Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-23
CHAPTER XXXIII.

We kept a sharp lookout and set forth,
determined to make the distance In one
day.
At noon We halted. made coffee ate our
dinner. rested and chatted awhile and with
renewed Zeal resumed our Journey heading
we'll toward the southwest. Wesner and
myself were mounted. Wesner leading the
pack horse. The prairie was spotted with
cattle feeding singy and in groups. making
II difficult to distinguish at a distance
mounted men such.
Mason, whose sharp eyes were ever on
the alert. soon called to Wesner, that away
toward the west and north of our course
We're mounted horsemen. Wesner brought
his fieldglasS TO bear and could plainly dis
tiuguish them riding diagonally toward u.s.
Judging from their movements they had
not yet seen US. but their course was nearly
across ours, unless they should change. We
Were now upward of 20 miles from the
Teche and had no fear from that direction.
For emergencies We had provided chains
and shack'es. These We5ner now produced
and shackled together two of the ugIiest-
looking darkies In the crowd.
Ihis was to give a more realistic con-
hrmation to our proposed story that we
Were slave traders.
Now, boys said he, keep cool and IL
one OF You understands word OF Acadian.
don't show IT. 1t is not likely any uues-
tons Will be asked you. Don't answer If
there are
Wesner and myself carried at our belts
caliber ~ Colts reviewers and slung at our
saddles rifles of the same make. Obed had
brought his rifle, but he had taken 1t to
pieces: The barrel he carried over his
shoulder having ingeniously followed out
and filled an oak limb over it. I-pon this
limb he had Sung his bundle. Both he and
Mason had pistols, but they were hidden
from view The others had nothing but
their bundles slung over their shoulders
An arsenal would have been of no use
TO them. for they had been slaves ton long
lri
We We're y all toli-16 men, including Wes-
ner and myself. with IL women and girls
Negro women could usually endure as much
hardshlp as the men, but this lot included
niulattoeS. and mulattoes are not as hardy
as the ordinary negroes and do not thrive
so well under exposure
In the cours. OF II minutes We could
make out quite distinctly the forms Of both
men and horses. When first seen they were
RIDING leisurely. but upon deserving nur
party mad increased their speed and were
!dSt nearing us. The nearer they came the
less We liked their looks. They We're well
mounted upon wiry Texas mustangs and
festinbied Mexican rancheros, rather than
natives of the states. AT the pommel of
each Mexican saddle was coiled a horse
hair lariat. but that nothing uncom-
mon for a Texas herder
Nesner called to me: Watch them 7
think they are cattle thieves and will want
the negrr.s."
They were now close by, and. slowing up
thty walked their horses close to the
~ -74'''@ S''I ullIlZlTS them as they passed
along. for we had cautioned them TO keen
moving. Wesner and myself halted There
""re I'VE men The leader of the gang
Was apparently forty years of age and Of
grnil'manly appearance. He spoke very
Pleasantly. fhIuiring where we were going.
replied that we had purchased these
negroes IN New Orleans and were on our
way To Texas and market; that We lived
about four miles from Houston and that
ohultZ IA we!l-knOwn negro trader there)
was Interested In them.
This story was straight enough although
this was not exactly the route a sane man
with a lot of negroes for the Texas market
would pursue. especially if he wished to
market them In good condition but ii was
the best story for the occasion and really
II was none Of their business. Regarding
themselves they vouchsafed no Information
except that they were ranchmen looking
Tor mavericks, and eagerly inquired IL
There were many cattle TO the north of us
bow far it was to the nearest ranch and
II We had seen many herders. These ques-
lions showing them TO be strangers | ask
Sci the leader if they We're not from west Of
tn" Sabine. He replied that they were
turned his horse and. followed by the rest
rode off. waving their hands IN token Of a
good-hyr- In few minutes after Obed
called TO me and / rode along beside him.
Captain said he. that Janey Qndicat-
Ing one Of the women says she knows who
those men are and has seen them before"
''Janey," l inquired, do you know who
those men sre?''
IL know one Of them massa"
1.-The big one, the sorrel horse that
spoke tn Massa Williams. / seen him in
Texas
who Is it?''
That Teller Massa Captain. is Bert Nor
rill for sure. | know him Just the fust
mint my eyes seed him. He color his'n
whisker black. and him got black wig
10 hide the red hair. l know his voice
and his eyes
What does he do. Janey?"
Him steal cattle. steal niggers rob
bank. burn cotton gin. murder. anything to
get money. He awful devil. awful, Massa
Capen. dey all be back after dark and kill
The white men and steal de nggers."
We'll Charlie. this Is consoing Informal
hon" Wesner's comment. I'VE shall
undoubtedly be obliged TO fight these land
pirates: this Morrill, L know by reputation.
He terror around Austin for four
or five years. and ! had idea of seeing
him and his gentry east Of the Teches.
They must have been hard pressed by the
sheriff. and ned the state; lucky for us
We know who they are. 1 don't like this
open prairie. These devils well mount
ed. and can ride around and pick you and
of at a long distance. The negroes they
want alive. and won't kill more than is
necessary to enable them to capture and
hold the rest There ara $lOOn for them