The National tribune., 1900-07-05

Let EN- go on with their hanging,
muttered Monty Seruggs. I'D as lief die
as not. I'm tired clean out. Let 'em
butcher US to make Georgia holiday. as
| Byron would say"
Brace up, Monty" responded 81, cheer
| lily. We'll git out o. this, somehow.
! Threatened men live long. Lots o things
kin happen betwixt now and. Monday.
You're not so bad off, anyway. As long
as you kin think of piece of poetry
you're not near dyin'."
"a games never out till the last card
in the last tricks played" said Shorty.
The hemp's not been growed to hang us,
an I'll bet farm on that"
Don't be skeered, Yanks, bout they re
hangin' yo'uns,' said the Sheriff, coming
in later in the evening, with a couple OF
negroes, one carrying coFn-bread and fried
pork, and the other a cedar pail Of fresh
spring water. I'm Sheriff o. this Coun-
ty, an I'll let them seaiawags know hit,
by God. / wuZ a prisoner among yo'uns
when | lost my arm, an yo'uns treated
me white, an I'm a-gwine ter see yo'uns
through. I'll levy posse comitatus, if
necessary, ter protect yo' all.
Evidently the word had been sent
through the country very thoroughly; for
the next morning the dog-fennel on tho
commons was trampled down into an i'll
smelling compost by throng of men and
women and children OF ali ages, colorS
and present conditions OF curiosity and ig-
norance. They came on foot. on horse
back. sometimes riding double and even
treble, and in all manner of vehicles. They
brought their dinners with them, and lib
eral supplies of peach and apple brandy
and sorghum "pine-top''-with
which to regale their friends. They
crowded around the barred windows as
they would in front of the cages in zoe
nagerie, and discussed the inmate with
as much frankness. h1-
Say, .Sophy, Jest look at that big tall,
gander-shanked Yank," said one husband
TO his wife. Hes piZener nor rattle
snake. He done killed more'n 40 of our
men, afore they finally downed him. You
kin see he's pizen by the slant o his jaw
and the look outen his eyes. My, amt
glad they're gwine to hang him termor-
rer"
''Say, Shorty" chuckled 81, that fel-
ler's good judge of faces. He read
through you like book the minute he set
eyes on you. Wish I'd "a knowed as
much. I'd never took up with you in the
world"
To keep up his character, Shorty threw
as much glare into his eyes as he could,
and hissed at the man till he recoiled in
alright, dragging his wife with him.
"Lawks, they seem ter talk Almost as
we do" said one elderly woman, studying
them through the spectacles she brought
down from over her cap for the purpose.
Il kin almost understand what they uns is
sayin'."
Union; to the devil with Jeff Davis and
rebellionp' shouted Harry Joslyn. Can
you understand that, granny?'
"Lawd-a-massy, amt they 'unS wicked"
gasped the I'D lady, staring at them as
if fascinated
Tim Scads, Tite Brown, and the other
leaders of the mob had each selected the
man he was going to hang, and was max
ing active preparation to do his share of
the work with artistic finish that would
distinguish him forever. The spIay-foot-
ed, weakened little Tite Brown had nat
urally claimed the bigge.s. man as his par
ticular victim, and he would come up from
time to time with his wife or some of his
particular friends, point out Shorty, ex-
patiate upon his fierceness and malevo-
lence, and show the tree upon which he
intended to hang him, and the prepara-
tons he was making for the work.
Occasionally the Deacon would stalk
by with magisterial air, sometimes ac
companied by graye-faced men, look in
through the bars. and carefully count
them to see that they were all there.
Presently the meeting took up" leav-
ing around the little Jail only the mis-
chievous boys, who threw stones through
the bars and poked in sticks ''ter see what
they'uns'd do"
The Sheriff came in again with his two
negroes, bringing more eorn-bread and
pork, and pals of fresh water.
..Perk up, boys" he said. cheerily. I've
done sent word over ter Lootenant Sol
Pringle, an he'll likely be long some time
ternight or termorrer mornin'. with his
company, an done take yo'uns over ter the |
railroad static an send yo'uns back ter
Andersonville." |
Talk about being betwixt the devil and |
the deep sea, 81, said Shorty. Which is
the best-to be hung now, and out of our |
misery, or go back to Andersonville?
while there's life there's hope" an
swered Si. Wen go back to Anderson
ville''
Lieut.. Pringie did not arrive thar night, |
and the next morning, it seemed that all I
OF the crowd had stayed during the night, /
for there was no diminution of the gath
ering. Looking out of the rear windows
the boys could see eight scFub-oaks |,
trimmed up to q considerable distance,
where one stout limb projected. and from
it dangled moose.
The crowd did not seem so lively and
buoyant as the day before, but sulen and
expectant. They thronged around the lit
tie Jail, and gazed with hard, Implying