Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1895-01-26


shoot two ways. And now, Otter, lead Us
to the slaves quick
This way, baas, but first we must get
the tools They are in the guard hut. i
suppose. /"
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 nippers,
chisels and other instruments such as are
used to undo the irons upon slaves; also
they found the keys of the padlocks that
locked the iron bars to which the captiyes
were tethercd. Taking a 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 embankment. A few
paces beyond was the first slave shed, u
rough erection supported ON posts, but
without sides.
! They entered the she'd Otter leading the
way with the lantern. In the middle was
! pathway, and on either side of this path
/ way ran the long bars to which the cap
/ tiyes were fastened in double row. Per-
/ haps there might have been $50 of them in
this she'd 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 o.
/ wind. When they saw the light. the
| slaves ceased moaning, for they thought
| that this was a visit from their captors,
and erouched upon the ground like dog
| 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 whealed 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 peoplef"
/ asked Leonard anxiously.
Not here, white man. Let us go to the
next shed unless you want to loose these. "
mo 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, Potor, she said
The man awoke-he was fine fellow
about 80 years of age-and glared round
wildly.
who called me by my old name?" he
said hoarscly. Nay, l dream. Peter is
| dead -
Peter, " said the woman again, awake,
child of MaYoom. 1t isl, Soa, who am
come to save you"
The man cried aloud and began to trem-
bic, 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
headman from the settlement, brave
man. Soon the bar was undone. Then
Otter babe Peter hold out his wrists while
he twisted off the letters. Presently they
were gone, and in the ecstasy of his recov-
cred liberty the man leaped high into the
air, then fell at Otter's 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 MaYoom here show them to us.
Quick, or you will soon be fast again!''
There should be 40 or more Peter
answered, recovering himself, besides a
| few women and children. The rest of us
are dead, except the Shepherdess alone, and
she is yonder "
| Then they went down the lines slipping
the chains from the settlement men. Soon
they had unmanacled ten or more men
/ LIT ,J,,1
them with their hands still chained. AS
they went about the work Soa explained
something Of the position to Peter, who
was fortunately a native of intelligence.
He soon grasped it and earnestly seconded
Leonard's efforts to preserve silence and
4 to prevent confusion.
Come, said Leonard to Soa, 1--WE have
got enough to begin with. l must be off.
| You can loose the rest at your leisure. The
moon is rising, it is a quarter to IL, and
we have not moment to lose. Now, OF
| ter, before we CO. how can We send men to
| fire the reeds through the garden?''
No, blas, l have thought of better
way, the way by which escaped myself
! that is if these men can SWIM"
They can all swim" said Soa. They
were bred on the banks of the river -
| Good. Then they must swim down the
dixie where [ 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 be climbed. Then they will find
themselves in the morass among thick
reeds. 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 mustgo from spot to spot
and bend down the driest Of the reeds, set
! ting fire to them. Afterward they can get
to the back of the fire and wait till all is
done, one way or the other. If we win,
they will find us; if we are killed, they
can try to run away. But will the men
go?''
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, 2" she said. You have heard
the words of this black one. Now obey,
and il you depart from them by one jot
may and she poured out so fearful q
curse upon them that Leonard stared at
her astonished.
Aye added Otter, and if l 1.-Two
through this l will cut your throats!"
No need to threaten, +" said one of the
men. I'VE will do our best for our own
SakeS as well as Tor yours ana that OF the
Shepherdess. We understand the plan,
but to light the reeds we must have fire
Here are Matches said Otter
wet matches will not light, and we
must SWIM" answered the spokesman.
Fool, do you then swim with your
head under wateri Tie them in your hair"
! "Ah, he cleverl'' said the spokesman.
Now, if we live to reach them, when
shall we fire the reeds?"
''As soon rs you are ready" answered
Otter lyon will not come easily to the
back of them. Farewell my children, and
if you dare to fail pray that you may die
rather than look upon my face again."
'Oul We have seen it once. Is that not
enoughS" answered the spokesman. look
ing at Offers huge nose with wonder not
untouched by fear.
Two minutes later the four men were
swimming swiftly down the dixie, taking
their chance of the alIigators.
Drop the bridge, said Leonard. I'VE
must be off "
Otter lowered it, at the same time ex-
planning its mechanism, which was very
simple, to Soa, Peter and some other of
the settlement men.
Now, mother, goodby, said Leonard.
Loose all the men you can and keep keen
lookout, so us to be ready to lower the
bridge if you should sec US or your mis-
tress coming toward it. If we should not
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