Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-28

knew everything and everybody. but was
born liar, in fact. verbal novelist of
his name was this: Hannah was free
regress and Pete a slave; by the laws of
Louisiana then. the children of free blacks
We're free; she bought him.
Shakes Massa Bradley old Pete would
say, "she fiogs poor Niger worser than
overseer.'
Pete was as worthless a negro as ever
drew breath but he fondly imagined that
fortune in itself: "Golly," he would say.
dis chile take good care Of hisself, for
dar's a thousand dollars OBJ Hannah
money in me, an it's too much to risk
working hard" So he never took the risk.
l stood in the doorway as Pete came
alone. Pete. oh, Pete!'
He stopped. whats up at Coverly's,
Peter
The old scoundrel grinned. Him been
whaling some OBJ dem Methodist niggers of
his'n Pete was Baptisp, and day no
done like it, so dem scoot.'
"Where?"
ITO de swamp
How many, Peter
'Oh, bout 10000 OBJ en-" said he. Oar $
Bill, he's gorne; Nose, he's gorne; Nose S
woman she's gorne; boz young 'uns, dem
gOrne. How many dat maker?
That's only five. Pete"
wall, Lemuel Mason, de yaller feller an
all dat lot, four OBJ 'em-Tom, Jack an
Pharo-how many dat?"
Nine" said l.
"Oh. yah. TO moon shuah, for dar tou-
sand gone-Lucy, she gone; OATS all, l
tink. OATS tousand, Massa Bradley
That's only ten, Pete"
wall, amt dat nough? Ten niggers get
one good licking byme-by, massa. Coverly
catch EN-. Forty bosses, hundred mules,
ten tousand dorgs an ole Skew Bill Snei-
der, he gorne, too"
1t was the general opinion that the ne
groes had taken to the swamp, and that
after getting starved out they would return
and take their punishment as hundreds of
others had done before.
Never before had such an exodus as this
taken place. Here was $4,000 worth of
property in the swamp. Think of 1t. you
orthern farmer! How would you feel If
you had lost $4,000 in horses or cattle in
one night? Very much, think, as the old
man Coverly did the next morning when
he awoke and found himself minus ten
negroes.
OF course, I knew that he would never
again his property There were pro-
visions enough to last ten persons three
months at our depot. We had hard bread
coffee, sugar, tea, salt beef, dried beef
pork, fish and dried apples. There were
also few boxes of canned fresh meats to
use in case of sickness, well as flour and
meal in small quantities.
We had a rough log house built to shelter
them, intending to make our first party
build suitable quarters for our refugees, for
We might be compelled to stay there weeks
and perhaps months, though we did not in
tend to stop but day or two-juSt long
enough to let the runaways get well rested
/ thought these things over as l moved
about the store that afternoon, anxiously
expecting George Wesners return. / very
well knew that he might have to spend
three days, perhaps more, at the rendezvous
and then possibly keep on with the fugi-
tives. l thought 1t more than likely, how
ever, that he would come back to the store
and stay week or so and thus avoid even
the shadow of suspicion.
Night and WeSnar. rpOrnipp
noon the next day, 4, 8, & o'clock, sunset
he did not come. 1 closed the store and
went home.
Next morning about o'clock, as 1 was
sitting down to my breakfast, the door
opened, and my absent partner, wearing a
smile of content and triumph on his face
walked into the room.
Brad. 1 thought 1 would breakfast with
, you"
"All right; sit down"
Jane ito the WaitreSs), get plate and
cup for Mr.. Wesner." Jane disappeared
l gave George a look of inquiry.
"All right" said he, safe and sound
will tell you on the road. Walls have ears
and ears find tongues; we must trust nc
| one now
Breakfast finished we mounted our
| horses and set out for the store. Once
| clear of the house. George commenced
| We'll. Brad. what do you think of it?'
How far have you gone. George?"
| Into the swamp, do You mean?'
We'll, no. not exactly. but let US know
how you managed? How did you spirit ten
/ darkeys away from Coverly's place? WHY
We're you not discovered? Give me the
whole story. have been in a fever Of ex-