Mower County transcript., 1901-10-02

towards as you @ s.. 81: 4 n
..shet lp!'' snapped Jaycox, showing
| |hfs teeth within 9 foot Of my face and
with q glance like that Of an angry
bulldog. Then. riding up to the en-
trance Of the hut, he shouted: n: s5
"Hello thar!' y 5st .:s sSffgl: = I s .3$*s
t An old woman came to the door with
an iron spoon in her hand. ..:. p, "
,5."Waal, what's wanted 2" ,.t..s -=:.
Snack Ms5@ 2.,r-. III, - ~
& ''Hain't got nothin but pone.
Got any coffee? 2" : 2. h. :: & :: l.. &. 6" /.
4 Coffee? D'y' reckon Abe Lfncoln's
goin. ter let us hev coffee away up in
these mountings when they hain't got
none down in tn towns l got yarb
IL do purity waal, though >.
My captors dismounted, breakfasted,
then arranged for short nap, one
watching while the other slept. Jay
cox first sprawled himself on the
ground and was asleep in a; twinkling,
while his comradeA sat staring at me
with his gun ready cooked. y knew,
that if made the slightest movement
with a view. to escape he would shoot
me-, Occasionally he looked impatient-
~ at handsome gold watch, doubtless
taken in spoil, as If anxious for the ex-i
piration Of his hour Of duty. Toward
the last he nodded. I was near some
.ow bushes and began to roll toward
them. He awoke with start and
quick as flash brought his gun>to his
vhoulder. IT. ~ 80 .s's :? = ~; RIA =
"Yo' houndv. ~~' '.,.*
Jaycox opened his eyes and, seeing q
murderous look in his companions face.
and a gun right over his foot pointed
at me, kicked the weapon upward, dis.
charging it, thus doubtless for the time
saving my life. = -. ( e - =
This finished the first watch, and
Jaycox took his turn. admonishing me
that If tried the experiment again he
would tie me up by the thumbs.
dreaded this torture and gave him no
cause to enforce 1t. Besides, he kept
awake during his entire watch.
The men having secured the needed
rest, we broke our bivouac, Jaycox
loosened the horses, and his compan-
ion kept me covered with his gun while
I mounted. As l put my foot in the
stirrup happened to glance aside and
saw two horsemen approaching. In
moment l recognized Buck 'Stanforth
and Ginger. How they came to be-
there was a mystery. only knew they
were there and rejoiced. At seeing
me Buck was about to give shout
when he bethought himself that such
proceeding might be fatal and re-
gained his composure just as his pres
ence was discovered. Ginger showed
no signs OF recognition whatever.
shot a quick glance at Jaycox to see if
he recognized the negro. To my relief,
be did not appear to know either Buck
Or Ginger.
"Say, yo' men," called Buck, "can we
get somepin to eat hyar?"
EFF thar's any vittels left," said Jay
coz. "What yo' uns doin out this time
O. dayw 49,
"Oh," said Buck-I trembled lest his
wits should desert him at a critical
moment-"1'm takin this niger to his
new master. He's sold."
eyer peart un ter oliver a nigger
Reckon he don't mind goin with yer"
Buck and Ginger dismounted as we
departed. was obliged to part with
them without being able to utter
word or make a sign. Still. their pres
could simple negro and a boy do to
rescue me from two stalwart brutes
who were watching me like cats?
All day we moved northward, the
men riding close beside me, now and
again turning their ugly faces toward
me with grin Of satisfaction or a
scowl when did or said anything to
displease them, often bending close to
me, sickening me with their rank to-
bacco smelling breaths or the worse
odor of their unwashed bodies. We
met no one. The only comfort de-
rived was from the natural objects Of
the mountains. A red fox stole away
under cover; chipmunk, fearless and
free. sat on log, looking at us Curl
ously, as we passed; budding wild
rose brushed my boot; it was like the
kiss Of loving companion; even the
twittering birds seemed to be- offering
sympathy.
Toward evening. as the sun stood
just above the horizon, a dull red ball,
d shadow resting on the lower land
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