Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-03-15

'elp me God"
Durnovo rose slowly to his feet, as
if the shaking had disturbed his fac
ulties.
"Oh, don't make fool Of yourself"
he said in Kissing voice; you don't
understand these natives at all. Inc
man raised his hand to me. He would
have killed me if he had had the
chance. Shooting was the only thing
left to do. You can only hold these
men by fear. They expect It."
"Of course they expect It," shouted
Joseph in his face; ''of course they
expect it, Mr.. Durnovo."
why"
Because they're slaves. Think
don't know that?
He turned to Oscard.
"This man. Mr.. Oscard," he said, SIS
a slave owner. Them forty that Joined
at Msala was slaves. He's shot Two
of 'em now; this Is his second. And
what does lie care? They're his slaves.
Oh. shame OH yer!" turning again to
Durnovo. | wonder God let's yer stand
there. can only think that he doesn't
want to dirty his hand by strikin' yer
down."
Oscard had taken his pipe from his
lips. He looked bigger. somehow, than
ever. His brown face was turning to
an ashen color and there was dull,
steel-like CLEAN In his blue eyes. The
terrible. slow klndling anger OF this
northerner made Durnovo catch his
breath. 1t was so different from the
sudden passion Of his own countrymen.
"Is this truer he asked.
"It's lie. of course" answered Dur
novo. with a shrug Of the shoulders.
He moved away as If he were going
to his tent, but Oscard's arm reached
out. His large brown hand fell heavily
on the BALI breeds shoulder.
"Stay," he said; 1--WE are going to get
to the bottom Of this"
Good" muttered Joseph. rubbing
his hands slowly together; "thls Is
prime"
"Go on" said Oscard to him.
"Where's the wages you and Mr..
Meredith has paid him for those forty
menu" pursued Joseph. where's the
advance you made him for those men
at Msala? Not one ha'penny of 1t have
they fingered. And why? Cos they're
slaves! Fifteen months at foO-let
them as can reckon tot 1t up for
themselves. That's his first swindle-
and there's others, sir! Oh, there's
more behind. That mans just q hot
bed o. crime. But this ERE slave own
ing Is enough to settle his hash, take
it."
"Iet us have these men here; we will
hear what they have. to say" said Os-
card in the same dull tone that fright
ened Victor DurnOyO.
"Not your he went on, laying his
hand on Durnovo's shoulder again;
Joseph will fetch them. thank you"
So the forty-or the thirty-seven sur
yivors. for one had died on the journey
I'D and two had been murdered-were
brought. They were peaceful timorous
men. whose manhood seemed to have
been crushed out of them; and slowly,
word by word, their grim story was got
out of them. Joseph knew little OF
their language, and one of the head fight
ing men knew little more and spoke
dialect known to Oscard They were
slaves, they said at once, but only on
Oscard's promise that DurnOyO should
not be allowed to shoot them. They
had been brought from the north by a
victorious chief who In turn had hand
ed them over to Victor Durnovo In pay
ment of an outstanding debt for ammu-
milton supplied.
II leave this place at sunrise tomor-
row." said Guy Oscard to them all. Il
never want to see 1t again. / will not
touch one penny Of the money that has
been made. I speak for Mr.. Meredith
and myself
likewise me-" put In Joseph.
~ speak as Mr.. Meredith himself
would have spoken. There is the SINH
acme. You can have 1t. | won't touch
It. And now who Is going with me
who leaves with me tomorrow morn
ing"
He moved away from DurnOvo.
"And who stays with me-" cried the
half breed. ito share and share alike in
the simiacine"
Joseph followed DISCARD. and with
him a certain number Of the blacks.
but some stayed. Some went to Dur
novo and stood beside him. The slaves
spoke among themselves, and then
they all went over to Durnovo.
| So that which the placid moon shone
down upon was the breakup of the
great simiacine scheme. Victor Dur
novo had not come off so badly. He
had the larger half Of the men by his
side. He had all the finest crop the
| trees had yet yielded, but he had yet