The Law of the Land by Emerson Hough.odt

7/26/2019 The Law of the Land by Emerson Hough.odt

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Law of the Land, by Emerson Hough#2 in our series by Emerson Hough

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Tit"e4 The Law of the Land

5uthor4 Emerson Hough

.e"ease %ate4 /e!tember, 2667 8EBook #97:0;8(es, we are more than one year ahead of schedu"e;8This fi"e was first !osted on %ecember 0:, 2662;

Edition4 06

Language4 Eng"ish

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her bosom, "ookingFF"ooking into the mirror, asking of it someuestion, getting, indeed, from it some answerFFan answer embodying,!erha!s, a"" that youth may mean, a"" that the morning may bring$

+or now the sun of the /outh came cree!ing u! a!ace, and saw AissLady as it !eered in through the rose "attice whereon hung scores offragrant b"ossoms$ 5 gent"e wind of morning stirred the "ace curtainsat the windows and touched Aiss Ladys hair as she stood there,

asking the answer of the mirror$ 't was morning in the great room,morning for the southern day, morning for the o"d !"antation whosebe"" now jang"ed faint"y and afar offFFmorning indeed for Aiss Lady,who now had ceased in her se"fFabsorbed dance$ 5t this ery moment,as she stood gaIing into the mirror, with the sun"ight and the rosesthus at hand, one might indeed hae sworn that it was morning foreer, oer a"" the wor"d3

Aiss Lady stood eager, fascinated, before the g"ass and in the!resence of the ta"" f"owers and the ta"" birds, saw something whichstirred her, fe"t something which came in at the window out of theb"ue sky and from the red rose b"ossoms, on the warm south wind$'m!u"sie"y she f"ung out her arms to the figure in the g"ass$

Perha!s she fe"t its beauty and its friend"iness$ 5nd yet, an instant"ater, her arms re"a-ed and sank she sighed, knowing not why shesighed$

5h, Aiss Lady, if on"y it cou"d be for eer morning for us a""3 ?ay,"et us say not so$ Let us say rather that this sweet !icture of AissLady, doub"ed by the g"ass, remains toFday im!erishab"y !resered inthe o"d mirrorFFthe !icture of Aiss Lady dancing as the bird f"ies,and then standing, !"aintie and uestioning, before her own image,"oing it because it was beautifu" and friend"y, dreading it becauseshe cou"d not understand$

Aiss Lady had forgotten that she was a"one, and did not hear the ste!at the door, nor see the hand which !resent"y !ushed back the

curtain$ There ste!!ed into the room, the ta"", somewhat fu"" figureof a "ady who stood "ooking on with eyes at first sur!rised, thencynica""y amused$ The intruder !aused, "aughing a "ow, we""Ffed,me""ow "augh$


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hae said$ 5nd in the ne-t breath you must hae asked how she cou"dhae been the mother of this ta"" gir", at whom she now smi"ed thusmocking"y$

&' was justFF' wasFFwe"", ' was dancing, mamma,& said Aiss Lady$ &'tis so nice$& This somewhat ague"y$

&(es,& said her mother &whyJ&

&' do not know,& said Aiss Lady, frank"y, and turning to her withsudden courage$ &' was dancing$ That is a""$&

&(es, ' know$&

&*e"", is it any crime, mamma, ' shou"d "ike to askJ& This withs!irit, and with eyes showing themse"es ab"e to f"ash u!on occasion$

&?ot in the "east, my dear$ 'ndeed, ' am not at a"" sur!rised$ ' knewit was coming$&

&*hat was coming, mamma"J *hat do you meanJ&

&*hy, that this was going to ha!!enFFthat you were going to dance$ 'twas near"y time$&

&' do not know what you mean$&

&'t was a"ways thus with the E""isons,& said the other woman$ &5""the E""isons danced this way once in their "ies$ 5"" the gir"s doso$ Theyre ery strange, these E""ison gir"s$ They dance becausethey must, ' su!!ose$ 'ts as natura" as breathing, for them$ (oucant he"! it$ 'ts fate$ But "isten, chi"d$ 't is time ' took youmore in hand$ (ou wi"" be marrying before "ongFF&

&Aamma3& Aiss Lady b"ushed indignant"y$ &How can you ta"k soJ '

dont knowFF' didntFF' shantFF&

&Tut, tut$ P"ease dont$ 't is going to be a ery warm day$ ' rea""ycant go into any argument$ Take my word, you wi"" marry soon or ifyou dont, you wi"" reerse a"" the known horosco!es of the fami"y$That, too, is the fate of the E""ison gir"sFFcertain marriage3


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was we"comed riotous"y by a score of dogs and !u!!ies, "ong since herfriends$

Left a"one, the e"der "ady sat for a moment in thought$ Her face nowseemed harder in out"ine, more enigmatica"$ /he gaIed after the gir"who "eft her, and into her eyes came a "ook which one must haeca""ed strange"y unmaterna"FFa "ook not tender, but hard,ca"cu"ating, co"d$

&/he is !retty,& she murmured to herse"f ha"fFa"oud$ &/he is going tobe ery !rettyFFthe !rettiest of the fami"y in generations, !erha!s$*e""Fhand"ed, that gir" cou"d marry anybody$ '"" hae to be carefu"she doesnt marry the wrong one$ Theyre headstrong, these E""isons$/ti"", ' think ' can hand"e this one of them$ 'n fact, 'must$& /he smi"ed gent"y and sett"ed down into a ha"fFreerie,!urring to herse"f$ &%ear me3& she resumed at "ength, starting u!,&how warm it grows3 *here has that gir" goneJ ' do be"iee she hasrun away$ %e"!hine3 5hFhFhFh, %e"!hine3&

There came no audib"e sound of ste!s, but !resent"y there stood, justwithin the !arted dra!eries, the figure of the serant thus ca""ed

u!on$ (et that tit"e sat i"" u!on this ta"" young woman who now stoodawaiting the orders of her mistress$ Garbed as a serant she was, yethe"d herse"f rather as a ueen$ Her hair, b"ack and "u-uriant, wasstraight and strong, and, brushed back smooth"y from her tem!"es asit was, contrasted shar!"y with a skin just creamy enough toestab"ish it as otherwise than !ure white$ Egy!tian, or Greek, or ofunknown race, this serant, %e"!hine, might hae been but had it notbeen for her station and surroundings, one cou"d neer hae sus!ectedin her the trace of negro b"ood$ /he stood now, a me""owFtintedstatue of not uite ye""ow iory, si"ent, turning u!on her mistresseyes "arge, dark and inscrutab"e as those of a s!hin-$


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occasiona" !rimea" oaks s!ared in the origina" fe""ing of theforest$ *ide and ramb"ing ga""eries of one height or another craw"edhere and there about the e-!anses of the bui"ding, and again !aused,as though weary of the attem!t to circument it$ The strong white!i""ars, rising from the ground f"oor straight to the third story,shone white and state"y, after that o"d southern fashion, thatGrecian sty"e, sim!"ified and made suitab"e to !roincia" !urses bythose 5dams brothers of o"d Eng"and who first set the fashion in

ear"y 5merican architecture$ *hiteFcoated, with wide, coo", greenb"inds, with am!"e and wideFdoored ha""s and dee!, "ow windows, theBig House, here in the heart of the warm /outhF"and, was aboe a""things suited to its enironment$ 't was a home taking firm ho"d u!onthe soi", its wide roots reaching into traditions of more than onegeneration$ *e"" toward the head of the ast (aIooFAississi!!i %e"ta,the richest region on the face of the who"e earth, the Big Houseru"ed oer these wide acres as of immemoria" right$ 'ts owner,o"one" a"in B"ount, was a king, an 5merican king, his right toru"e based u!on fu"" !roof of fitness$

'n the heart of the on"y 5merican !art of 5merica, the Big House,care"ess and confident, cou"d afford to "ie b"inking at the sun, or

at the broad acres which b"inked back at it$ 't was a"" so safe andsure that there was no need for an-iety$ Life here was as it had beenfor generations, een for the generation fo""owing the u!heaa" ofthe ii" *ar$

s"ee!ingFroomsFFthey a"so humming musica""y at their work, too fu""of the sun and the certainty of comfort to need to hurry een with asongFFa"" these might a"so hae been tenants of an o"dFtime estate,giing s"ow serice in return for a "ife of care"essness andirres!onsibi"ity$ This was in the /outh, in the %e"ta, the garden ofthe /outh, the garden of 5merica a country crude, !rimitie,undee"o!ed in modern ways, as one might say, yet by right entit"edto its own assuredness$ 't asked nothing of a"" the wor"d$

5"" this dee! rich soi" was gien to the !eo!"e of that "and by+ather Aessasebe$ (ards dee! it "ay, ancient"y rich, kissed by a sunwhich caused eery growing thing to "ea! into swift fruition$ Theentire "esson of the scene was one of an abso"ute fecundity$ The

grass was dee! and green and "ush$ The sweet !eas and the roses andthe morningFg"ories, and the honeysuck"es on the "attice, hung ranksdee! in b"ossoms$ 5 hundred f"ocks of fow" ran c"ucking and chir!ingabout the yard$ 5cross the "awn a mother swine "ed her brood ofsueaking and suea"ing young$ 5 ha"fFhundred !u!!ies, todd"ers orha"fFgrown, rom!ed about, unused fragments of the great hunting !ackof the owner of this kingdom$ Life, !erha!s short, !erha!s rude,!erha!s swift"y done, yet after a"" "ifeFFthis was the message of ita""$ The trees grew ast and ta""$ The corn, where the sta"ks cou"dsti"" be seen, grew stiff and strong as "itt"e trees$ The cotton,through which the negroes rode, their b"ack kinky heads "ee" with


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the o"d shreds of ungathered bo""s, showed !"ants rank and coarseenough to u!ho"d a mans weight free of the ground$ This sun and thissoi"FFwhat might they not do in brooding fecundityJ Growth,re!roduction, the mu"tifo"dFFa"" this was written under that skywhich now swe!t, dee! and b"ue, f"ecked here and there with soft andf"eecy c"ouds, oer these fruitfu" acres hewn from the !rimea"forest$

The forest, the dee!, ast forest of oak and ash and gum and ghost"ysycamore the forest, tang"ed with a thousand binding ines andbriers, watt"ed and "aced with rank b"ue caneFFsure !roof of a soi"e-haust"ess"y richFFthis ancient forest sti"" stood, mysterious andforbidding, a"" about the edges of the great !"antation$ Here andthere a ta"" white stum!, fireFb"ackened at its foot, stood, een infie"ds "ong cu"tiated, showing how "aborious and s"ow had been thewhitt"ing away of this jung"e, which een now continua""y encroachedand c"aimed its own$ The rim of the woods, marked white by thedeadened trees where the a-es of the "aborers were rec"aiming yetother acres as the years ro""ed by, now showed in the morning sundistinct"y, making a frame for the rich and restfu" !icture of theBig House and its "ands$ ?ow and again oerhead there swung s"ow"y an

occasiona" great b"ack bird, its shadow not yet fa""ing straight onthe sun"it ground, as it wou"d at midday, when the !u!!ies of the!ack wou"d begin their dai"y !astime of chasing it across the fie"ds$

