The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-04-27
CHAPTER XIV

Althougn surprised aud Contounded
Sy 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 a portion of the crowd
started for the house, no doubt fully ex-
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 yo' wants to, but fur
God's sake doan' put yo'r feet in dat
louse!"
What's the matter?" asked one as
the gang came to a halt
De ole missus am lyin in dar dead
an all alone, an it hain't ftten dat yo'
hould go I'M"
"Whar's that Yankee? Whars the
gal? Whar's Steve Brayton;" was
shouted at him.
Dun gone-all dun gono!" he an
swered. ITS jest like l tole yo'--uo-
body in dar but de dead missusv'
Go on, 90 on" yelled Ike Baxter,
"but look ont fur yo'selyes! 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 tho cussed
old niger" had told the truth.
Dead, oh;' exclaimed Ike Baxter as
they told Of the corpse en- the bed.
"WaGl, I'm coin to burn the house Jest
the same. though mebbe some Of yo'
uns will lug the body outdoors fust.
Time huff 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 goln to begin at yo'r chin and skin
yo' cl'ar down TO yo'r heels! After
yo've bin skun we'll build fire around
yo' and r9st what's leit'
He went to his saddle for a rawLide.
one he hal seemingly bror-ht along for
the occasion. When he ereturned withit,
Uncle Ben was stripped Of coat and vest
and his shirt torn away from his sh0ul-
ders They were going TO take his life,
not merc.tIllv, as one kills a savage
beast by a bullet through the heart or
brain, but they would torture him ior
hours perhaps. He could not tail to re-
aiize 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. lie would DO asked to
bctTay them. His refusal would bring
other tortures, but he would refuse
Now, then, 20 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.
"Of cose he knows. and I'll hev it
outer be I'm mighty quick. replied Ike
"Im goin to give 20 powerful lickin
Gle man, fur the way 20 banged me last
night, but II make it laetle easier if
yoll 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 tho bare back.
Each blow raised a welt, and as each
one fell tho victim strained and tuggcd
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 tho 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 yero
war, " said Ike as he paused for breath.
Then cir Yankees was tellin our mig
gers that they was Jest as good as thar
masters. Yere's a 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 aIlus 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 haint no rush about it, " re-
piled Ike as he hourished the whip. II
want to make it last as long az / kin.
It's dod gasted pity we hain't got 10
or 20 other niggers yere to look on and
take warnin by his fate. I've allus
itched to lick a niger, but never had
the chance befo'. Ar yo' goin to tell
me, yo' internal old imp, whar that
Yankee Is hidin out?" Uncle Ben sim
ply shook his head. "Yo' hain't, eh?"
screamed Ike. "Then everybody stand
back, fur I'm goin--I'm goin to make
the blood fly all over the yardm
Stop"
Ike had his arm raised for a blow
when a figure passed him and halted
beside Uncle Ben. That figure had
pushed its way into the circle unheard
and unseen. Everybody stared in as