The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-07-29
(con.,ouet om page g.

crept aloi O. t.. nd Of the building
from whsso no UOuld perceive the
lights OF the town twinkling dimly
through the intense blackness. Evi-
IDENTIFY the regular evening saturnalia
had not yet begun. although there was
already semblance Of life about the
numerous saloons. and an occasional
shout punctured the stiffness. A dog
howled In the distance, and the pound
Ing Of swift hoofs along the trail told
OF fresh arrivals. An hour later and
,he single street of Carson City would
be alive with humanity. eager for any
excitement, ready for any wild orgy.
" only once turned loose. That II
would be turned loose. and also d.
rected. the man lying on his face In
the grass felt fully assured. He smiled
grimly. wishing he might behold
Black Bart's" face when he should
discover the flight Of his intended vic
tins. But there was no time to lose;
every moment gained. added to their
chance OF safety.
"Are those horses tied there by the
os@ChHhith shop9 no hShcu, poihC
ting
The negro stared In the direction in
dicated. confused by the shadows
thrown by the dim lights.
Il reck'n dey am. Massa Jack; I
done make out TO-
Then two Of them must belong to
us: come on. boy"
he ran forward. crouching behind
every chance cover. and keeping well
back behind the line OF shacks. A
siight depression In The prairie helped
conceal their movements, and neither
spoke until they were crouching to-
gsthsr beside the wall OF the shop.
Then Neb. teeth clustering. managed
% blurt out:
''Fo' de Lawd's sake. yer don't actu-
ally mean ter ste i dem hosses?"
Keith glance about at the others
dim. black shadow.
Sure not; just borrow 'em."
But dat's hansin' Job In dis yere
country. Massa Jack"
sure II Is II they catch US. But
we'd 10 strung up anyway, and we
cas- bs hung twice. Besides there Is
chance for US with the ponies. and
acne az all without. An hours start
IN the saddle, Neb. and this bunch
s~ck here will never even find our
trail; pledge you that. Come. boy.
stay close with me-
IL was the quiet, confident voice Of
assured command. Of one satisfied
with his plans. and the obediont negro,
breathing hard. never dreamed of op-
position: all instinct of slavery held
him To the dominion 80 49, Witt. las-
tsr. Keith leaned forward. Starring q
The string Of deserted ponies tied %
the rail. Success depended ON bis
choice. and nc could !uGge very uttls
tn that darkness Men were strGg-
Cling In along the street to their right,
on foot and horseback. and the ga
loon on the corner wes being well pat
ronixed. A glow of light streamed
forth from its windows, and there vas
the sound of many voices. But this
narrow alley was deserted, and black.
The fugitive stepped. boldly forward.
afraid that otherwise he might startle
the ponies and thus create an alarm.
Guided by q horseman's instinct he
swiftly ran his hands over the animals
and made quick selection.
Here. Neb. take this fellow; lead
him quietly down the bank" and he
thrust the looseued rein into the
blacks hand.
An instant later he had chosen his
own mount. and was silently moving
IN the Same direction, although the
night there was so black that the
obedient negro had already entirely
vanished. The slope Of the land not
only helped cover their movements,
but also rendered II easy for them TO
IND one another. Fully a hundred yards
westward they met where a gully led
directly down toward the river. There
was no lorSer need for remaining on
foot. as they were a sufficient distance
away from the little town TO feel no
fear OF being discovered, unless by
some drunken stragsler. At Keith's
command the negro climbed into his
saddle. Both ponies were restive. but
ne v'"tous. and after plunge or two,
q fcst their new masters, came easily
under control. Keith led the way.
moUu,; straight down the gully. whic'
Ea.aally deepsned. burying them IN
- lack heart, uRtil II finally de-
oouched onto the river sands. The
riotous noisos OF the drunken town
died slowly away behind. the night
silent and dark. The two riders could
scarcely distinguish one another as
they drew rein at the edge OF he wa
ter. To the southwark there CLEANED
a cluster Of lights. marking the posi-
uon OF the camp of regulars. Keith
drove his horse deeper into the stream
and headed northward, the negro fol-
lowing like q shadow.
There was a ford directly opposite
the cantonment and another. more
dangerous. and known to only a few,
three miles farther up stream. Keep.