This si"ent surrounding forest een yet he"d its ancient creaturesFFthe swift and gracefu" deer, the softFfooted !anther, the shamb"ingb"ack bear, the wi"d hog, the wo"f, a"" manner of furred creatures,great store of nob"e wi"d fow"FFa"" these thriing after the fecundfashion of this brooding "and$ 't was a kingdom, this wi"d wor"d, area"m in the wi"derness a kingdom fit for a bo"d man to goern, aman such as might hae ru"ed in days "ong gone by$ 5nd indeed the BigHouse and its scarce"y measured acres ke!t we"" their master as theyhad for many years$ The tab"e of this %e"ta baron was a"moste-c"usie"y fed from these acres scarce any item needfu" in his "ife

reuired to be im!orted from the outer wor"d$ The goernment of5merica might hae fa""en anarchy might hae !reai"ed a doIenstates might hae been taken oer by a foreign foe a score of statesmight hae been oerwhe"med by nationa" ca"amity, and it a"" hadscarce made a ri!!"e here in this "and, a!art, rich, se"fFsu!!ortingand content$ 't had a"ways been thus here$

But if this were a kingdom a!art and se"fFsufficient, what meant thisthing which, crossed the head of the !"antationFFthis doub"e "ine,tenacious and continuous, which shone u!on the one hand dark, andu!on the other, where the sun touched it, a co"d gray in co"orJ *hatmeant this suat "itt"e bui"ding at the side of these rai"s whichreached out straight as the f"ight of a bird across the c"earing and

anished keen"y in the forest wa""J This was the road of the ironrai"s, the white mans !er!etua" !ath across the "and$ 't c"ung c"oseto the ground, at times a"most sinking into the embankment now grownscarce"y discernib"e among the concea"ing grass and weeds, a"thoughthe track itse"f had been bui"t but recent"y$ This rai"road sought toefface itse"f, een as the "and sought to aid in its effacement, asthough neither be"ieed that this was "awfu" s!ot for the !ath of theiron rai"s$ ?one the "ess, here was the rai"road, ineradicab"e,e!ocha", bringing change and, one might say, it made a b"ot u!onthis !icture of the morning$


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5n obserer standing u!on the broad ga""ery, "ooking toward theeastward and the southward, might hae seen two figures just emergingfrom the rim of the forest something "ike a mi"e away and might thenhae seen them growing s"ow"y more distinct as they !"odded u! therai"way track toward the Big House$ Present"y these might hae beendiscoered to be a man and a woman the former ta"", thin, dark andstoo!ed his com!anion, ta"" as himse"f, uite as thin, and a"most asbent$ The garb of the man was nondescri!t, neutra", "oose his hat

dark and f"a!!ing$ The woman wore a sha!e"ess ca"ico gown, and on herhead was a "ong, te"esco!ic sunbonnet of faded !ink, from which shemust !erforce !eer forward, "ooking neither to the right nor to the"eft$

The trae"ers, indeed, needed not to "ook to the right or the "eft,for the !ath of the iron rai"s "ed them direct"y on$ ?ow and againc"ods of newFbroken earth caused them to stumb"e as they hobb"ed"oose"y a"ong$ 'f the foot of either struck against the rai", itsowner s!rang aside, as though in fear, toward the midd"e of thetrack$ /"ow"y and uneen"y, with a"" the IigIags !ermissib"e withinthe confining inches of the irons, they came on u! toward the suat"itt"e stationFhouse$ Thence they turned aside into the !"antation

!ath and, sti"" stumb"ing and IigIagging, amb"ed u! toward the house$They did not ste! to the ga""ery, did not knock at the door, or,indeed, gie any eidences of their intentions, but seated themse"esde"iberate"y u!on a !i"e of boards that "ay near in the broad e-!anseof the front yard$ Here they remained, si"ent and at rest, fittingwe"" enough into the s"ee!y scene$ ?o one in the house noticed themfor a time, and they, tired by the wa"k, seemed content to rest underthe shade of the eergreens before making known their errand$ Theysat s!eech"ess and content for some moments, unti" fina""y a mu"attohouseFserant, !assing from one bui"ding to another, cast a "ook intheir direction, and !aused uncertain"y in curiosity$ The man on theboardF!i"e saw her$

&Here, =inny3 =inny3& he ca""ed, just "oud enough to be heard, and

not turning toward her more than ha"fFway$ &ome heah$&

&(assah,& said the gir", and s"ow"y a!!roached$

&Get us a "itt"e me"k, =inny,& said the s!eaker$

&*ere !"umb out o me"k down home$&

&(assah,& said =inny and disa!!eared "eisure"y, to be gone !erha!sha"f an hour$

There remained "itt"e sign of "ife on the boardF!i"e, the bonnet tube!ointing fi-ed"y toward the rai"way station, the man now and then

s"ow"y shifting one "eg across the other, but staring out at nothing,his "ower "i! droo!ing "a-"y$ *hen the serant fina""y brought backthe mi"kF!ai" and !"aced it beside him, he gae no word of thanks$The sunbonnet shifted to inc"ude the mu"atto gir" within its fu""ision, as the "atter stood "eaning her weight on one sideFbent foot,id"y wi!ing her hands u!on her a!ron$

&+o"ks a"" we"" down to yo !"ace, Aistah Bow"esJ& said she, affab"y$

&.ight we""$&


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&>mFhFh$& /i"ence then fe"" unti" =inny again found s!eech$

&mFhFh$&

&(assah got most a"" his dawgs wid im$ *e goin to haebah meat now for sho,&FFthis with a wide grin$

&.eckon so,& said the isitor$ &*hens unne" coming back, youreckonJ&

&' dunno, suh, but he sho wont come back "essen he gets a bah$ 'fyouFa"" cou"d wait a whi"e, yonFa"" cou"d take back some bah meat,if you wantuh$&

&>mFhFh,& said the man, and fe"" again into si"ence$ To a""a!!earances, he was wi""ing to wait here indefinite"y, forgetfu" ofthe !ai" of mi"k, toward which the sun was now cree!ing ominous"yc"ose$ The way back home seemed "ong and weary at that moment$ His"i! droo!ed sti"" more "a-"y, as he sat "ooking out ague"y$

?ot so ca"m seemed his consort, she of the sunFbonnet$ Eestored tosome e-tent by her tarrying in the shade, she began to shift andhitch about uneasi"y u!on the boardF!i"e$ 5t "ength she "eaned a bitto one side, reached into a !ocket and, taking out a snuffFstick anda !arce" of its attendant com!ound, began to take a di! of snuff,after the habit of certain of the !o!u"ation of that region$ Thisdone, she turned with a swift jerk of the head, bringing to bear thetube of her bonnet in fu"" force u!on her "ord and master$

&=im Bow"es,& she said, &this heah is a shame3 Hits a !"umb shame3&

There was no answer, sae an uneasy hitch on the !art of the !ersonso addressed$ He seemed to fee" the focus of the sunbonnet boringinto his system$ The oice in the bonnet went on, shot straighttoward him, so that he might not esca!e$

&Hits a !"umb shame,& said Ars$ Bow"es, again$

&' know it, ' know it,& said her husband at "ength, uneasi"y$ &Thatis, about us haing to wa"k u! heah$ That whut you meanJ&

&(assir, thats whut ' do mean, an you know it$&

&*e"", now, how kin ' he"! itJ *e kaint take the on"y mewe" we gotand make the nigger sto! wuk$ That aint reasonab"e$ Besides, youdont think unne" B"ount is goin to miss a !ai" o me"k now andthen, do youJ&

5 snort of indignation greeted this su!!osition$

&=im Bow"es, you make me sick,& re!"ied his wife$ &*e kin get me"kheah as "ong as we want to, o cose but who wants to kee! aFcomin


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u! heah, three mi"e, for me"kJ 't aint right$&

&*e"", now, /ar 5nn, how kin ' he"! itJ& said =im Bow"es$ &The cowis daid, an ' kaint he"! it, an thats a"" about it$ Ay God,woman3& this with sudden energy, &do you think ' kin bring a cow to"ife thats been ki"t by the o"d rai"road kyahsJ ' aint noange"ist$&

&(ou kaint bring o"d Au"ey to "ife,& said /arah 5nn Bow"es, &butthenFF&

&*e"", but then3 But whutJ *hut you goin to doJ ' reckon you dowhut you do, huh3 (ou just wa"k the track and come heah after me"k, 'reckon, if you want it$ (ou ought to be mighty g"ad ' come a"ong tokee! you com!any$ Taint eery man goin to do that, ' want to te""you$ ?ow, it aint my fau"t o"d Au"ey done got ki"t$&

&5int yo fau"t3&

&?o, it aint my fau"t$ *hut am ' goin to doJ ' kaint get no othehcow right now, an ' done to" you so$ (ou reckon cows grows on

bushesJ&

&Grows on bushes3&

&(es, or that they comes for nuthinJ&

&omes for nuthin3&

&(es, /ar 5nn, thats whut ' said$ ' te"" you, it aint so fur tocome, aint so fur u! heah, if you take it easy on"y three mi"e$ 5nunne" B"ount"" gie us me"k as "ong as we want$ ' reckon he wou"dgie us a cow, too, if ' ast him$ ' s!ose ' cou"d !ay him out o thene-t cro!, if they wasnt so many things that has to be !aid outnthe cro!$ 'ts too b"ame bad bout Au"ey$& He scratched his head

thoughtfu""y$

&(es,& res!onded his s!ouse, &Au"ey was a hea! better cow than you""eer git agin$ *hy, she gie two uots o me"k the ery mawnin shewas ki"tFFtwo uots$ ' reckon we didnt hae to wa"k no three mi"ethat mawnin, did weJ 5n she that kin and gent"eF"ikeFFoh, we aintgoin to git no new cow "ike Au"ey, no time right soon, ' want tote"" you that, =im Bow"es$&

&*e"", we"", ' know a"" that,& said her husband, conci"iating"y, atrif"e easier now that the sunbonnet was for the moment turned aside$&Thats a"" true, mighty true$ But what kin you doJ&

&%oJ *hy, do somethin3 /omebody sho ought to suffer for this heah$This new fang"ed rai"road aFcomin through heah, aFki""in things, anaFki""in fo"ks3 *hy, Bud /owers said just the other week he heardof three darkies gittin ki"t in one bunch down to 5""eni""e$ Theystandin on the track, jes ta"kin an isitin "ike$ %idnt noticenuthin$ %idnt notice the train aFcomin$ Biff3 says Bud an thahwas them darkies$&

&(es,& said Ar$ Bow"es, &thats the way it was with Au"ey$ /he justwa"k u! outn the cane, an stan thah in the sun on the track, tosort o "ook aroun whah she cou"d see free fer a "itt"e ways$ Then,


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"ong comes the rai"road train, an biff3 Thahs Au"ey3&

