The times., 1897-04-25
Aaron in the Wild Woods.
BY JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.
Nv JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS.

the patroilers George Gossett, running
toward tie fence, tripped and fell, and,
narrowly escaped the Black Stallion shoots.
He was not far from the fence when he fell,
and he rolled and scrambled and crawlei
fast enough TO elude TtmoleOn, who turned
and ran at him gain. In one way and an
other all the patrollers escaped with their
lives, and once the fence was between them
and the snorting demon, they made haste
TO visit Mr. Fullalove's stillhouSe and re
late TO him the story OF their marvellous
adventure, consuling themselves, mean
while, with copious draughts or the warm
low wines.
~ believe the thing had wings said one
of the patrtllers, and If dIdn'tse smoke
coming cut OF his mouth when he ran at
me, I'm mighty much mistaken l never
shall believe it wasn't Beelzebub This
was the man who had been setupon sud
denly while watching the horses anddozing
Some OF the others were inclined TO agree
with thisvtew ofthe case, e,butGeOrgeGosset
was sure it was a horse.
~ was right a him., he said, when he
pulled Off Monk S coat. and il was horse,
even to the name and tail. was looking at
him when he turned and made For me. Then
4 lTlppeu anu Ieil, anu Jusbult tsI W llic
fence In time TO save my neck
You hear that, don't you, Mr.. Fulla-
love- remarked the man who had been
holding the horses. at pulled Monk 5
coat Off, anu then G0ssett just had time To
get to the fence to save his neck, Why,
les as natchul as pig tracks. Every hoSs
you meet tries to pull your coat and you
have To run fer fence if you want tosaye
your neck That's Gossetts idee If that
thing was a hoss, don't want to see no
more hosses. III tell you that"
We'll" said Mir. Fullalove, there are
times and occasions espeshu!iy oc-
casions. as you might Say-When hoss
mought take notion for to cut up SOME
such rippit as that. You take that black
huss OF Col. Abercrombie a fortnight
ago he got out of his pen and ketched
niger and liked to a killed him"
Maybe it's that same hoSS in the field
yOnder," suggested George Gossett.
NO" replied Mr Fullalove. That hoSs
is penned up so he can't git out of his
stable much less the lot If so be sum IN
ain'ttook and gone and turned him out and
led him To the field. And if that had "A
been done you could a heard him squealin'
every foot of the way
IF anybody wants to cali the Old Boy
a huSS" said the man who had been first
attacked, they are more than welcome
BOYS" remarked Mr.. FGllalovc, If any
of you have got the idee that the Old Boy
was after you YOU d better stay as fur
from this stillhOuSe as you can, and try
to act as if you had souls fur to save.
What have you doae wlta your hosses?'
I'VE couldn't tote 'en, and SO We had TO
leave EN-" GoSSett answered, making
poor effort to laugh. What / hate about it
is that | took a fool notion and rode paps
| horse tonight. He'll be hot as pepper"
Amt YOU going for to make some sorter
effort to git your hosseS our OF the fie!d?''
asked Mr.. FullalOve.
lie can have my hoSs and welcome,
said the man who insisted on the Beelze-
bub theory.
Il wUuidu't go in that field. not for forty
horses" another patroller protested.
Il might so there for forty horses, " said
| George Gossett, but I'll not so back for
one, even though it's pap's."
We'll, its mighty quiet and serene up
there now" suggested Mr.. Fullalove, lis
| tening with his hnad to his ear
Hes caught 'cm a9d now he's SHINING
en-" said the man who believed Beclze-
! buh was abroad that night.
The patrollers stayed at the stillhousc
| until the low wines gave them courage.
! and then they went home with George 6 os-
sett They were bold enough to 20 by the
double gates, to see if they had been
! opened hut the gates were closed tight.
They listened a few moments, but not a
| sound could he heard save the loud, wall
| ing cry OF the peafowl that rested on
| the Abercrombie house AS they went
along the road they found and caught -four
of the horses. The horse that George Cos
sett had ridden was safe at home.
The young men agreed on one thing,
namely, that they would give the Aher-
Cromlie place the gD-by for some time to
come, while the man that thought he
had seen Beelzebub said that he was SICK
of the whole business and would have nc
more of 1T, being more firmly convinced
than ever that the scenes they had wit
messed We're supernatural Even George
GoSSett declared that he intended to ad
wise pap" to sell the runaway, 'if he
could find anybody fool enough to buy
him.
IL must not he forgotten that though Cos
est and his companions were the only ones
that witnessed the terrifying spectacle
presented by the Black Stallion as he rar
screaming about the pasture, they were
not the only ones that heard the uproal
that accompanied it. The negroes heard il
and every ear was bent TO listen. Ran
dali had his hand raised over his head
and held il there as he paused TO catch the
drift and meaning of the fuss. Big Sa
was reaching in a corner for her frying
nan Sba rapSnd half bpnt her arm
reaching out, While she listened. TuriT
was singing, but the song was suddenly
cut short.
Mr. Abercrombie hcardit, but histhought:
were far afield, and SO he paid LITTLE
attention to it. The geese, the guinet
hens and the peafowl heard it and joined
heartily in with a loud and lusty chorus
Nanny Lucy heard it, and came noise
| lcssly TO the library door and looked il
inquiringiy.
What is the noise about, Lucy?'' in
qired Mr. Abercrombie.
Dat what 1 wanter know, Marster 1
SCUM ter me like dat ar hoss done so
loose agin.''
Then the White-lIaired Master, sud
denly remembering that he had conSente
for Little Crotehett's friend to remov
the Black stallion to his new quarters, re
gretted that he had been SO needless. l
was all his own fault, he thought, as h
rose hastily and went cut into the moon
light barehcadcd. lie called Randall AM
Turin, and both came running.
''Go out to the pasture there, and Sc
what the trouble iS.''
.'Yasser, yasscr," they cried, and bot
went rapidly toward the field They ral