Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-26

| mute MS eHtctlNPIN barred MY uStlui-
| ness as an agent for the L. G. r. r. for
! time. for what few limbs man owned he
| had use for if he travelled on that road.
! Now We must set back in reality. George
| must leave and must keep the store open
| hence was obliged to employ some one to
assist me; this dsliked to do. but it was
| necessary. as our business was large and
| increasing every day.
| We hired a free negro boy. about seven
| teen named Winter. which we shortened to
| Win.
the negro hloou was ever to the front. He
| was strictly honest. excepting, of course as
to the Unborn appetite for chickens.
| Sunday morning. April >. George started
| for the camp. There were eighteen fugi-
| tiveS gathered there. all of whom had been
| picked up by Lem and Obed. except Lam
ticed from Franklin. 1t was all night work.
| 1t was not our intention to trust Lem or
| Obed. but my accident made 1t necessary.
CHAPTER XVIII.
| George left somewhat cast down as I was
| in no shape to render him assistance 1 felt
! that once on the way anxiety and excite
| ment would counterfeit the feeling of de-
/ spondency.
! Through the swamp and bayou the fugi-
! iives struggled. one day very much like an
| other. One Saturday night the party had
! dragged their canoes across the carry and
! launched them into the waters of a little
! 'i''N tH'it IipNtu INTO the ARKANSAS. W eS
| her would have crossed but it rained hard
all day. and the whole party was tired
| hungry and wet through. so he gave orders
! 10 build fire. dry their clothing and rest
| till the next day. The river had been rising
| and he wished to look at it by daylight be-
! fore attempting its passage.
| The next morning bright. the rising
| sun shone on the wet bushes and the rain
/ drops Sparkled and gliStened.
! The women We're making coffee. Hark
| b"rne on the morning air came the dread
| sound that sends terror to the heart of the
fugitive of the swamp-the baying If
| hounds,
| God have mercy said vio,et: "the
| dogs
| All the fugitives We're on their feet The
! having continued. but came no nearer.
! The frightened negroes huddled together;
| Obed and Lemuel We're cool. Obed spoke
| first:
| We are followed
| Yes cried Lem. and must fight
/ WeSner realized that his actions and de-
cisions must be prompt and instantly given
| if he would save his party from capture
! and his neck from the moose.
/ one moments reflection convinced him
/ that If they We're indeed pursued. il must
! be by people in boats who had dogs with
| them. and Were encamped beside the creek.
getting their breakfast. The dogs We're
| probably baying at some wild animal. Who
/ We're these persons? Where from? He did
| not
Can / make these people save them
| selves" was his anxious thought.
If he sent part of them off in the canoes
and kept some Of them to beat off their
PurSuers and failed. all was lost. Neither
Obed nor Lemue could pilot the boats to
Bradley's yard. and on them he must rely
for his support in the coming contest. The
rest We're good workers, but a generation
of AFFECT slavery had extinguished every
particle of manly courage in their breasts.
They would obey him because he was
white; they would obey the next man for
the same reason.
Wesner decided quickly. Boys" said he.
turning to the fugitives. I'VE must fight.
obed. you and Lemuel know how; l want
two more and l will take you, Jake. and
YOU Bill. Now do as l tell you l will
shoot You dead in your tracks. Take your
rifles and come here
They brought their rifles to him. He
| loaded both and capped the nipples.
Now, boys said he. you can both
shoot. for l have seen you. but this time
you must shoot white man. Can you?'
Vas massa.
Vas massa.' repeated Wesner sheer
ingly.
THAT'S encouraging Obed. Wei take
them along. but there are on.y three of us;
they can't fight"
Jim's wife spoke up: Il can shoot a white
man or a black coward either; try and
see" and she picked up rife and loaded it,
showing a practiced hand. Il used to clean
old MaSSa LanmanS guns when he went
hunting and have fired them many a time
Good for you Vic; you shall be captain
of the reserves. Now the rest of you load
the canoes. take tntIn TO tIt HputH VI tIe
bayou and remain in them until we return"
Wesner saw that places in the canoe for
himself and his men We're left vacant and
the paddles ready to grasp in an instant.
Taking Violet aside. he explained to her
what to do in case he was killed for I
shall not be captured" he said. Violet.
if you could read | would let you have my
plan.
But | can read" she replied.
Wesner looked astonished and thrust his
( plan into her hands
Come boys" he said to the negroes, and
closely followed by the four. proceeded up
thu. creek The water ankle deep most
of the way. In Wesners estimation it must
be about two miles TO where their pursuers
were encamped. After travelling nearly that
distance he halted his men and went for
ward alone He could smell smoke and the
odor of broiling meat. Il must be very
near the encampment,' he reasoned and
crept Stealthily forward There they were.
eight of them. and a pack OF at least twen-
~ dogs. The men had finished their break
fast except one who was giving the last
turn to a bit of venison.
Come Jake said the leader of the
crowd '.ain't you most filed up? l should
think You had had time enough to crawl
outside of a who,e deer carcass. hide and
all. We must be off in moment II We want
to catch them niggers. 1t can't be more
than :iO0 miles to the end of this d--n
bayou and they not great way ahead.
Come on an leave the hounds to foller."
"Oh. don't be in a hurry cried Jake;
Wesner did not stop to hear more. In ten
minutes he had joined his companions.
Now boys said he in his usual tone
of voice there is to be trouble and some of
US perhaps will get hurt. l cannot shoot
them down in cold blood, although they're
eight to five. Lay behind this log and he
pointed to "A cottonwood that had fallen
beside the bayou.
They dropped quickly and listened to the
sound of The voices of the party as 1t
slowly approached, pushing along the sur
face Of the sluggish stream.
Now boys, level your rifles and cover
your men; let me do the talking; don't fire
until l give the order. unless they do. Then
don't walt, but pour ii into them. This fight
must be to the death. Is my face all right
Yes said Obed, you are Niger enough
now sure.
They could now hear the conversation of
their pursuers they drew near. Wesner,
cooking his rifle. stepped quietly behind a
tree out of range of his own men and a
trfe nearer the water. The first canoe,
containing five men. was in sight ten rods
from him: the other was about three rods
astern and held three men, their baggage
and guns There was but one man armed
In the leading canoe. He sat in the stern
paddIing, with his rifle at his feet
Good thought Wesner, and then Halt,
in a voice that made the woods ring. with
a force that nearly overset her the oarsmen