&P"umb daid3&

&P"umb daid3&

&5n she a good cow for us for foteen yeahs3 't dont "ook e-act"yright, now, does itJ 't sho dont&

&'ts a outrage, thats whut it is,& said /ar 5nn Bow"es$

&*e"", we got the rai"road,& said her husband, tentatie"y$

&(es, we got the rai"road,& said /ar 5nn Bow"es, saage"y, &an whutyearth"y good is itJ *ho wants any rai"roadJ *hut use hae weFa"" gotfer itJ 't comes through ouah farm, an scares ouah mewe", an itki""s ouah cow an its got me sos 'm afeared to set foot outsidnouah do, "essen its goin to ki"" me, too$ *hy, a"" the way u! heahthis mawnin, ' was skeered eery foot of the way, aFfearFin thatthere ingine was goin to come a"ong an ki"" us both3&

&/ho3 /ar 5nn,& said her husband, with su!eriority$ &'t aint timefer the train yitFF"eastwise ' dont think it is$& He "ooked aboutuneasi"y$

&Thats a"" right, =im Bow"es$


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&*hy, if the men in these heah !arts was ha"f men,& said his wife, &'te"" you whut theyd do$ Theyd git out and tear u! eery foot ofthis heah cussed rai"road track, an throw it back into the cane$Thats whut theyd do$&

&/ho now, wou"d youJ& said =im Bow"es$

&/hore ' wou"d$ (ou got to do it if things kee!s on thisFaway$&

&*e"", we cou"dnt, "essen unne" B"ount said it was a"" right, youknow$ The unne" was the friend of the road through these heahbottoms$ He "owed it wou"d he"! us a""$&

&He"!J He"! usJ Huh3 Like to know how it he"!s us, ki""in ouah cowan makin us wa"k three mi"e of a hot mornin to git a !ai" o me"kto make u! some cohn bread$ (ou ca"" that a he"!, do you, =imBow"esJ (ou may, but ' dont an ' haint aFgoin to$ ' got somesense, ' reckon$ .ai"road3 He"!3 Huh3&

=im Bow"es cre!t stea"thi"y a "itt"e farther away on his own side ofthe boardF!i"e, whither it seemed his wife cou"d not uite so readi"y

fo""ow him with her transfi-ing gaIe$

&*e"", now, /ar 5nn,& said he, &the unne" done to" me hit was a""right$ He said some of ouah stock "ike enough git ki"t, cause youknow these heah bottoms is growed u! so c"ose "ike, with cane an a""that, that any sort of critters "ike to git out where its o!en, sosthey kin sort o "ook around "ike, you know$ *hy, ' done seen fourdeer trai"s whi"s we was aFcomin u! this mawnin, and ' seen whah abah had come out an stood on the track$ ?ow, as fer cows, an asfer niggers, why, it stands to reason that some of them is shoregoin to git ki"t, thats a""$&

&5n you men is goin to stand that from the rai"roadJ *hy dont youmake them !ay for whut gits ki"tJ&

&*e"", now, /ar 5nn,& said her husband, conci"iatori"y, &thats justwhut ' was goin to say$ The time the fust man come down through heahto ta"k about bui"din the rai"road, he done said, "ike ' to" youunne" B"ount said, that we might git some stock ki"t fer a "itt"ewhi"e, ti"" things kind o got used to it, you know but he "owedthat the rai"road wou"d sort o !ay for anything that got ki"t "ike,you know$&

&Pay3 The rai"road goin to !ay you3& 5gain the remorse"ess sunbonnetfo""owed its ictim and fi-ed him with its focus$ &Pay you3 ' didntnotice no money "ayin on the track where we come a"ong this mawnin,did youJ (es, ' reckon its goin to !ay you, a who"e hea!3& The

scorn of this utterance was "imit"ess, and =im Bow"es fe"t hisinsignificance in the untenab"e !osition which he had assumed$

&*e"", ' dunno,& said he, ague"y, and sighed soft"y a"" of whichirritated Ars$ Bow"es to such an e-tent that she f"ounced sudden"yaround to get a better gaIe u!on her master$ 'n this moement, herfoot struck the !ai" of mi"k which had been sitting near, andoerturned it$

&=inny,& she ca""ed out, &you, =inny3&


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&(assam,& re!"ied =inny, from some !"ace on the ga""ery$

&ome heah,& said Ars$ Bow"es$ &Git me another !ai" o me"k$ ' dones!i""ed this one$&

&(assam,& re!"ied =inny, and !resent"y returned with the refi""edesse"$

&*e"", anyway,& said =im Bow"es at "ength, rising and standing withhands in !ockets, inside the edge of the shade "ine of theeergreens, &' heard that thah was a man come down through heah a fewdays ago$ He was sort of takin count o the critters that done gotki"t by the rai"road kyahs$&

&That soJ& said /arah 5nn, somewhat mo""ified$

&' reckon so,& said =im Bow"es$ &' "owed 'd ast unne" B"ount boutthat sometime$ 6 cose it dont bring Au"ey back, but thenFFF&

&?o, hit dont,& said /arah 5nn, resuming her origina" !osition$ &5ndour "itt"e /im, he just "oed that Au"ey cow, "itt"e /im, he did,&

she mourned$

&/ay, =im Bow"es, do you heah meJ&FFthis with a sudden f"irt of thesunbonnet in an agony of actua" fear$ &*hy, =im Bow"es, do you knowthat ouah "itt"e /im might be aF!"ayin out thah in front of ouahhouse, on to that rai"road track, at this ery minuteJ /!ose,s!osenFFa"ong comes that thah rai"road train3 /ay, man, whut youstandin there in that thah shade ferJ *e got to go3 *e got to githome3 ome right a"ong this minute, er we may be too "ate$&

5nd so, smitten by this sudden thought, they gathered themse"estogether as best they might and started toward the rai"road for theirreturn$ Een as they did so there a!!eared u!on the northern horiIona wreath of smoke rising aboe the forest$ There was the farFoff

sound of a whist"e, deadened by the heay interening egetation and!resent"y, there !uffed into iew one of the rai"road trains sti""new u!on this region$ 'conoc"astic, modern, strenuous, it wabb"eduneen"y oer the newF"aid rai"s u! to the stationFhouse, where it!aused for a few moments ere it resumed its wheeIing way to thesouthward$ The two isitors at the Big House gaIed at it o!enFmouthedfor a time, unti" a"" at once her former thought crossed the womansmind$ /he turned u!on her husband$

&Thah it goes3 Thah it goes3& she cried$ &.ight on straight to ouahhouse3 't kaint miss it3 5n "itt"e /im, hes sho to be !"ayin outthah on the track$


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&*e"", if he was,& said =im Bow"es, !hi"oso!hica""y, &why, /ar 5nn,from whut ' done notice about this yeah rai"road train, whyFFitstoo "ate, now$&

He might !erha!s hae !ursued this "ogica" course of thought further,had not there occurred an incident which brought the conersation toa c"ose$ Looking u!, the two saw a!!roaching them across the "awn,eident"y coming from the "itt"e rai"way station, and doubt"ess

descended from this ery train, the a"ert, uickFste!!ing figure of aman eident"y a stranger to the !"ace$ =im and /arah 5nn Bow"esste!!ed to one side as he a!!roached and "ifted his hat with a!"easant smi"e$

&Good morning,& said the stranger$ &'ts a fine day, isnt itJ anyou te"" me whether or not o"one" B"ount is at home this morningJ&

&*e"", suh,& said =im Bow"es, rubbing his chin thoughtfu""y$ &He ah,an he aint$ Hes home, o cose that is, he haint gone away nowhah, to cote er nothin$ But then agin, hes out huntin, goneafteh bah$ ' reckon hes "ike"y to be in most any day now$&

&Aost any dayJ&

&(essah$ (ou better go on u! to the house$ The unne" wi"" be rightg"ad to see you$ (oure a stranger in these !arts, ' reckonJ 'd beg"ad to hae you sto! down to my house, but its three mi"e down thetrack, an we hatter wa"k$ (oud be mo comfotab"e heah, ' reckon$*a"k on u!, and te"" em to gie you a !"ace to set$ Ay woman anme, ' reckon we got to git home now, suh$ 'ts somethin might bemighty serious$&

&(as, indeed,& murmured Ars$ Bow"es, &we got to git a"ong$&

&Thank you,& said the stranger$ &' am ery much ob"iged to you,indeed$ ' be"iee ' wi"" wait here for just a "itt"e whi"e, as you

say$ Good morning, sir$ Good morning, madam$&

He turned and wa"ked s"ow"y u! the !ath toward the house, as theothers !ursued their way to the rai"road track, down which they!resent"y were !"odding on their homeward journey$ There was at "easta "itt"e mi"k "eft in the !ai" when fina""y they reached their "ogcabin, with its yard fu"" of !igs and chickens$ Eager"y they scannedthe sides of the rai"way embankment as they drew near, "ooking forsigns of what they feared to see$


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a"ternate"y chastened and embraced, to the great and grieed sur!riseof the "atter, who remained ignorant of any e-isting or !endingre"ation u!on his !art with the methods or the instruments of modern!rogress$

H5PTE. '''

THE '/'T


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Hecs "ef home, an me "ef home to ten to Hec$ How kin unne"B"ount git ary bah dout me and Hec a"ongJ 'se right s!ondent,dats whut ' is$&

&*e"", now, thats too bad,& said the stranger, with a smi"e$

&Too badJ ' reckon it sho is$ +er, if unne" B"ount dont git nobahFF"ook out den, ' kin te"" you$&

&Gets his dander u!, ehJ&

&%andahFFdandah3 (ou know himJ Thaint no better boss, but ef hegoes out huntin bah an dont get no bahFFwhy, then th aint noreason goin do foh him$&

&'s Ars$ B"ount at home, Bi""J&

&Thaint no Ars$ B"ount, and ' dont reckon they neeh wi"" be$unne" too busy huntin bah to git married$ Theys two "adies heah,no re"ation o him they done come heah a yeah er so ago, and theyFa"" kee!s house fer the unne"$ Thats Ars$ E""ison and her dahteh,

Aiss Lady$ /hes a !owfu" fine ga", Aiss Lady$&

&' dont know them,& said the isitor$

&?o, sah,& said Bi""$ &They aint been heah "ong$ %ese heah "owFdownniggers "iken to stea" the unne" b"in, he away so much$


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oah a fine co"t whut de unne" was raisin fer a sadd"e hossFFki"tit !"umb daid$ That ri"ed him a hea!$ %amn the rai"road kyahs, seIhe$ 5n den off he goes huntin, sort o ri"ed "ike$ ?ow, ef he comesback, and ef he dont git no bah, why, you wont see o"d Bi""round heah fer bout fo days$&

