The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-04-01
MARSE JAKE AND RUNAWAY CAGE.
A STORY OF THE DUTCH FORK
BY COL. D. A. DICKERT.


aaH4*H
their rays athwart the Eastern sky,
the two met behind the ash hopper
in rear Of the old smoke house and
began their pilgrimage as runaways.
They logged along at lively pace,
through meadows and break, till the
suns yellow beams we're some dis
i, tance above the horizon, then they
began to see hands from adjoining
plantations going to their daily vo-
cations. They began slipping along
fence rows, peering through tho
cracks, eyes and ears alert for imag-
mary foes. About midday they
came to the sunny side Of an old
sedge field, Gage proposing to rest
awhile and eating some "wittles"
as "grub" was called in those days.
After frugal meal, Jake told Cage
to keep a sharp watch out, while he
slept a little, having tossed all night
in his bed, delirious with excitement
Of the eomng day. Cage assured his
master that he would be sure to be
very watehful, Jake lay DOWN and
was soon in the realms Of oblivion.
How long he slept, he had no idea,
but was violently aroused by loud
voice singing
"Over the fence, he did sail
Left his coat tail hanging on raj,
Run, nigger, run; de paterolers keteh
you, , = ,-~'
Run, nigger, rum
Jake sprang to his feet, and was
shocked at seeing Cage stretched at
fill length on his back, snoring away,
sleeping the sleep of the innocent.
He aroused the sleeping negro with a
thud in his side with his foot, "Get
up quick, don't you hear that. What
are you doing asleep?" Cage rub
bed his eyes, and by degrees came to
consciousness and hearing the sing
ing, said "let's get away, dat's old
Stoudenmire's Tobe and his master
ain It fur away" They ran, half
bent, down the hill side till they
were out of hearing. II told you to
stay awake and you lay down and
sleep like a log" said Jake. "You
are a good one to watch.'' "Who,
me?" answered Cage with chagrin.
''No Stree, I warn't sleep a bit. I
was wide awake and heard Tobe
singing, but was jest waiting for you
to wake up.'
When they reached the river late
IN the day, the boat was gone. II
bet old free Joe done found his bat
teau, the old raseal,'' soiloquized
Cage. There was great bluff jut-
ting out to the waters edge at this
point, so Cage proposed climbing a
tail scaly- bark tree that stood on the
bluff and see if he could see any
trace Of the missing boat. Nothing
could he see of it up or down. 81
don't even see a paddle or pole,"
said he, 'Eit's clear gone" Just
! then they heard the faint yelping of
dogs coming down the river in the
direction from whence they had come.
Cage listened intently for a. moment,
the dogs coming near and nearer.
"!Clam a tree quick, Marse Jake.
Clam a tree. Dem is Bill Goulden's
nigger dogs, and dey is after US
sure. Dey'u tear you up" Jake
Skinned up the tree after Cage. Both
held their breath as the dogs neared
their retreat. As Cage peeped around
the tree he espied a ''cottontail''
coming down the river banks in full
speed, and at the bluff, it turned abb
ruptly to the right. Then the dogs
came, were here thrown off the trail.
and began circling around. 81 believe
day is rabbit hunters" as he heard
youthful voices urging on the dogs.
Soon brood Of young negroes came
up, one with a rabbit in his hand.
One old dog began to sniff up the
tree on which the two adventures
were perched among the topmost
boughs, and began a deep bay. The
boy with the rabbit casting his eyes
up the tree discovered Jake and
Cage, uttered all unearthly yell,
dropped his game and fled like