The times., 1897-04-18

not twenty-five yards away, George Cos
sett stood. Rambler caught his scent In
the air and announced the fact by alow
growl. But this announcement only made
Aaron whistle the louder.
There was no need for him to whistle
if he had but known 1T, for when young
Gossett heard the garden gate slammed
to and saw what seemed TO be negro
come away from the house whistling, he
at once decided that some one OF the hands
had been receiving his orders from Mr
Ahercrombic Thus deciding, George Cos
sett paid no further attention TO Aaron,
but kept himself more closely concealed
behind the tree that sheltered him. He
looked at Aaron, and that more than once,
but, though the moonlight was brilliant,
it was only moonlight after all.
Aaron disappeared in the deep shadows
that fell about the horse lot, and George
Gossett forgot in a few minutes that any
one had waded through the pond OF moon
light that lay shimmering between the
garden gate and the lot where Tlmoieon
held sway Indeed, there was nothing about
the incident to attract attention AS he
stood, leaning against the tree, young
Gossett could see the negroes constantly
nassing to and fro about their canlns,
There was no lack of movement. Some or
the negroes carried torches of fat pine
in spite of the fact that the moon was
shining, and so made themselves more
conspicuous. But this peculiarity was so
familiar to the young mans experience
that it never occurred to him to remark
it.
He could evenhearpartsof their conversa-
ton for they made not the slightest effort
to suppress their voices OF subdue their
| laughter, which was loud and long ana
freaucnt 1t was especially vociferous
when Turin came to the door of one OF the
cabins and cried to Uncle Fountain, who
had just gone out
s.Nigger man. You better not try to slip
off to Spiveys dis night"
How come, like ter know?'' said Uncle
Fountain.
"Patterollcrs on de hill yandcr,' replied
Turin.
How do you know?" Uncle Fountain
asked
Il done seed um."
"what they doin' out dar?"
'.Ketchin' grasshoppers, | spcck"
From every cabin came roar of laugh
ter, and the whole plantation seemed to
enjoy the joke. The calves in the GIN
house lot bleated. the dogs harked. the
geese cackied and the guinea hens shrieked,
'PotracE, run here, go hack.' as LOUD
as they could, and a peafowl. roostiag on
the pinnacle of the roof OF the great
house, joined i'll with waiitng cry that
could be heard for miles.
The lack of respect shown by the Aber-
crombie negroes for the patrollers iritated
George Gossett, but il was "a relief to him
to know that { the negroes on his "pap's'
place were to make any reference to the
patrollers they would bow their heads
! ana speak II subdued whispers.
From one of the cabins came the sound
| of "patting" and dancing, and the noise
| made by the feet of the dancers was so
| RESPONSIVE to that made by the hands Of
the man who was patting that only an
| exert ear could distinguish the difference.
! The dance was followed by a friendly
| tussel, and negro suddenly ran out at
| the door, pursued by anothe{. the pur-
! suer halted however, and cried out
| '.Ef you fool wild me, nigger, I'll make
marster sen you in de lot dar an move
dat ar viii hoss to his new stable"
''Narster was made TO- you was de
! maker" answered the pursued, who had
! now stopped running.
Ding 'eml" said young Gossett, in
! low tone to himself. They're always
! and eternally clicking on this place. No
! woader they amt able to do no more
work in the daytime"
FrettiGg inwardly, the young man
| changed hi positionand continued to watch
| for the runaway. How long he stood here
! young Gossett could not say. Whether the
spirits lie had swallowed at the stihouse
| benumbed his faculties so that he fell
! into a doze, he did not know. He could
only remember that he was aroused from
| apparent Inconsistencies by tremendous
| clamor that seemed to come from the
| hill where he had left the most of his
| companions II was noise of rushing
| anG running, squealing horses. and the
| exclamations OF frightened men.
Young Gossett did not pause to inter
! pret the clamor that came to his ears,
but ran back toward the hill as hard as
| he could go.
(To Be Continued)