&(ou seem to know him !retty we""$&

&@now himJ ' orto$ .aised wid him, an "ied heah a"" my "ife$ ?ow,when you see unne" B"ount come home, he"" come u! "ong dat "ane,him an de dogs, an dem no count niggers he done took "ong widhim an when he gits u! to whah de "ane crosses de rai"road track,ef he come ridin "ong easy "ike, now an den tootin his hawn tosoht o "et us know hes aFcominFFef he do datFaway, dats a""right,FFdats a"" right$& Here the garru"ous o"d serant shook hishead$ &But ef he dontFFwe"" denFF&

&Thats bad, if he doesnt, ehJ&

&(assah$ Ef he don come aFb"owin an ef he do come aFsingin,den "ook out3 ' a""us did notice, ef unne" B"ount gins to sing

"igious hymns, somethins wrong, and somethin gwine ter dra!$ Hehaint right easy ter git a"ong wid when hes aFsingin$ But if you""scuse me, suh, ' gotter take care o o"d Hec$ =est make yourse"f tohome, suh,FFanyways you "ike$&

The isitor contented himse"f with wandering about the yard, unti" at"ength he seated himse"f on the boardF!i"e beneath the eergreentrees, and so sank into an id"e reerie, his chin in his hand, andhis eyes staring out across the wide fie"d$ His face, now in re!ose,seemed more meditatie indeed one might hae ca""ed it a"mostmournfu"$ The shou"ders droo!ed a trif"e, as though their owner forthe time forgot to !u"" himse"f together$ He sat thus for some time,and the sun was beginning to encroach u!on his refuge, when sudden"yhe was aroused by the faint and farFoff sound of a hunting horn$ That

the "istener distinguished it at such a distance might hae arguedthat he himse"f had known hound and sadd"e in his day yet he readi"ycaught the note of the short hunting horn uniersa""y used by thesouthern hunters, and recogniIed the assemb"y ca"" for the hunting!ack$ 5s it came near, a"" the dogs that remained in the kenne" yardsheard it and raged to esca!e from their confinement$


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across the sadd"e front$ He rode thus unti" !resent"y those at theBig House heard, soft"y rising on the morning air, the chant of ano"d church hymn4 &E/T'


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many of these wou"d be unfit for days for the resum!tion of theirsaage trade$ ?one the "ess, as the master sounded again, "oud andc"ear, the ca"" for the assemb"y, a"" the dogs about the !"ace, youngand o"d, homekee!ers and warriors, came !ouring in with headsu!"ifted, each !ea"ing out his sweet and mournfu" music$ o"one"B"ount s!oke to doIens of them, ca""ing each by its !ro!er name$

&Here, Bi"",& he ca""ed to that worthy, who had now entured to

return from his hidingF!"ace, &take them out to the yard and fi- themu!$ ?ow, boys, go around to the kitchen and te"" them to gie yousomething to eat$&

'n the confusion of the disbandment of the hunt, the master of theBig House had as yet hard"y found time to "ook about him, but now, asthe conc"ae scattered, he found himse"f a"one, and turning,discoered the occu!ant of the boardF!i"e, who arose and adanced,offering his hand$

&This is o"one" B"ount, ' !resume,& said he$

&(es, sir, thats my name$ ' beg your !ardon, 'm sure, but ' didnt

know you were there$ ome right on into the house and sit down, sir$?ow, your name isFFJ&

&Eddring,& said the newFcomer$ &=ohn Eddring$ ' am just down on themorning train from the city$&

&'m right g"ad to see you, Ar$ Eddring,& said o"one" B"ount,e-tending his hand$ &'t seems to me ' ought to know your fami"y$


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&*e"", ' ought to hae had it,& said B"ount, with a frown ofdis!"easure$ &The fact is, ' did take a f"ying chance from horseback,when the bah ran by in the cane ha"f a mi"e back of where theyki""ed him$ /omehow ' must hae missed$ 5 "itt"e whi"e "ater ' heardanother shot, and found that young gent"eman there, Ar$ %echerd, hadbeat me in the ride$ But man3 you ought to hae heard that !ack fortwo hours through the woods$ 't certain"y wou"d hae raised your hairstraight u!$ (ou eer hunt bah, sirJ&

&5 "itt"e, once in a whi"e, when ' hae the time$&

&*e"", you dont go away from here without haing a good hunt$ (oujust wait a day or so unti" my dogs get rested u!$&

&Thank you, o"one", but ' am afraid ' cant stay$ (ou see, ' am downhere on a matter of business$&

&Business, ehJ&FF*e"", a man that"" "et business interfere with abah hunt has got something wrong about him$&

&*e"", you see, a rai"road man cant a"ways choose,& said his guest$

&.ai"road manJ& said o"one" B"ount$ 5 sudden g"oom fe"" on his ruddyface$ &.ai"road man, ehJ *e"", ' wish you was something e"se$ ?ow, 'he"!ed get that rai"road through this countryFFif it hadnt been forme, they neer cou"d hae "aid a mi"e of track through here$ But now,do you know what they done did to me the other day, with their damnedo"d rai"roadJ&

&?o, sir, ' haent heard$&

&*e"", '"" te"" youFFBi""3


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"ast week sett"ing u! c"aimsFFBi""3 5hFh, Bi""3 *here you goneJ&

&(es,& said Eddring, &it certain"y did seem that when we bui"t thisroad eery cow and eery nigger, not to mention a "ot of white fo"ks,made a beeF"ine straight for our rightFofFway$ *hy, sir, it was aso"id "ine of cows and niggers from Aem!his to ?ew


23/170

re"ease a "itt"e of the f"aor, you know$ (ou dont want to be roughwith mint$ =ust twist it gent"y between the thumb and finger$ Thenyou set it in nice"y around the edge of the g"ass$ /ometimes just a"itt"e !owder of fine sugar around on to! of the mint "eaes, andthenFF&

&/ir,& said o"one" B"ount, grae"y rising and taking off his hat,&you are we"come to my home3&

Eddring, with eua" courtesy, arose and remoed his own hat$

&+or my !art,& resumed B"ount, judicia""y, &' rather "ean to a !ieceof cut g"ass, for the green and the crysta" "ook mighty finetogether$ ' dont a"ways make them with any sugar on to! of the mint$But, you know, just a circ"e of mintFFnot crushedFFnot crushed, mindyouFFjust a green ring of fragrance, so that you can bury your nosein it and forget your troub"es$ /ir, a""ow me once more to shake yourhand$ ' think ' know a gent"eman when ' see one$&


24/170

a good funera", een if it has to be his own wife$ ?ow, how manynigger funera"s are there that cost fifteen do""arsJ '"" bet you ifthat nigger had it to do oer again hed a hea! rather be rid of herand hae the fifteen do""ars$ Look at it3 +ine funera" for one wifeand something "eft oer to get a bonnet for his new wife$ '"" betthere isnt a nigger on your !"ace that wou"dnt jum! at a chance"ike that$&

o"one" B"ount scratched his head$ &(ou understand niggers a"" right,'"" admit,& said he$ &But, now, su!!osing it had been a white manJ&

&*e"", su!!osing it wasJ&

&*e dont need to su!!ose$ There was the same thing ha!!ened to awhite fami"y$ *ife got ki""edFF"eft three chi"dren$&

&


25/170

road is something awfu"$&

&


26/170

&(ou dont get it$&

&' dont, ehJ /ay, my friend,&FFB"ount !ushed the g"asses away, hischo"er rising at the temerity of this, the on"y man who in many ayear had dared to confront him$ &(ou "ook here$ *rite me a check forfifty and write it now$&

&'e heard about that fi""y,& said the c"aim agent, &and 'e come

here ready to !ay you for it$ Here you are$&

B"ount g"anced at the check$ &*hy, its fifteen do""ars,& said he,&and ' said fifty$&

&But ' said fifteen$&

&Look here,& said B"ount, his ca"m becoming sti"" more menacing, aswith a sudden whi! of his hand he reached behind him$ Like a f"ash he!u""ed a "ong reo"er from its ho"ster$ Eddring gaIed into the rounda!erture of the muII"e and certain surrounding a!ertures of thecy"inder$ &*rite me a check,& said B"ount, s"ow"y, &and write it forfifty$ '"" tear it u! when ' get it if ' fee" "ike it, but no man

sha"" eer te"" me that ' took fifteen do""ars for a Himyah fi""y$?ow you write it$&

He s!oke s"ow"y$ His !isto" hand rested on his knee, now sudden"ydrawn u!$ Both oice and !isto" barre" were steady$

The eyes of the two met, and which was the braer man it had beenhard to te""$ ?either f"inched$ Eddring returned a gaIe as direct asthat which he receied$ The f"orid face back of the barre" he"d ag"eam of ha"fFadmiration at witnessing his de"iberation$ The c"aimagents eye did not fa"ter$

&(ou said fifty do""ars, o"one" B"ount,& said he, just a suggestionof a smi"e at the corner of his mouth$ &%ont you think there has

been a s"ight misunderstanding between us twoJ 'f you are so b"amed!articu"ar, and rea""y want a check for fifty, why, here it is$& Hebusied himse"f a moment, and !assed oer a stri! of !a!er$ Een as hedid so, the ire of o"one" B"ount coo"ed as sudden"y as it had gainedwarmth$ 5 sudden contrition sat on his face, and he crowded the !a!erinto his !ocket with an air ha"f shamefaced$

&/irFFAr$ Eddring,& he began fa"tering"y$

&*e"", what do you wantJ (oue got your check, and youe got therai"road$ *ee !aid our "itt"e debt to you$&

&/ir,& said B"ount$ &Ay friendFFwhy, sir, here is your ju"e!$&

&To he"" with your ju"e!, sir3&

&Ay friend,& said B"ount, f"ushing, &you sere me right$ ' amforgetting my duties as a gent"eman$ ' ask you into my house$&

&'"" see you damned first,& said Eddring, hot"y$

&.ight3& cried B"ount, e-u"ting"y$ &(oure right$ (oure one of thefighting Eddrings, just "ike your daddy and your unc"e, sure asyoure born3 *hy, sir, come on in$ (ou wou"dnt !unish the son of


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your unc"es friend, your own daddys friend, wou"d youJ&

But the ire of Eddring was now aroused$ 5 certain smo"dering fire,"ong with difficu"ty su!!ressed, began to f"ame in s!ite of him$

&Bring me out a !"ate,& said he, bitter"y, &and "et me eat on thega""ery$ 5s you say, ' am on"y a c"aim agent$ Good God, man3& andthen of a sudden his wrath arose sti"" higher$ His own hand made a

swift motion$ &Gie me back that check,& he said, and his e-tendedhand !resented a wea!on he"d steady as though su!!orted by the "imbof a tree$ &(ou didnt gie me a fair show$&

8'""ustration4 &E%%.'?G G5KE% '?T< THE .?% 5PE.T>.E


28/170

again$ 5nd you made the biscuits, ehJ&

&(ou are back home,& said Aiss Lady, &a"" but your mind$ ' ca""ed toyou seera" times$ *ho is that gent"eman you are staring atJ *hydoesnt he come in and eat with usJ&

o"one" B"ount turned s"ow"y as Aiss Lady tugged at his arm$ &*ho isheJ& he re!"ied ha"fFmusing"y$ &*ho is heJ (ou te"" me$ He refused to

eat in a"in B"ounts house thats why he didnt come in, AissLady$ He says hes the cow coroner on the ($ $ road, but ' want tote"" you, hes the finest fe""ow, and the nearest to a gent"eman,that eer struck this country$ Thats what he is$ 'm mighty troub"edoer his going away, Aiss Lady, mighty troub"ed$& 5nd indeed his facegae warrant to these words, as with s"ow footste!s and frowningbrow, he yie"ded to the !ressure of the "ight hand on his arm, andturned toward the ga""ery ste!s$

H5PTE.

