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

across the stream to the ambuShed enemies:
Gentlemen. YOU are in our power; now. if
you wish to continue this fight you can.
until not one of you is left alive. or you can
take one canoe and your wounded comrades,
return to your homes. boast of your brav-
cry. and tell your neghbors that a niger
can't fight. Your dogs shall kill if they
are not already dead. Choose quickly, for
getting inpatient
That's a white mans voice. said one.
You re right there, and what's left of you
may as well travel was the answer.
Stranger, We're off; this hands throwed
up. cried the spokesman of the party.
Don't shoot and stepping in sight. he
stood on the bank. looking across to catch a
glimpse of his unseen foe.
Come" cried Wesner, move
At that two more demonstrating chaps
poked their heads out of the bush. Turning
sadly toward his dead comrades. one of
them asked permission To take the bodies
with them. To this Wesner readily con-
scented. and Obed. having returned from the
dog slaughter volunteered to assist them.
and coolly walked to the creek and helped
to lay the bodies in one of the canoes. TAX
ing this one In tow, the survivors embarked
in the other and the melancholy cortege
passed out of sight. AS they left one of
them arose in the canoe and, waving his
hand. cried: Goodbye, boys, goodbye.
hope every one of you will the free
gers" In few moments the sound of their
paddles was lost in the distance.
The remainder of the forenoon was passed
in watching for the return of the pursuers,
but they were evidently satisfied that there
was an easier and more lucrative business
than catching negroes, So had returned
home to report that eight white men and
twenty dogs had been beaten back half
their plumber and all their dogs killed, by
four runaway negroes.
There was a joyful greeting when Wesner
and his men returned-not unframed. for
Lem had a bullet through his arm, but said
nothing Mt the time.
That afternoon the party remained on the
banks of the creek to rest before trying the
passage of the Arkansas.
CHAPTER XIX.
That night after supper Wesner pressed
Lem to finish the story he had begun in
the morning before the fight
Captain" Lem replied, mo man living
knows it. I have toiled for years with
nothing to live for but revenge; it was all
l did live for; but since you and Mr.. Ed
wards have given me my freedom and
risked your lives for me, l will tell you
all.
II had Just told you about my father
Five hundred niggerS-sounds like big
brag for me- a slave i can remember his
patting me on the head and calling me his
mulatto baby. l must have been four to
five years old then: ] was only when he
was brought into the house with a bullet in
his brain. That remember well. My mother,
you ask II Sne were les, she was
a Felah born in Africa; my father bought
her of Congo chief, who was about to be-
head her to satisfy some god or other that
he fanced he was angry with or Was angry
with him. She was his property and lived
with him in Africa, where he had been for
many years and was getting homesick- He
left came to Louisiana, bought a planta-
ton and sent for her. She came with my
brother and myself. My father had taught
her to read and write. She was a black
lady, her father was a great chief.
II do not think my father had many
friends among his neghbors; he had been
long in the African slave trade. and was
wild devil at best. but was always good
to my mother. / remember once she was
very sick. he rode thirty miles for ply
was out of danger. He sat with her hand
in his while the doctor was there. 1 know
what a shock it must have been to that
physician, reared In a Louisiana atmos-
phere, to witness wealthy planter caress-
ing the ebony hand Of u black woman. but
the whole pelican state could not have in
fluenced him. The physician made some
light remark regarding 1t. My! how the old
mans eyes snapped.
Doctor" said he, II put In fifteen years
on the coast of Senegamba: am a gradu-
ate of Yale College: l have seen white ladies
in my younger days, but that woman is
dearer to me than all else in America. Save
her If you can. and name your prfce-but
tons are mine only; my neighbors may
come here If they choose, OF give me the
cold shoulder: l do not want their friend
ship neither do l fear them. I have proba-
bly, In my day shot twenty men, and can
shoot twenty more il necessary, but am