The times., 1897-03-21
AARON IN THE Wild WOODS
THE STORY OF A SOUTH
ERN SWAMP
By JOEL CHANDLER HARRIS

of the daythat il routed MIR. Simmons dogs,
but Aaron was not thereto see it. He knew
that, for some days at least. he would be
free from active pursuit. The only danger
he would have TO encounter would come
from the pa patrollers-the negroes calledthem
''patterollers' who visited the various
plantations at uncertain intervals If he
began TO 20 about with too much conf
dence il was entirely possible lie would
run into the aims OF the ratrollers, and
be would have small opportunity TO escape.
Therefore, while he knew that he would
not be hunted by dogs for some time, he
also knew he must be constantly on the
alert To guard against surprises, The
most active member of the patrol was
George Gossett himself, and after he and
his companions had visited Mr.. Fullaloye's
distinCry, which they never failed to do
when they went patrulling, they were not
in a condition to be entirely responsible
for their actions. They had nothing to re-
strain them on such occasions except the
knowledge that some of the owners of the
negroes would jump at an excuse to hold
them To a PERSONAL account. And this was
not a pleasant result to contemplate, es-
pecially after q nights spree.
anxious To elude George GoSsett and the
patrollers than he was to escape from MT
Jim Simmons hounds. He knew he must
avoid the negro cabins, which We're traps
for the unwary when the patrollers were
around, and he knew he must keep off the
public road-the big road" as it was
caned-and not venture too often on the
frequently Travelled plantation Paths
Young GosSett and his companions had
way of disrnounting from their horses out
of sight and hearing of the negro quarters
on the plantations that lay on their beat
Leaving the animals in charge of one man,
they would cautiously post themselves at
the various fence crossings and paths fire.
uuented by the negroes, and in this way
capture all who were going TO the negro
quarters or coming away If a negro had
a pass or permit from his master, wen
and GOOD IL he had none-well, il would
be sorry nights frolic for him.
But Aaron had one great advantage over
all the slaves who went to and fro between
the plantations after nightfall He had
Rambler to warn him; and yet, after aneX-
perence that ne had on one occasion, he
felt that he must be more cautious than
ever 1t happened not many weeks before
he was hunted by Mr.. Simmons hounds.
In trying to kill "A moccdsin Rambler had
the misfortune to be bitten 10y the serpent
The wound was on his Juwl, and in spite Of
all that Aaron could do, the poor dog
head and neck swelled fearfully. When
night came the Son of Ben Ali made Ram
bier as comfortable as possible, brusing
herbs and barks and binding them to the
wound and making him a soft bed.
on that particular night Aaron. felt that
he might visit the Little Master, and yet
he was doubtful about it. He finally con
Guided to wait until late, and then go to
the hill, where a few weeks later he parted
from Chunky Riley If light was shining
behind the Little Masters curtain he would
20 and drive the red goblin, Pain, from the
room.
he went to the Hill and the light was
shining. The little red goblin was up to
his old tricks AS he went along Aaron
fell TO thinking about the Little Master,
and wondering why the child should lie
constantly given over TO suffering He
forgot all about himself in trying TO solve
this problem: forgot to be cautious, forgot
that he was a fugitive, ana went blindly
aleng the path to the fence above the
spring lot. There, without warning, he
found himself face to face with George
Gossett The rest Of the patrollers were
posted about at various points.
Perhaps George GosSett was rs much
surprised as Aaron. At any rate, he said
nothing He took q half-COnsumed cigar
from his lips and Tipped the ashes from it.
No doubt he intended to say something,
yet he was in no hurry His pistol was in
his coat pocket. his hand grasped the ham
die. ana his finger was on the trigger
He felt that he was ready for any ener-
gency-and SO he was, except for the par
ticular emergency that Aaron then and
there iDvcnte i.
The son of Ben Ali took off his hat, to
show how polite he was in the dark, ad-
vanced a step and then suddenly plunged
at young Gossctt headforemost. Struck
fairly in the pit of the stomach by this
battering-ram, the young man, who was
not too sober to begin with, went down
like log ana Aaron ran away like deer.
The worst of it was that when George
Gossctt recovered consciousness and was
able to call his nearest companion to his
assistance that individual simply laughed
ut the amazing story.
why, it don't stand to reason he
said There amt living Niger that'd
dast to do such a thing and the dead ones
couldn't
..Didu't YOU hear him when he butted
me?" Inquired young Gossctt fcebly.
II heard you when you fell off the
fence, i" replied the other. II allowed that
you had jumped down to let the blood
git in your feet
l,n N
.'hc come Up so close l could "a put my
hand on him. He took off his hat as po-
lite as you please, and the next thing L
know'd 1 didn t know nothing.
"Shucks!" exclaimed his companion as
loudly as he dared to talk; ''you jest
about set up on the fence there and Went
to sleep and fell off. 1 told you about them
low wines at the still; | told you when
YOU was a Swi ling 'em same as q fatten-
ing hog, that if you didn't look out you'd
have to be toted home. And here you
arer''
Young Gossett had to go home. and
as he was he leading spirit, the rest had
to go with him. He managed to sit his
horse after a fashion, but il was as much
as he could do. Once in the big read, his
companions made many rough jokes at
his expense, and they advised him never
TO tell such another tale as that if he
didn't want the public at large to ''hoot
at him.
The adventure taught Aaron a new lesson
in caution, and even now, after Mr.. Sim
mons famous pack OF ''nigger dogs" had
been all but destroyed, he felt that it was
necessary to be more c;.Jtions than ever,
even when Rambler accompanied him. He
had no idea that Mr.. Simmons thought his
dogs had been attacked by wildcats. In