E.T5'? P.


29/170

The day was now far adanced, and the great white house had grownsi"ent$ 5s B"ount entered, he met no one at first, but fina""y at thedoor of a ha"fFdarkened room midway of the ha"", he heard the rust"eof a gown and saw a!!roaching him the not uncome"y figure of theuasiFhead of the menage, Ars$ E""ison$ The "atter moed s"ow"y andeasi"y forward, !ausing at the doorway, where, so framed, she!resented a !icture attractie enough to arrest the attention of een

a bearFhunting bache"or$

&' am g"ad to see you back, o"one",& said she$ &' am a"ways souneasy when you are away& she sighed$

B"ount fe"t himse"f ague"y uncomfortab"e, but was not uite ab"e toturn away$

&' was just in my room,& said Ars$ E""ison, &as ' heard you !assingby$ ' had a "itt"e headache$&

&Thats too bad,& said o"one" B"ount, and turned again to go$ Theuns!oken initation of the other sti"" restrained him$ /he "eaned

against the door, softFeyed, her white hand waing an effectie fan,an attractie, a seductie !icture$

&*hy dont you eer come in and sit down and ta"k to me for aminuteJ& said she, at "ength$ &' scarce"y see you at a"" any more$&

B"ount gathered an uneasy hint of something, he knew not what yet hefo""owed her back into the ha"fFdarkened room, and !resent"y, seatednear her, and wra!!ed in his own enthusiasms, forgot a"" but the bearchase, whose incidents he began eager"y to re"ate$ His isFaFis sat"ooking at him with eyes which took in fu""y the care"ess strength ofhis ta"" and strong figure$ +or some time now her eyes had rested onthis same figure, this man who had to do with work and the chase,with hardshi! and adenture, and neer anything more gent"eFFthis man

who cou"d not see3

&(ou must be more carefu",& said Ars$ E""ison$ &But sti"", you aresafe"y back, and 'm g"ad you had good "uck$&

&*e"", ' dont know what you wou"d ca"" good "uck,& said B"ount$ &Thefact is, ' had a "itt"e troub"e, coming in$&

&Troub"eJ 'n what wayJ&

&*e"", it ha!!ened this way,& said he, with a uick g"ance about him$&' dont "ike to mention such things, but ' su!!ose you ought toknow$ This was about a cou!"e of negroes back in the country a way$

(ou know, ' am a sort of de!uty sheriff, and ' was ca""ed on to do a"itt"e work with those same negroes$ ' su!!ose you know, maam, thatthose negroes used to run this who"e state a few years ago, thoughthey aint studying so much about !o"itics toFday$&

&' know something of that,& said Ars$ E""ison$ &That was soon afterthe war, they te"" me$ But they gae that u! "ong ago$ They dontbother with !o"itics now$&

&?o,& resumed B"ount$ &Theyre not studying so much as they used to$?ot "ong ago ' had a number of northern !hi"anthro!ists down here,


30/170

who came down to "ook into the &conditions in this district$& ' said'd show them eerything they wanted so ' sent out for some of myfie"d hands$ ' said to one of them, &Bi"",& said ', &these gent"emenwant to ask you some uestions$ ' su!!ose your name is *i""iam Henry5rno"d, isnt itJ& &(assah,& said Bi""$ &(ou was county su!erisorhere some years ago, wasnt you, Bi""J (assah, said Bi""$ ' said,' beg your !ardon, Ar$ *i""iam Henry 5rno"d, but wi"" you !"easeste! u! here to my desk and write your name for these gent"emenJ

*hy, sho3 boss, said he, you know ' kaint write mah name$Thats a"", said '$

&?ow, gent"emen, said ', e-hibit number two is Ar$ George*ashington /ims$ George, said ', you used to be our countytreasurer, didnt youJ He said he did$ *ho !aid the ta-es, then,GeorgeJ said '$ *hy, boss, you white fo"ks !aid most of um$ 5""right, Ar$ George *ashington /ims, said ', you ste! u! here andwrite your name for these gent"emen$ He just "aughed$ That"" do,said '$

&E-hibit number three, said ' to these northern !hi"anthro!ists,is our "ate distinguished fe""ow citiIen, 5bednego /hadrach =ones$

He was our county c"erk down here a whi"e back$ ?ego, who !aid theta-es, time you was c"erkJ He was right uncomfortab"e$ *hy, boss,said he, you !aid most of um, you an the white fo"ks in heah$ ?oniggah man had nothin to !ay ta-es on$

&(ou know that we white fo"ks had to !ay for the schoo"s andbridges, and the county bui"dingsFFhad to !ay sa"ariesFFhad to !aythe county c"erk and the janitorFFhad to !ay eerythingJ ' said tohim$ (assah, said ?ego$

&(ou were e"ected "ega""y, and we white fo"ks cou"dnt outFote you,nohowJ (assah, said he$ ' s!ose we wus a"" "ected "ega" nough$' dunno right"y, but dey a"" done to" me dat wuI so$

&?ego, said ', ste! u! here to your boss desk and write yourname, just "ike you do when ' gie you credit for a ba"e of cotton$?ego he ste!s u! and he makes a mark, and a mighty !oor mark at that$(ou can go, ' said to him$

&?ow, gent"emen, said ' to them, do you want e-hibits number fourand fie and si-J 5nd they a""owed they didnt$

&There was one fe""ow in the "ot who ste!!ed u! to me and took myhand$ He was a +edera" co"one" in the war, but he said to me,o"one" B"ount, ' beg your !ardon$ (ou hae made this !"ainer to methan ' eer saw it before$ 't wou"d be the ruin of this country ifyou gae oer the contro" of your homes and !ro!erty and "et them be

run by !eo!"e "ike these$ (ou hae so"ed this !rob"em foryourse"es, and you ought to be "eft to so"e it a"" the time$ 5s forus fo"ks from the ?orth, we are a "ot of ignorant medd"ers and asfor me, 'm going home$&

B"ount fe"" si"ent, musing for a time$ &/ome fo"ks say, Educate thenegro,& he resumed fina""y, &they say >!"ift him$ They say Giehim a chance$ /o do '$ ' wi"" gie him more than a chance$ ' wi"""et the negroes do a"" they can to he"! themse"es, and '"" do theba"ance myse"f$ But they cant ru"e me, unti" they are better than 'am and thats going to be a "ong whi"e yet$ onstitution or no


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constitution, goernment or no goernment, the b"ack ru"e cant anddont go in the %e"ta3 't wou"dnt be right$

&?ow, '"" te"" you about those two !oor fe""ows toFday,& hecontinued$ &There was Tom /ands, who works on a !"antation abouttwe"e mi"es from here$ He has been getting drunk and beating hiswife and scaring his chi"dren for about three months$ =udge *i""iamshad him u! not "ong ago and bound him oer to kee! the !eace, and

when ' "ast saw the judge he to"d me to take this negro u!, if ' wasgoing by there any time, and bring him u! and !ut him in jai" for awhi"e, unti" he got to behaing himse"f again$ (ou know we hae to dothese things right a"ong, to kee! this country uiet$

&*e"", when we were coming in from the hunt, we !assed within a fewmi"es of his cotton !atch, and ' rode oer to see him$ He was out inthe fie"d, and ' found him and to"d him he had to come a"ong$ Herefused to come$ He swore at meFFand he was not een a countysureyor in the o"d days3 Then ' ordered him in the name of the "awto come a"ong$ He !icked u! a !iece of fence rai" and started at me$' had to get down off my horse to meet him$ ' own ' struck him righthard$ There was another boy, a big b"ack negro, that must hae come

in here "ate"y from some other !art of the country, a big, stoo!Fshou"dered fe""owFFwe"", he started for me, too$ ' took u! the same!iece of fence rai" and knocked him down$

&' ought not to hae to"d you this, maam,& said B"ount, rising$ &Butthen, maybe its just as we"" that ' did$ (ou neer can te"" whatwi"" come out of these things$ *e "ie oer a b"ack o"cano in thiscountry a"" the time$ ?ow, ' didnt bring in either one of my!risoners$ ' ho!ed that maybe they wou"d take this fence rai"argument as a sort of tem!orary euia"ent to a term in jai"$ But toFmorrow 'm going down in there and bring that /ands boy in$ *e neerdare gie an inch in a matter of this kind$&

&%o you think they wi"" make any troub"eJ& said Ars$ E""ison$

&?eer you mind about the troub"e !art of it,& said B"ount, uiet"y$&' reckon he"" come in$ 'm going to take a wagon this time$ /othats the kind of "uck we had on this bah hunt$&

He arose to go, and "eft Ars$ E""ison sitting sti"" in the shadedroom, her fan now at rest, her eyes bent down thoughtfu""y, but herfoot ta!!ing at the f"oor$ The incidents just re"ated !assed uick"yfrom her mind$ /he remembered on"y that, as they ta"ked, this manseye had wandered from her own$ He was occu!ied with !rob"ems of!o"itics, of business, of s!ort, and was "etting go that great gamefor a strong man, the game of "oe3 /he cou"d scarce te"" at themoment whether she most fe"t for him contem!t or hatredFFor something

far different from either$

5t "ength she arose and !aced the room, swift"y as the !ress ofstrange eents which were hurrying her a"ong$ 'ndeed, she might,without any great shrewdness, hae found warning in certain thingsha!!ening of "ate in and around the Big House but 5"ice E""ison eermost "oed her own fancy as counse"$ The b"acks might rise if they"iked Aiss Lady might do as she "isted, after a""$ %e"!hine andyoung %echerd might go their seera" ways but as for her, and as forthis man a"in B"ountFFah, we""3


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/he yawned and stretched out her arms, fe"ine, easy, gracefu", and soat "ength sank into her easy chair, ha"f !urring as she shifted nowand again to a more comfortab"e !osition$

H5PTE. '

THE %.>A

=ohn Eddring, the heat of his "ate encounter !ast, sat moodi"ystaring out from the !"atform of the "itt"e station to which he hadreturned$ He was angry with a"" the wor"d, and angry with himse"fmost of a""$ 't had been his duty to dea" amicab"y with a man of the!osition of o"one" a"in B"ount, yet how had he com!orted himse"fJLike a schoo"Fboy3 But for that he might hae been the acce!ted guestnow, there at the Big House, instead of being the on"y man eer knownto turn back u!on its door$ But for his sudden cho"er, he ref"ected,he might !erha!s at this ery moment be within seeing and s!eaking

distance of this ta"" gir" of the scar"et ribbons, the ery samewhose !resence he had ague"y fe"t about the !"ace a"" that morning,in the occasiona" sound of a distant song, or the rush of feet u!onthe ga""ery, or the whisk of skirts freuent"y heard$ The memory ofthat !icture c"ung fast and wou"d not anish$ /he was so erybeautifu", he ref"ected$ 't had been !"easanter to sit at tab"e insuch com!any than thus here a"one, hungry, "ike an outcast$

