The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-04-03

Bon.
/ had noticed Bob jump on the
switch engine and drive her up the
road. and | felt sure there would be
trouble in the woods. The expression
on his face told me that. ! also knew
he was up against a hard game, for [
knew Ford 10 be an ugly customer
when aroused, and I dreaded the pos
sibility of their meeting. | was think
ing of him and worrying over the pos
sibility of his getting hurt, when /
heard the whistle of No. 4, and in a
few moments she stood putting in the
yard. | ran to her, expecting 10 see
Bob, but ho was non est, only Jenk's
black face was visible in the ca b. Then
jerks called to me, and said, "Mr.
Lewis here ana note, Masser Bob done
sent it to you. He am a giving To stay
dar in der wood all night, an 'spicion
somethinll happen afo' morning eos l
done hearin' him start after Eb Ford
afore / started back"
1t was getting dark and the whistle
had blown toquit. told jerks not to
draw the fire from No. /. Then I went
over to the boarding house and called
Jim Stokes, the shipping clerk. He
was a bright fellow, and [ knew he
would fight till he dropped if we had
trouble. / also called Bradley, the en-
gineer of No. >. He was another man
on whom / could depend in ease we
had to fight. We examined cur pistols
and started up the road on No. i. driv-
ing her till She threatened 10 leave the
rails. noticed little jerks sharpen
ing knife and asked him what he
was going to do with it.
'I's a-goin' ter fight for Masser Bob"
he replied.
When we reached the log camp tap
peared deserted and was as dark rs
pitch. We stopped and gropad our
way to 4 lonely shanty from which
ray of light beamed Inside We found
an old negro wench crouching close to
the fireplaee. "Where aFS the men?1
/ demanded of her
"Dey'san done gone to Dry Lake"
she answered. AN / reckon dey will
fight for sho"
"Who will fight:" / asked.
"i1b Ford and the Yankee boss" she
piled. An dey will have il out an
don't yo' forget it, Cos der new boss
done showed Eb he kin fight, am he
amt afeared Of her debble no how, he
amt"
l was trembling with excitement and
asked her how long they had been
gone. "About five minutes" she re-
piled.
Turning TO the Others said, Boys
We must make for Day Lake. What
show will one man stand among those
sayagese'
We lost no time leaving the shanty
and hurried through the black woods.
jerks knew the way and We kept close
to his heels. He did not need a light.
for negro can see we'll in the dark.
We walked on rapidly, now tripping
over the undeTbrush, now sinking to
our knees in the marsh, now stumbling
against fallen trees, bat we did not
mind trifles for we had a mission to
perform, and, perhaps a friends life
depended on our haste. jerks did
not need any urging. He run through
the woods like an animal. We, fol-
lowing close after him, heard voices
ahead. jerks stopped and exclaimed.
ives dar, boss" | proceeded 60 the
edge of the forest and peering through
the trees beheld the men all grouped
together. The full moon had risen
and its bright rays shone on the hard
ened faces of the men, who locked hes
tial in the soft yellow light. l return
ed to my companions, and, after relat-
ing my observations, we held council
of war which resulted i'm our deciding
to await developments, but to hold
ourselves ready for any emergency
Crawling close to the edge of the
woods we were able TO secure full
View of the mob. They We're standing
in small clearing near the lake,
which had formerly been occupied Tor
"a log camp. ] noticed Bob and Eb
Ford in the centre of the camp. They
were debating some subject in not very
choice language. Then pursuing
through the crowd to the woods they
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