The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-07-27

of red and black set in the white en-
chantment of the night.
EMO was seated in Gordon's long
chair, his legs luxuriously stretched
out For while he appeared to take
no notice of the prisoners. but an
ominous twitching fiickered at the
corners of his mouth.
When at length he ordered silence
the circle gathered densely in.
Gentlemen" began EMO, address,
ing the crowd He was keeping
strong hand upon himself but at the
word he stopped, for Gordon looking
round the ring of black faces and
cleaning eyes, smiled. Look at him,
look at the tyrant, he is sneering at
you! We know how tTannical he has
been in his treatment of the colored
gentlemen on these estates. He has
pretended to give you freedom, but
what have you gained? Is life sweet
er? Don't you sweat and toll just as
you have always done? The differ
ence is only in name. Yet he expects
you to be GRATEFUL The laws of Brazil
were not made for us, but for the ty
rants. But now that you are free you
have the right to make laws for your
selves. Use your rights, then, and
judge this Gordon and the other as
you please. Who can prevent your"
Hes telling you lies" Gordon struck
to-night's work. Have you forgotten
what the government did to the peo-
pie on the Barumbia plantation"
Emio shrieked an order to silence
him.
Into the intricacies of that mock
trial there is no need to go. Vociferous
blacks, men and women, elbowed and
outyelled each other in their eagerness
to heap up mass of accusation. False
witnesses were at premium, and
whenever they We're Silenced at the in
stance of Emio by dwarf negro, who
! beat them on the mouth with a club.
AT last the long and, to the court, de-
lightful business came to.an end. The
prisoners were each found guilty.
! Have you anything to say for your
I! Selves" asked EMO.
! Gordon, standing stark and tall. be-
! gan to make answer; but he was not
/ allowed to get very far, for he spoke
of the vengeance which would most as
4 suredly follow and fall, and he spoke
of it in such a manner as to produce a
visible effect on the black faces that
surrounded him..
At length came the moment for the
pronouncement of the sentence, and
Emio arose from his chair and spoke
You know. children of the forest
and swamp, that you are doing right"
he said, in a high-pitched voice; "for
has not the great Water-God shown
himself to his people after so long a
time? 1t is a sign. He will make you
successful in your struggle for liberty
Fear nothing, therefore, but make
ready to give him what he asks for.
And besides"-his tones dropped to a
persuasive cunning - who will
/ blame?" We have seen one of them
die-of fever. The other will have
been lost--probably some accident in
the forest. Make ready, then, for the
night is passing and when the sun
rises your God will arise also and
come forth"
Several negroes at this got round
| Gordon, and the confusion was deaf
ening. Emio seemed to be arguing
out some point, and finally he got his
way. for a procession was roughly
formed.
Say farewell to your friend" he
said, coming up to Gordon.
What are you going TO do with
him?' Gordon asked.
Emio shrugged his shoulders.
Who knows? We must leave him
behind. Perhaps he will die now. No