter kill mel
 "Hev yo' met up with anybody"
 De Lawd furgive me, but l has! Back dar bout two miles a gang O white men stopped me an war gwine to shute me dead an cut my froat! Dey said had sawn some Yankee spies, an bekase dun hadn't seen nobody tall dey giv me de moas' powerful lickin on airth.'
 Yankee spies?" queried Steve. "Ah,' understand! And are yo' with the Percy family, Uncle BenT'
 Fur shore"
 Do they uns live nigh yere2"
 '" Bout mile away, sah."
 And whar war yo' goin when yo' met up with that crowd?"
 "I'd dun started fur Harrisonburg to git news bout dat big battle. Dat Cap'an Wyle he was long yere today an told Miss Sunshine dat Mars Kenton was killed ober dar"'
 He did?''
 "Yes. sah, an den Miss Sunshine cum out to me wid her face as white as snow an tears in her eyes an a big lump in her froat, an when seed how powerful she felt dun said I would go an find out dat Mars Kenton was all right"
 ''See yere, Uncle Ben, I've got sum- thin to tell yo'v' said Brayton as he drew him out of the road. Mars Ken ton is up. yere among the rocks and bresh !'
 ''Fo' de Lawd!"
 That gang was after the two of us, though we are not Yankee spies. Mars Kenton was badly wounded jest befo' dark, and had to carry he un on my back fur a couple of miles. Uncle Ben, yo' must go to the house and git blan- kets and bandages and sunthin fur us to eat. Yo' must also bring that gal yere, but not tonight. Tomorrer will do fur her, but we must hev the other