Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-10-15
CHAPTER XXI.
what BefeII Ernest Hnrtrey I'm the
Cavern.

Partly doing. partly unconscious.
and fainting from the effects OF weak
ness. Ernest Hartrey lay for many
hours after he had see his majesty'S
ship Osprey speeding on her homeward
VOYAGE without motion, almost with
out thought.
1T seemed to him as if, in a confused,
indistinct dream, many people We're
swarming about him. II then ne
opened his eyes and became conscious
that it was not n dream. but reality.
That round him were a multitude or
negroes. with their ugly black faces
turned toward him. and that one-the
lad who had rescued him upon the
night of the attack on the planter :
house-was bathing his head with
some refreshing lotion.
"Where am IT, asked the young
squire. for his brain was still weak
from the effects of the fever. and he
was unable to recall the vents with
any clearness.
flush, massa! You no speak, or you
die
How came all these slaves here?"
he said, d~isregarding the caution.
.They no slaves, m~assa-they very
good black fellar."
It would be tedious to give. at length,
the various conversations which took
place between Ernest Hartrey and his
little negro friend, as the substance
may be given liz a few words.
After sacking and burning their ILL
fated masters house the self-liberated
slaves, as already narrated, set out for
q certain spot where they hoped TO
find security.
The place selected for their conceal
ment was the cavern in which Ernest
found himself so unaccountably; and 1t
was there that the negroes remained
hidden for several days. fearful every
hour that the soldiers would discover
them and either shoot them down on
the spot or convey them to the town
to be logged or hanged, as might be
most convenient.
However, several days passed by,
and no soldiers appeared, and provis-
Ions were running short; accordingly,
1T vas resolved tht a raid must be
made upon the nearest dwellings and
a contribution OF food levied on the
Inhabitants.
This plan was carried into execution
upon the day on which Ernest return
ed to consciousness land 1t vas during
their absence upon his expedition that
the young squire had opened his eyes
to the reality Of his position.
Emboldened by the success of their
foray, the negroes made merry with
the food and spirits they had stolen;
but a time of reckoning was at hand.
They had been tracked to their hid
ing place, and, ever while they drank
and rejoiced, the military were upon
them.
In the far-off end of the cavern the
light from the brushwood fire cleaned
on the bayonets and Announcements of
a body of soldiers Cfor there was an
easier entrance than the one Ernest
had seen down the face of
the cliff; and the songs of the
negroes were changed to cries Of de-
spair at the sight.
No mercy was shown to them; they
begged In vain for quarter; with fixed
bayonets the soldiers charged the
frightened cowardly blacks, who We're
too terrified to offer any resistance.
and they were either thrust through
where they stood o. forced out at the
mouth OF the cavern into the sea.
Some few escaped, but the majority
met with death at the hands Of the
avengers.
1t was a sa~nguinary retaliation; but
In the old, sl~ave-trading days the ne.
groes were hardly looked upon as fell
low creatures, and in this instance y
was right that their crimes should not
80 UNPUBLISHED.