The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1900-11-22

ter called Dill 10 MIN anu lOlu MN lie
might go that day to the woodland
above the dam and do some chopping.
The look of woe, having accomplished
its purpose, was laid aside, and get
ting his AK, Lazy Bill set out to his
place of work.
When the dinner horn sounded, Bill
failed to appear Immediately after
ward, and this being unusual, caused
apprehension.
Not appearing still later. his mother
FASTENED to the place where he had
been sent to work.
All that could be seen of him here
was the AK ne had been using lazily
sticking in a small sapling. She looked
in ali directions, but saw nothing of
him. She ran down to the drift where
Bill usually dl1 his fishing. There
was the long log projecting over the
water on which Lazy Bill always sat
when he first began fishing, on which
he then nodded awhile, and on which
lie usually stretched himself and
slept. Foot prints were on this log.
Lazy Bill had fished there few days
before, because he had come home car
rying a small turtle. But these tracks
were too fresh, his mother believed,
to have been made then. Without
doubt they had been made that morn
ing.
The mother called aloud. looking up
the dam and down, but there was no
response. All that she saw was the
deep, sullen water.
Bills drownded!" she broke out,
crying. The guilty countenance of
the water confirmed her fears.
In great anxiety she hurried back
to the quarters" and reported that
Bill was drowned, mentioning the
fresh tracks she had seen on the log,
ard the guilty aspect of the water.
The other negroes had just sat
d yn to dinner, but they rose imme-
Gately upon the sad announcement
Tie report that Bill was drowned was
not questioned. Several of the ne
groes said that they had been expect
ing such news for some while. 'Jes'
what | dreamed" said others.
The inhabitants of the quarters" a
score or more, FASTENED at once to the
dam and began searching for the
body. Parties went, some up and
some down the stream, but nothing
was seen of the lifeless form. and re-
turning. the stalwart negroes began
vigorously to dislodge the drift. This
was a good-sized accumulation of the
floating matter of the stream, and
was very dangerous, not only from
the long logs projecting over the
water, ready to precipitate into the
dam. but more so from the concealed
openings through which one of Bits
careless, thoughtless habits might
suddenly and irretrievably sink.
The" tide had wedged the logs to-
oether with great force. but this was
soon overcome, and large quantities
of de bris t1oated solemnly off down
the stream. Anxious eyes followed
the d.slodging of each log and peered
into the depths of the water. and sol
emn-toned ordinations and female
shriei,s every few moments announced
the fancy that the body was found.
Under the thought of momentarily
seeing the lifeless, helpless form of
Bill. the hearts of his former enemies
softened toward him. They spoke of
him as little Bill, not as lazy Bill,
They declared that he was not so lazy
as he was thought to be, and each
began trying to shift from his con-
science responsibility for the false
charges brought against Bill, especial
ly the false charge about the liquor.
Put a certain fear was gnawing at
the hearts of those negroes with
keener tooth than remorse.
They all recalled that only yester-
day Bill had foretold his early death
tat he had often said he would die
"sCne NV desc days" They also re-
ca! d, very distinctly. TOO. that he
hai said he would come back and
"ha mt" them, They had laughed
VIII n he said this; they felt weak al
heart when they thought of it now.
The driver" who so often had made
lilSC dttuSdtlb against Dill, ana
against whom Bill had pledged his
spirit to take special vengeance. felt
himself so deeply under condemnation
that he took no part in the moving of
the drift. but stood out on the bank
acne. with sorrowful, heayy-bur-
Ger q countenance.
Oats right, Griver," exclaimed the
mother. noting his woe
full face. IF I'd been as mean to Biz
as you has. ia look meaner Gan you
does. You oughtn't hep move desc
logs. You oughtn't want eber TO see
po' Bill ag'in. But you wiz. driver.
You'll see him dis berry night"
The drivers" hands fell limp to his
sides. his head dropped and the ashy
hue deepened on his face.
"Io' niggahs'l all see him fore you
Gies." cried the mother.
y thrill of agony shot through the
Gusky frames. Not a word was spoken.
The dull, dead sound of the hand
spikes moving the logs was all that
was heard, Finally the last log of the