The National tribune., 1901-02-14

the next 10 minutes, with Shorty, long
switch in his hand, moving among them
delivering swishing cuts to animate them
to greater swiftness in gathering logs,
rails, barrels, boxes, and other fuel to heap
N and around the old Jail.
Another judgment ON the wicked" said
the Elder, as he saw the flames roll up
from the groggery. Hit supports me in
my trials t see that evil place destroyed.
I've preached ag'in hit fer years an
prophesied hits destruction. | never could
git a cent out O anybody who went thar
Ter the support o the Gospel"
His scare was disappearing. He felt
that the men would safe their vengeance
otherwise, and let him go.
GLORY to Godr' shouted the negroes,
who were watching the amazing confa
grafton of two places so full of dire asso
Citations in their minds. THE Day of
Judgment hab come, sartin."
"Alf, come here" said 81 grimly, as,
having finished their work, the eight pant
ing loafers were again hauled up before
him by Shorty. This gent. here, whose
name l learned some months ago, is Mr..
Timothy Scads, free and independent
citizen of Georgia, and an ornament to its
Society, haint drunk nearly as much water
in the course Of his life as a decent man
should. You 60 and get that boss bucket
full Of water and gourd, and administer
10 him as much water as you think his sys-
TEN needs, to make up for lost time"
The negroes roared, and even the whites
would have laughed, but that Sis set,
stern face forbade.
Tim Scads took the first two gourdfuls
with avidity, for he was very hot and dry
from his labor. He swallowed the third
with some effort, but pushed the fourth
away. I've got all kin hold he said
20, no; you're mistaken" said Alf
You haven't hardly begun. This is only
the first bucketful, it amt half empty, and
there's lots more in the well. If that gives
cut. Wen got to the creek. Down with
it at once"
Tim gulped it down, and another one
with more difficulty Then he begged:
20, mister, / can't drink no more. l
rayly can't. 1 feel my liver aoatin'
round, and tanglin' up with my gizzard."
20. yes, you can," said ALI. Let me
feel your pulse Gracious, you amt half
Two more gourdfuls were forced down,
and Tim begged again:
20, Lord, don't make me drink no more.
l kin feel the water runnin' inter my lights
now, an drownin' out my heart. l can't
drink another mouthful."
20, yes, you can," said the obdurate
Alf. Let me see your tongue. Just as |
thought You amt half full. The water
amt up to your waist yet. You've got to
drink until it's level with your teeth. What
you think is water Is only steam from your
hot coppers that hain't had any water
for years. You'll feel better after
you've drunk this bucketful and another.
Open your mouth and down with this
gourdful at once"
"Ef drink another mouthful I'll either
bust or be water-logged for life," whined
Tim. But Alf called Gid and Monty to
hold him and his nose, and forced a couple
more gourdfuls down him.
81 think he's got all he can hold for the
present, sir" said Alf, turning and gravely
saluting 81. 'It's beginning to run out of
his ears"
Very good" said 81, as gravely, return
ing the salute. Take him and the other
seven over to those trees, where they were
going to hang us, and tie each OF them to a
tree. Got those hickories ready, Corporal
ElliottY
Yes, sir" said Shorty, saluting, and
showing eight substantial hickory withes,
which he had in the meanwhile cut from
the neighboring second growth.
very good" said 81. Now, whipping
such trash as that is too dirty work for
Yankee soldiers and gentlemen. You will
select eight able-bodied negroes from this |
crowd, and let them do it. Let them give |
40 stripes, save one, as the Bible directs. |
You will superintend the job, and see that |
they are we'll laid on"
Shorty selected a bow-legged, squatty |
negro, with thick lips and a fat nose, but |
strong arms, to devote himself to Tte
Brown.
The loafers yelled with pain as each
blow descended, and the negro women
shouted with excitement, sang snatches Of
hymns and prayed.
More desarved punishment I never
knowed." commented the Elder. who now
felt comfortably certain that this would
exhaust the vengeance of the Yankees, and
leave him unmoiested and free Hits a
righteous judgment on them scalawags,
every one O. which has bin itchin' fer jest
sich a skinnin' all their lives. They haint
got hit minnit too soon, or a lick too
many. More owdacious vagabonds never
drawed the breath of worthless life.'
While this was going on 81 moved
around, getting ready to start. He found
eight good horses in the lot, which he put
in charge of Pete, Sandy, Alf and Gid,
with instructions to start off down the
road with them. He wanted Pete to take
one Of the horses for himself, but Pete