He fe"t his gaIe, "ike that of a "oeFsick boy, turning again andagain toward the s!ot where he had seen her "ast$ The rea"iIation ofthis angered him$ He rebuked himse"f stern"y, as haing been unworthyof himse"f, as haing been "ight, as haing been unman"y, in thusa""owing himse"f to be inf"uenced by a mere irrationa" fancy$ Hesummoned his strength to banish this chimera, and then with sudden

horror which sent his brow ha"fFmoist, he rea"iIed that his facu"tiesdid not obey, that he was thinking of the same !icture, that his eyeswere sti"" coeting it, his heartFFah, cou"d there be truth in thesestories of sudden and uncontro""ab"e im!u"ses of the heartJ The erywhis!er of it gae him terror$ His brow grew moister$ +or him, =ohnEddringFFwhat cou"d the wor"d ho"d for him but this one thing ofdutyJ

%uty3 He "aughed at the thought$ These two iron bands before his eyesirked his sou", binding him, as they did, hard and fast to anotherwor"d fu"" of unwe"come things$ There came again and again to hismind this !icture of the maid with the bright ribbons$ He gaIed atthe distant s!ot beneath the eergreens where he had seen her$ He

cou"d !icture so distinct"y her highFheaded carriage, the straightgaIe of her eyes, the g"ow on her cheeks cou"d restore so c"ear"ythe ery swee! of the dark hair tumb"ed about her brow$ /mitten ofthis sight, he wou"d fain hae had iew again$ 5"as3 it was as when,u!on a crowded street, one gaIes at the !assing figure of him whose!resence smites with the swift ca"" of friendshi!FFand turns, on"y tosee this unknown friend swa""owed u! in the crowd for eer$ Thus had!assed the iew of this young gir" of the Big House and thereremained no sort of footing u!on which he cou"d base a ho!e of abetter fortune$ Henceforth he must count himse"f a!art from a"" BigHouse affairs$ He was an outcast, a !ariah$ %isgusted, he rose from


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his rude seat at the window "edge and wa"ked u! the !"atform$ Hefound it too sunny, and returned to take a seat again u!on a brokentruck near by$

There was a "itt"e country store c"ose to the !"atform, so bui"t thatit a"most adjoined the wareFroom of the rai"way station this beingthe !"ace where the co"ored fo"k of the neighborhood !urchased theirsu!!"ies$ 5t the !resent moment, this bui"ding seemed to "ack much of

its usua" occu!ancy, yet there arose, now and again, sounds of "owconersation !art"y audib"e through the o!en window$ The oices werethose of negroes, and they s!oke guarded"y, but eager"y, with some!ecu"iar ua"ity in their s!eech which caught the si-th sense of the/outherner, accustomed a"ways to "iing u!on the erge of a certaindanger$ The fact that they were s!eaking thus in so !ub"ic a !"ace,and at the midFhour of the working day, was of itse"f enough toattract the attention of any white dwe""er of that region$

&' te"" yuh,& said one, &its gone fah nough$ *ho runs de fahms, whomakes de cotton, who does de wuk for a"" dis heah "anJ *ho used torun de goment, and who orter now, if it aint us b"ack fo"ksJ %eythrow us out, an dey wont "et us ote, an weFa"" know we gotter

right to ote$ %ey say a nigger aint fitten ter do nothin but wuk,wuk, wuk$ ?igger got good a right to "ie de way he want ter as dewhite man is$ ?ow its time fer change$ %e Cueen, youFa"" knows, shedone say de time come fer a change$&

5 "ow grow", as from the throats of feeding beasts, greeted thiscomment$ +ootfa""s, shuff"ing, a!!roached the s!eaker$

&Tom /ands is daid, dats whut he is,& resumed the first s!eaker,&"eastways as good as daid, cause hes just aF"ayin thah an kaintmoe er s!eak$ 5n "ook at me, "ook at my haid$ %e o" man hit him!owfu" hahd, an ef he didnt hit me jest de same, it wasnt nofau"t o hisn, ' te"" you$ He jes soon ki""ed bof of us niggersthah as not$ *hafforJ He want weFa"" to come inter town an git

fined, git into jai" agin$& Aore grow"s than one greeted this, andthen there came si"ence for a whi"e$

&Ay o" daddy done to" me twentyFfie yeah ago,& said the firsts!eaker, &dat de time was aFgoin ter come$ %ey wus onct a white manfom u! ?orf come a"" oer dis country, fifty yeah ago, an he!reached it ter de niggers befo de wah dat some day de time gwinecome$ *e wus ter raise u! a"" oer the /ouf an ki"" a"" de whitefo"ks, an den a"" de white womenFF

&*e wus ter ki"" a"" de white men,& at "ength resumed the same oice$&%e white men fom de ?orf wus ter ride intoe de towns den an roba"" de banks an diide de money wid weFa"", an dey wus to o!en de

stos and gie ebery nigger a"" de goods he want wifout !ayingnuthin fer em and den nigger aint gwine to wuk no mo$

&%at white man and his fo"ks, my o" daddy said, fifty yeah ago, deywuk secret a"" oer the /ouf, from Tennssee ter Louisian$ %at wasfifty yeah ago, but my o" daddy say when he was a !iccaninny, disheah thing got out somehow an de white fo"ks down /ouf dey cotch diswhite man fom de ?orf, an done hang him, an dey done hang and burna hea! o niggers a"" oer de /ouf$

&%at wus "ong time befo de wah$ %ey to" usFa"" dat de time wuI sho


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comin den but den de !reachers and de doctors dey to" usFa"" itmightnt be come den, but it wou"d come some day$ %en "ong come dewah, an de !reachers an de doctors an de white fo"ks u! ?orf deydone to" us, nigger gwine ter be free, not to hae ter wuk no mo$Huh3 ?ow "ook at us3 *e wuk jest as hard as we eer did, an we gitno mo fer it dan whut we eat an weah$ *e kaint ote$ %ey donerobbed us outen dat$ *e kaint be nobody$ *e kaint git "ong$ *ehatter wuk jest same, wuk, wuk, wuk, a"" de time$ ?igger jest as

we"" be daid as hatter wuk a"" de timeFFgot no ote, ner nuthin$%ats whut de Cueen she done to" me right !"ain "as meetin we had$/he say white fo"ks u! ?orf gwine to he"! nigger now, right er"ong$Things gwine be different now, right soon$&

Aurmurs, singu"ar"y stirring, !ecu"iar"y ominous, answered thise-tended s!eech$ Encouraged, the orator went on$ &*e aint good ass"aes, weFa"" aint$ *e wuk jest eI hahd$ %ey gin us a taste o dewhite bread, an den dey done snatch it way fom us$ *e want ter be"ike white fo"ks$ >! ?orf dey te"" us we gwine ter be, but down heahdey wont "et us$&

?ow sudden"y the oice broke into a wai" and rose again in a ha"fF

chant$ Eident"y the storekee!er was absent, !erha!s across the wayfor his dinner$ The bui"ding was "eft to the b"acks$ *ithout!remeditation, those !resent had dro!!ed into one of those &meetings&which white men of that region neer encourage$

&%ey brung us heah in chains, < Lord3& shouted the orator$ &(ea, inchains dey done weigh us down3 < Lord, make us de"iery$ < Lord,smite down ouah o!!ressohs$&

&Lord3 Lord3 yea, < Lord, smite down3& res!onded the ready chorus$5nd there were sobs and strange saage guttera"s which no white earmay eer fu""y understand$ The white "istener on the station !"atformunderstood enough, and his eager face grew tense and grae$ 5 meetingof the b"acks, thus bo"d at such a time, meant nothing but danger,

!erha!s danger immediate and most serious$

The wi"d chant rose and fe"" in a sudden gust, and then the oicewent on$ &%e time is heah ' seen it in a dream, ' seen it in aision fom de Lord$ %e Lord done te"" it to de Cueen, and done sayter me, .ise, rise and s"ay mighti"y$ Take de "and o de o!!ressoh,take his women away fom him an "ay de o!!ressoh in de dus3 easedy "abors, Gideon, cease an take dy rest3 Enter into de "an, nited /tates /u!reme ourt, where you won and "ostat the same time$ 'n that case you !roed your c"ient, %e"!hine, tobe 'ndian, and therefore not +renchFFin !"ain "anguage, you !roedthat she was the heiress of the 'ndian, Pau" Loise, and thereforecou"d not inherit certain a"uab"e "ands of which we both know$Before you found yourse"f on that account forced to !in your faith tothe descendants of the +rench omte de Loisson, you were wi""ing touse either "ine of descent, !roided it made it !ossib"e for you to

get !ossession of these "ands$ (ou were wi""ing to dea" with a womanof mi-ed b"ood, or with one of !ure b"ood, of nob"e descent$ Let me befrank with you, %echerd$ (ou were !"aying these gir"s one against theother$ 't was %e"!hine against the descendants of the omte deLoissonFFa de"icate game and you came near winning$&

%echerd !assed a hand across his forehead, now grown c"ammy, but hecou"d see no method either of attack or of esca!e, for the co"d grayeye sti"" he"d him, and the b"ue barre" hung steady beneath the id"ehand, as the same stee"F"ike oice went on4

&' wi"" just go oer the !roof once more, %echerd,& said Eddring,&and see if we dont "ook at it about a"ike$ +or instance, if%e"!hine is 'ndian, she isnt white$ >nc"e /ams /u!reme ourt says

shes 'ndian$ Thats record, thats eidence$ Take the two gir"s, oneof nob"e b"ood, the other of uestionab"e descent, and they aretogether eua", in !osse, as we wi"" say, to these a"uab"e "ands$%o you fo""ow meJ


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and this Ars$ 5"ice E""ison, wou"d enab"e them comfortab"y to sharethis estate$ That was the way Ars$ E""ison wanted it, !erha!s$ Butyou !referred to marry the true c"aimant, and get rid of Ars$E""ison$ That was your !"an$ (ou wanted to cance" eery !ossib"ec"aimant e-ce!t Aiss Lady, and then you wanted to force Aiss Ladyinto a marriage with you$ %o ' make myse"f c"ear to you, Ar$ %echerdJ5nd do ' make myse"f c"ear that this country isnt big enough forboth of usJ @ee! uiet now$ (oue come to your showFdown right here$

