Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1896-10-08
CHAPTER XVIII.
How 1t Fnred with Ernest Hnrtre,

How 1t Fnred with Ernest Hnrtrey
Words fail to describe the astonish
ment of Ernest Hartrey ut his miracu
lous rescue from. the very jaws o.
death.
He. had quite given himself up whaI
he felt the pressure of the negro's
knee taken from his chest and for d
his u~nlookad-for deliverance
completely bewildered him.
His friends had seer him struck
down before he himself fell, and whG
else was there likely to rescue him?
When he staggered to his feet he saw
standing. pleased. by his side the
black guide who had undertaken to
conduct him and Major Darlington on
their tour.
You kind to dis po' blackey,'' said
the negro. grinning. you no call him
bad names, and he save your life
Yes. SO IL was, in truth; the negro
lad was unused 10 words of Kindness.
and the manner in which Ernest had
addressed him. and the good nature he
had shown listening TO him. had been
the means Of saving him when the
fury OF the self-liberated slaves was
at its height.
The scene upon which Ernest gaZed
when lie had sufficiently recovered his
'Ah"' ~ AHht W. u hlstt was D.tSS~
Ing around him was q terrible one.
Many of the slaves who had been
killed by the musket shots from the
windows lay stretched about the dark
stained ground. lighted by the red
glare OF the still flaming house; while
II survivors. little needing the fate of
their comrades. had dragged from n
cellar Il huge cask of rum, and were
pouring the intoxicating drink in huge
quantities down their threats.
The effect was soon p~erceptible and
the early morning sun shOne on Il scene
of terror.
The ~half-naked bodies of the negroes
still lay where they had fallen; while
those who had survived the encounter
and had been yesterday the most alb
ject slaves were transformed into de-
ons furious in their rage.
The house, which twelve hours be-
fore had nestled so prettily in it's clean
illness, amidst luxuriant foliage. mas
now only marked by n heap of crimson
glowing embers and wreaths of smoke.
which curled slowly upward in the still
morning air.
The bodies Of the late owner Of the
slaves and of Major Darlington were
nowhere TO be seen. Ernest sought for
them to saw them from the indigni-
ties of which they were likely to be ex-
posed by the Infatuated negroes; but
they had already been removed and all
his endeayors TO discover their where
abouts We're in vain.
What story the negro lad had told
the others respecting him, Ernest
Hartrey could not quite make out; hut
they all treated him with considerable
respect; and one old man, with curly
white hair. after examining his
wounds. gathered the leaves from GER
tain plants. and applied them to our
hero's hurts, and he very soon felt the
benefit of the simple treatment. for
the pain was eased ard the stiffness in
the shoulder joint grew better.
The drinking which took place when
the negroes had succeeded in making
themselves masters of the situation
was not of long Duration: for two or
three. who appeared to have some au-
thority over them. went about the diff
ferent groups, addressing them in forci-
BILE language and urging upon them
the necessity of at nee leaving n SPOT
TO which sooner or later the militia
woul be sure to come to quell the out
break and to take vengeance for the
life of the planter.
Soon all the blacks formed into a
kind of procession; bet Ernest stood
apart till his former guide gently took
him by the arm and led him toward
the others.
Am l to go with your" he asked.
"Yes, massa, you muSl come wild
u.s.
But / must be back to Carlisle bay
in four days"
"Massa no want to go to Carlisle
bay: he like to stay wild po' black fell
low
"No. no. / tell you. 1t is necessary.
most impOrtant-a matter of life and
death-that l should be back there in
four DAYS"
The negro only looked in his face
and grinned.
Il save massa's life, now he do what
j tell him.
Surrounded as he was by the
negroes. Ernest saw that any attempt
to escape would be worse than
useless. considering. too. that he was
quite ignorant of the country.
Led by the lad who had saved him
from a violent death. he found himself
in the midst of the negroes, who at
once set of walking at an uncomfort-
ably rapid pace. Whittier they were
taking him he could form no adequate
idea; but the way seemed perfectly IA
miliar to the blacks, who had doubt
less arranged the outline of their plans
previously to the general rising, which
resulted in the death of their master
and the total destruction of his dwell
ing place.
The terrific heat had no effect upon
the negroes. who continued at n rapid
pace wen at the hours when the sun
had the greatest power; but upon Err
nest, who had not yet had time to get
accustomed to the ordinary heat, the
effect was terrible.
Again and again he would have fall
en- exhausted to the ground had he not
been supported by some of the blacks.
who gave him to understand that it
was necessary for him to accompany
them wherever they went.
At length, however, he could endure
the fatigue no longer, and, unable to
put one foot down before the other,
he sank to the earth In a deep swoon.
When he recovered consciousness he
found he was being borne rapidly over
the ground in n kind of rude litter