Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-04-04
bloodhound took my trail, and the three
men followed hotfoot.

bloodhound took my trail, and the three
men followed hotfoot.
As the reader has learned, something
happened to that brute ut the clearing
in Black Mans swamp, and for the time
being the hunt had to be pushed with.
ont his aid.
The pursuers knew they were near
the hopie Of the negro Pete, and, still
under the belief that was Hank Boyer.
suspected I would apply TO him for
shelter until the hue and cry was over.
While Archie and Gabe remained In
the background Cy went forward 10 find
ont whether such was tho fact.
The old habit Of canton on the part
of Cy came back TO him. He knew that
II Hank Boyer had taken refuge In the
negro's cabin he would make hot fight
before yielding and would probably re-
csive the assistance Of Pete himself.
Should that occur the little party would
need re-enforcemsnts before reducing
the two to terms.
At daylight Pete, In accordance with
his promise, climbed the ladder In bis
cabin to rouse me, but when he observed
how calmly was sleeping decided to
leave me alone until breakfast was
ready. Accordingly he descended the
ladder with that purpose in view when
he was startled by knock on the door.
Drawing it inward, he saw Cy Walters,
Winchester in hand, standing before
him.
The veteran looked calmly in the face
Of the agitated African and asked In o
guarded undertone:
us he up stairs, Peter"
"Who dat?"
"You know who I,mean-Hank Bey-
er."
"No, sab. He amt up dere."
"No use Of lying. Pete. / know he's
here"
~ tell yo', Marse Cy. he amt dere.
II yo' doan' b'lieve what ] says, 20 up
de ladder and see fur yo'sef."
This sounded fair. but the old soldier
knew too much of war to give an enemy
such all invitation to blow out his
brains without risk to himself.
"Is h. asleepi'
"Yaas be am slcepin, replied Pete.
fairly caught by the question. Cy looked
grimly at him for moment, and then,
lowering his voice to whisper. said:
Come with me. Bring your gun
along"
Without protest the negro stepped
back within the room, picked up his
rife from where it was leaning In the
corner and followed the man across the
clearing over the path that led TO the
creek where his dugout lay. Not word
was spoken until they had gone some
distance in the underground, the white
man leading. Then he wheeled about
and demanded:
what did you mean by telling me
Hank Boyer amt in your cabin!'
Pete expected this and was prepared.
With look as steady as that Of his
questioner he replied:
"Marse Cy, tole yo' de troof." )"
Walters was so angered that he part
" raised his hand to strike the impu.
dent negro, who, recoiling a step, added:
"Dere's a man sleepin in my cabin.
He looks like Hank Boyer, but he ain {
him"
"What Internal nonsense is this? I've
heard it Nfore. II he amt Hank Boyer.
who the - is he?"
"Dat can't say, but he amt Hank;
dat's sartin suah."
"How do you know he isn't?"
"How do / know, Marse Cy, dat yo'
amt him? | know 1t jes' dc same AS
know dat dat young man am somebody
else dan Hank"
"But seen him and so did dozen
others early this night down at the tav-
ern. We all had a fair sight at him,
and reckon we know Hank Boyer well
'nough not TO make any mistake about
him. Why, you fool, he owned up that
he was Hank just before the crowd
rushed in Oh him."
"De scand lous william He lied about
1t! He ain's Hank any more dan am,
and I'm tollyble suah 1 amt him."
Cy Walters was puzzled. He knew
the negro well enough to understand
that, preposterous as were his words, he
himself believed them. Nevertheless
his own convictions were not shaken.
In the hope Of reaching a solution he
conducted Pete farther down the bank
to where Gabe Horner and Archie
Hunter were impatiently awaiting their
leader.
When the explanation was made to
them, they received IL with scorn. II
grain Of doubt had been injected into
the mind Of Cy. it was removed by the
violent protests of his companions. who
would not admit even that Pete believed
q particle Of his own declarations.
"Hank is there asleep" said Archie.
"He'll awake pretty soon, and it will
take hot fight to get him. We had
best hurry back while We have time"
They set ont to do go, but Cy COM
pelled them to wait at some distance
while he made reconnaissance. II
their man gave evidence Of being awake,
IL would necessitate material change
in the plan Of campaign. The three
might have little faith in Pete's truth
fulness and honesty, but they knew him
too well 10 fear any treachery on his
part. He would be at their mercy II
he tried anything Of that nature. They
explained his course on the ground OF
sympathy for the hunted fugitive.
Just before reaching the spot where
the dugout was moored Cy came to
halt, and strange conversation began,
the murmur of which I heard from my
hiding place few PAGES away, though
unable to catch any Of the words spoken.
It was apparent from the questions OF
Cy Walters that Pete had succeeded in
raising doubt again in his mind,
though 1t was an infinitesimal one.
''Pete, you still insist that the young
man in your house is not Hank Boyer,
do you?'
~ doan' obsist, Marse Cy. I knows
it."
"Then You must have some reason
for saying go which you haven't told
me. What is it,"
Pete had reason which he had not
named and which had be done 20 would