&Aeantime, it was !art of your scheme, as ' now see, to kee! AissLady away from her friends, to !oison her against those friends$ (ouhad to "ie, and you were a "awyer, or a sort of a "awyer$ (ou gotho"d of these judgment c"aims against the rai"road which dischargedme$ (ou to"d this gir" that ' sto"e those c"aims$ (ou know you "ied$+or a time you de"uded this !oor gir", !oisoning her mind, ki""ingher nature with your deceit$ ?one the "ess, you "eft behind you o!en!roofs, readyFmade for your own undoing$ *hy, this ery name, thisstage name of Louise Loisson, was banner enough to bring her rea"friends to her side$ But you didnt know, did you, Ar$ %echerd, that' had read the "itt"e book, and that ' knew the Loisson historyJ 'said it was by chance ' found the book$ ' am ready now to say it was

by fateFFby justice$ 'ts "ike the fetish mark on the churchFdoorFFthat negro church in the woodsFF"ike the sign on %e"!hineshandkerchief$ Gui"t a"ways "eaes a sign$ =ustice a"ways finds some!roof$

&?ow, ' hae a message from o"one" B"ount$ Here it is$ He says,Louise Loisson our Aiss Lady$ He has found out something, too, atthe other end of the "ine, hasnt he, %echerdJ ?otice, he says, ourAiss Lady$ /he is ours, not yours$ ' am going to take her a"ong withme, back to the Big House, and to her friend, o"one" B"ount$ Hesays, *atch out for %echerd$ ' am watching out for him$ He a"sosays that they hae caught the "eader who has been making a"" thetroub"e u! there in the %e"ta, near the Big House !"antation$&

&%e"!hine3& gas!ed %echerd, from tightened "i!s, a !a"e horror nowwritten on eery feature$ &Has she ta"kedJ&

&(es, %e"!hine3 (ou were ab"e to guess that, were you, %echerdJ Thankyou$ (ou were right$ ' do not know whether or not %e"!hine hasta"ked$ But whether she has or not, there wi"" !resent"y be no chancefor you$ (ou are at the end of your string, %echerd$

&5nd now, get u!,& said Eddring to him shar!"y, rising$ &Get u!, youdamned hound, you "iar, you thief, you cur$ This boats not bigenough for you and me$ The wor"d wi"" be bare"y big enough for a"itt"e whi"e, if youre carefu"$ *e are not afraid of you, now thatwe know you$ Go back to Ars$ E""ison, if you "ike$ (ou cant go back

to %e"!hine now, and you cant s!eak to Aiss Lady again$ /he isour Aiss Lady$ (ou cant stay on this boat tonight, where thatgir" is$&

&/o youFFyoure trying to cut inJ& began %echerd$

Eddring did not answer$

He caught %echerd by the co""ar, wrenched the reo"er from his!ocket and !ushed him down the stair, then dragged him a"ong the"ower deck$ They !assed a "ine of s"ee!ing deckFhands too stu!id to


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obsere them$ %ragging astern of the boat, high between the two "ongdierging "ines of the ro""ing wake, there rode a rier skiff at theend of its taut "ine$

&Those "ights be"ow are at the ferry, eight mi"es from town,& saidEddring$ &Get into the boat$&

&+or Gods sake, cant you get them to s"ow downJ& whined %echerd

but Eddring shook his head$ %echerd "et himse"f oer the rai" of the"ower deck, and for an instant the strained "ine bade fair to ho"dhis weight$ Then his feet and "egs dro!!ed into the water as he andthe boat a!!roached$ %es!erate"y he c"ambered on, and so fe"" !antingand dri!!ing into the bow of the skiff$ 5 moment "ater the boat andits hudd"ed occu!ant dro!!ed back into the night, tossing in the wakeof the churning whee"s$

+rom aboe there came !ouring down the somber f"ood of Aessasebe,bearing tribute of his wi"derness, in !art made u! of broken,worth"ess and discarded things$

Eddring gaIed after the disa!!earing boat$ He was re"a-ed, si"ent,

worn$ The gri! of a great "one"iness seiIed u!on him$ *hat had hegainedJ *hy had he interferedJ The wor"d about him seemed oid andacant$ He fe"t himse"f, no "ess than the other man, a worth"ess anddiscarded thingFFa bit of f"otsam on the f"ood of fate$

H5PTE. D

THE The

strange isitor, sat "ooking at him without !resent s!eech$

&5re you a married man, a!tain *i"sonJ& said Eddring$ &Hae a cigarwith me, wont youJ&

&*hat difference is it to youJ& said *i"son, waing aside thecourtesy$

&(es but are youJ&

&*ife died si- years ago,& said *i"son, gruff"y$ The musc"es ridged


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u! a"ong his jaw as he c"osed his "i!s tight"y$

&5ny chi"drenJ& said Eddring$

&%aughter, eighteen years o"d and a beauty, if ' do say it$&

&' reckon you "oe her some, dont you, a!tainJ Thought a hea! ofyour wife, too, maybe, didnt youJ&

*i"son ha"fFrose, one hand u!on his chair back, as he !ounded on thetab"e in front of him with the other$ &?ow "ook here, Aister *hoFeerFyouFare, 'e stood a "ot of foo"ishness from you a"ready,& saidhe, &but those are my matters, and not yours$ Get on out of here$&(et Eddring on"y "ooked at him smi"ing, and into his eyes there camea f"ash of !"easure$

&'m mighty g"ad to hear you say those ery words, a!tain,& said he&because now ' know youd do anything in the wor"d to he"! a goodgir" out of troub"e, or to kee! her out of it$ ?ow, about the "aw$'m sure, a!tain, you be"iee in the higher "awFFthe su!reme "awFFthe chia"ry of the southern man, dont youJ& *i"son waed him away

again, but sti"" gaIed at him curious"y$ &?ow "isten, a!tain,&Eddring !ersisted$

&' am "istening,& b"urted out *i"son$ &/ay, man, if ' had your nere,and what ' know about !oker on this rier, 'd own the country$&

&But "istenFF&

&?o$ ' just want to set here and admire you a few minutes before 'te"" the deckFhands to throw you into the rier$&

&a!tain,& said Eddring, !u""ing u! his chair, &after 'm done withwhat ' hae on hand, you may throw me into the rier, if you "ike$ 'dont think it wi"" make much difference$ But now, dont you think

youre running this boat$ The rea" commander of this boat, a!tain*i"son, is the su!reme "aw of this "andFFthat "aw under which thegent"emen of the /outh are bound at any time and a"" times to giecourtesy and comfort to a woman when she needs them$& *i"son "ookedat him mute"y, the musc"es on his jaw straining u! again$ He jerkedhis head toward the aft stateFrooms with a gesture of uery$ Eddringnodded$

&/hes a beauty, too,& said *i"son, sighing$ &.eminds me of my ownwife, the way she used to "ookFFthe way my own gir" "ooks now$(oure a "ucky man$&

&a!tain *i"son, ' dont figure in this thing !ersona""y at a""$ But

now '"" te"" you the who"e story, and "et you decide for yourse"f$&

He went on s!eaking s"ow"y, een"y, gent"y, im!ersona""y, te""ingwhat had been the case of Aiss Lady u!on the ery night !recedingte""ing how great was the stress of eents at the head of the %e"ta,ery far away, and im!ossib"e now of access$ He made no offer of!ecuniary reward, but stated his case sim!"y and asked his auditor to!ut himse"f in his own !osition$

5s he s!oke, the chair of a!tain *i"son began to edge toward hisown$ 'n the eyes of the o"d steamboat man there came a g"isten


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strange to them$ His hand unconscious"y reached out$ &/to!3& heroared$ &Gie me your hand$ The boat is yours3


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swift waterFway, begins at the head of the ast body of tang"ed (aIoo"ands, and dro!s down, !inching in at the base of a great &,& wherethe b"uffs conerge near icksburg$ These hi""s s!reading out oneither side ho"d in their wide arms an em!ire, the richest and mostferti"e "and, though !erha!s sti"" the "east known, of any to befound in this 5merica$ They ho"d a"so a !o!u"ation "itt"e understooda !eo!"e bo"d, undaunted, 5merican$ These arms of the hi""s ho"d a"soa ast !rob"em the !rob"em of b"ack and white, "ess sett"ed toFday

than it has been at any time these one hundred years$

Here in this "and, more than two hundred mi"es in "ength and ha"f asmuch in width, +ather Aessasebe e-tends his fingers$ /"uggish bayousrun across the waste as their fancy "eads them, their currentde!ending u!on the whim of the rier, or !erha!s on that of thestreams from the hi"" country which constitutes the great dam of the%e"ta$ The crooked (aIoo is marked on the ma!s as crossing a"mostfrom the north to the south of this wi"derness yet the (aIoo canscarce c"aim a bed a"" its own, for it !asses through many ancientbayous, and is fed by many of the o"d &hatchees& which the canoes ofthe red man e-!"ored "ong ago$ >!on one side of the (aIoo comes the/unf"ower, dee! cut into the fathom"ess "oam yet sometimes the

/unf"ower is reersed in current and the /unf"ower and theHush!uckenay may be one stream or two and the "atter may run as the"eees say, or as the f"oods dictate whi"e aboe them both, at thehead of the (aIoo, are bayous and &!asses& which make a waterFwayonce continuous from the great rier into its "esser !ara""e"$

Aessasebe sometimes f"ows !eacefu""y through channe"s marked out forhim by man, yet this is but his whim for a thousand years are asnaught to the Aaker of Aessasebe, and Aessasebe therefore may bidehis time$ But when the s!ort of the f"oods begins, and the currentsare reersed, and the streams hurry down with cross tributes from thehi""s, and the wi"d waters hae forgotten a"" contro"FFthen is whenAessasebe the Aighty gras!s and c"utches with his wide fingers, ande-u"ts as of o"d in his wi"derness3

Here in the heart of the %e"ta "ay the Big House, a dot on the faceof things haing, howeer, its !rob"ems, !ersona" or im!ersona",sma"" and great$ 5s =ohn Eddring knew, there was troub"e at the BigHouse now$ The hours !assed s"ow"y enough on the journey u! theturbu"ent f"ood of the great rier$ The rai"ways were in !"aces gonefor mi"es$ 5"" that Eddring cou"d do was to get by steamer as near"yas !ossib"e o!!osite the Big House !"antation, and then win throughby sma"" boat as best he might, across the oerf"ow$

Een the most di"igent makers of ma!s can not kee! !ace with +atherAessasebe$ 5"ong its southernmost course there are thousands of armsand "akes and bayous where for a time the rier ran unti" it tired,

and sought new scenes, new ways across the forests and caneFbrakes$The charts may show you that this rier is the boundary of a certainstate but who sha"" te"" where or what that boundary may beJ *ho cantrace the fi"um auae of the most erratic and arrogant rierin a"" the wor"dJ The rier is not now as it was ten years ago, northe same toFday as it wi"" be ten years hence$ hanne" and cutFoffand is"and and main current go on in their jugg"ing, and wi"" do sowhen generations sha"" hae been forgotten$ *hen the f"oods are out,and when Aessasebe is at his ancient game, there is no channe" thereis no ma!, no chart there is a wi"derness$


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't was across this watery wi"derness that =ohn Eddring and his a""y,a!tain *i"son, urged their way on the wi"dest journey eer knowneen in the mad times of this great rier$ 'n a ha"fFde"irium whichset aside a"" reason and a"" reckoning, the bow of the sturdy boatwas drien against the downFcoming seas, o!ening u! one after anotherof the channe" marks !arting one after another of the massed grou!sof shadows churning round bend after bend, faster and faster, dayand night, unti", far u! in the we"ter of the new waters, she forsook

a"" charts and guides in the fury of her uest, and steamed forwardin her own fashion, b"ack smoke be"ching continua""y from her f"ues,and the !ant of her fuming engine bidding fair to tear out theinadeuate coering of her sides$ Pi"ot and ca!tain "et go a"" trackof the mi"es behind, "ooking on"y at those ahead$ They got contem!tfor ordinary dangers$ /o, !ushing her way on, against and acrosscurrents, shaing the bends, essaying eery cutFoff, the boat in herstrange race hurried on, running e-!ress for the !ur!oses of justice,and in the cause of the !ermanency of society$

5t "ast they were far u! the rier, aboe the mouth of the 5rkansas,and o!!osite the great swam!s which "ie between the 5rkansas and the*hite u!on the western side so that now the greater !ortion of the

journey was we""Fnigh done$ Eddring and *i"son, both haggard withfatigue, stood on the bridge together and gaIed out oer the watery!ros!ect$

&This oerf"ow means mi""ions in "osses to the !"anters in the%e"ta,& said *i"son$ Eddring nodded$

&'f "eeeFcutters started this f"ood u! in Tu""ahoma, and the!"anters eer get ho"d of them, ' shou"dnt think it wou"d be e-act"yhea"thy,& added *i"son$ &This means eerything under water, c"ean tothe (aIoo$ Looks "ike those fe""ows in there had had their share oftroub"e "ate"y$&

&?othing but troub"e for four or fie years,& said Eddring$ &B"ack

!o"itics$&

&(es,& said *i"son, sighing, &when Ar$ ?igger gets the notion thathed "ike to be schoo" su!erintendent or county treasurer, orsomething of the kind, hes goin to be mighty wi""in to "ay downthe hoe$ ' een think he wou"d be wi""in, if he was asked, to "etthe white man do the hoein, and him do the goernin$& Eddring madeno answer, but gaIed steadi"y out oer the racing seas of tawnywater$

&5t any rate, we"" soon be there now,& said he at "ength$ &How can '!ay you, a!tain *i"sonJ How can ' thank youJ&

&*e"",& said *i"son, thoughtfu""y, &you might gie me your note, theway a friend of mine, =udge


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treated you a"" right, o"one"J 5int ' fed you good enoughJ %id 'eer do you any harmJ The o"one" "owed he had been treated a""right$ *e"", then, says the a!n, what hae you got against meJ*hat do you want to gie me your note forJ Take eerything 'e gottake my boat, but !"ease, sir, dont gie me your note$ ?ow thatsthe way ' fee"$ ' dont want your thanks, and ' dont want yournote$&

Eddring "aughed frank"y$ &*e"", a!tain,& said he, &"et it go thatway$ ' wont gie you my note, nor my thanks but when you are in my!art of the wor"d, come and "ie with me$ 5fter ' get through withthese things in there, ' sha"" see you again sometime$ There are somegent"emen of the %e"ta who wi"" neer forget a!tain *i"son$&

&*e"",& the gruff o"d a!tain answered him, &'"" te"" my "itt"e gir"about it, and ' reckon '"" get my !ay from her$ But now ' sha"" haeto be "eain you before "ong,& he resumed, as he studied again thea!!earance of the country into which they had now come$ &*ereraisin the

%uring the entire course of the journey, Eddring had not a!!roachedeither Aadame %e"chasse or Aiss Lady in !ersona" conersation, andthe "atter had !roed uite as wi""ing to aoid him$ Aadame %e"chassehad taken great and o"ub"e interest in matters about the boat, andwas often seen on deck$ To her Eddring now sent his message, whichbrought both the "adies to the "ower deck, for the first time in twodays$

&*hat,& cried madame, &we go in that "eed"e boat3 5h, non3 ' stay bythe shi! a"so mademoise""e$&


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Aiss Lady said nothing she "ooked at the frai" skiff, the turbu"entrier, and the great woods beyond, a"ready growing mysterious beneaththe ei" of coming eening$

&Aadame,& said Eddring, &' cant argue about it$ (ou must go$& Heturned u!on her the stern face of one who, haing assumed a""res!onsibi"ity, e-acts in return im!"icit obedience$

&*e sha"" drown,& said madame$

Eddring turned grae"y to the gir"$ &There is no danger$ ' can assureyou of that$ ' sha"" do my best$ ' am sorry that it is so$ But wemust go$ 't is the on"y way to reach o"one" B"ounts$&

>!on Aiss Ladys !a"e face there sat the "ook of one resigned withfata"ism to whateer issue might a!!ear$ /he made no further s!eech,but was the first to ste! into the boat$ Aadame %e"chasse, sti""grumb"ing, fo""owed c"umsi"y$ Eddring he"!ed them in, took u! theoars, and the two deckFhands, who had been ho"ding the skiff,c"ambered back aboard the Cueen$ Eddring sett"ed himse"f to theoars, and they cast off$ The "itt"e skiff rocked, tossed, turned,

and headed toward the shore under the strong stroke of the oars$Present"y the set of the inbound current aided the oars, so that soonthey were at the fringe of the forest$ Eddring rose and waed a handback to the watchers who were "ooking after them from the guards ofthe steamer$ The Cueen roared out a dee! sa"ute, and then the "itt"eskiff !assed out of sight into the wi"derness$

H5PTE. D''

THE H/E


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Eddring sought to maintain the s!irits of his com!anions by !ointingout to them the unfami"iar objects of the wor"d in which they nowfound themse"es$ E-!"aining that they were uite safe in their"itt"e craft, he showed to them the re!u"sie moccasin snakes, whoserusty forms "ay wreathed on the "ogs or on such dry ground as hereand there a!!eared$ 5gain he showed them the "ogF"ike bu"k of thea""igator, "ying motion"ess and inisib"e to the un!ractised eye orca""ed their gaIe to a grou! of nob"e wi"d turkeys, which craned out

their necks from their !erch on a ta"" dead tree$

&The game is a"" drien to the dry ridges,& said he$ &(ou wi"" seethat the birds and beasts are afraid to moe$ Their fright makes thema"most tame$ %o you see that "itt"e fe""ow thereJ&

He !ointed out a wi"d deer, cowering beside a "og on the "itt"eis"and near which they were !assing$ Here he sto!!ed, anddisembarking, soon ca""ed out to them that he had seen the track of abear, fresh in the "oam nearFby$ They being terrified at this, hereturned to the boat, and skirted the muddy edge of the ridge,showing them the foot!rints of the raccoon, sma"" and babyF"ike, theround tread of the timber wo"f, the !ointed footmark of the wi"d hog$

&Look,& said he, &here is where an otter has been !"aying,&FFand heshowed them a "itt"e hudd"e of twigs and dirt scra!ed together at theend of a "og which !rojected oer the water$ &*hy does he do itJ& hesaid$ &' dont know$ 'ts his way of !"aying$ There are a great manystrange ways in the wor"d of wi"d things$ By toFmorrow ' sha"" haemade good hunters of you both$&

&ToFmorrowJ& cried Aadame %e"chasse and Aiss Lady a"so turned u!onhim a start"ed and su!!"icating "ook$

&(es,& said he, &its no use to !romise what one cant be sure ofdoing$ ' know that we are not ery far from the Big House station$ *ecant miss it, because we cant cross the rai"road without knowing

it, and you know the rai"road wou"d "ead us direct"y to the !"ace$ 5tthe same time, for us to attem!t trae"ing in the night might meanthat we shou"d get ho!e"ess"y "ost$ ' assure you, you hae no need tobe a"armed$ There is !"enty in the boat to kee! you comfortab"e, and,as madame says, we wi"" just make a !icnic of it$ ' am sure none ofus wi"" be the worse for a night out in the woods$&

Eddring bent steadi"y to his oars$ He was forced to admit that theircase showed sma"" im!roement as the shadows began to thicken$ Hestood u! in the boat at "ength and gaIed steadi"y at a "itt"e ridgeof dry "and which a!!eared before him$ &' think we"" "and here,&said he, &and make our cam! for the night$& Aiss Lady edged towardmadame and "aid a hand u!on her arm$

&Ay shi"d,& murmured madame, &yes, yes, it is the grand !eekFneek ', "arisse %e"chasse, wi"" !rotect you$& .ejoiced thatmatters were at "east no worse with his !assengers, =ohn Eddringhe"!ed them from the boat, and as he did so caught sight of the tearswhich stood in Aiss Ladys eyes$ The strain of the "ast few days hadbegun to te"", and as she "ooked into the dense shadows of the forestin this !recarious s!ot of refuge, it seemed to her that a"" thewor"d had sudden"y gone dark, and must so remain for eer$ Eddringwas wretched enough without this sight, but he went methodica""yabout the work of making them both comfortab"e$


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&+irst, the fire,& he cried gai"y and !resent"y under his ski""edhands a tiny f"ame began to "ight u! the g"oom$ He worked ra!id"y,for now night was coming on$ &*atch me bui"d the house,& he criedand soon he was absorbed in his own work of making an outFdoorstructure, hunter fashion, as he had done many times in hise-!editions in this ery region$ He cut some "ong !o"es and thrusttheir shar!ened ends into the ground, and bending oer the to!s, woe

them together$ Then he thatched this framework with bund"es of freshgreen cane cut near at hand, and in a few moments had a sort ofwickiu!$


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o!!ressed by a heay fee"ing of dread$ (et he went on, "ooking downc"ose"y in the fai"ing "ight at the foot!rints which marked theground$

These foot!rints b"ended confused"y, "eading u! to the door of thehouse, disa!!earing in the rank growth a"" about$ 5nd crossing thesehuman trai"s from one side to the other of the narrow is"and "eft bythe rising waters, there ran a strange and distinct mark, as though

one had swe!t here with a mighty broom, or had dragged across theground re!eated"y some soft and heay body3 'n this !ath there weremarks of feet dee!"y indented, with !ointed toes$ This trai", thesefootFmarks, horrid, suggestie, "ed u! to the o!en door$ Eddringhesitated to "ook in$ He knew the tracks of the a""igators, butguessed not why these creatures shou"d enter a bui"ding, as was neertheir wont to do$ 't reuired determination to "ook into the door ofwhat he knew was a house of mystery, !erha!s of horror$

*ithin the "ong room, now "ighted faint"y by the "ate twi"ight whichfi"tered through the heay growth about, he saw dim"y the "ongbenches fastened to the wa""s, as they had been when he first sawthis !"ace years before$ 'n s!ite of himse"f, he started back in

affright$ The benches were tenanted3 He cou"d see figures here andthere, a row of them$

/ome of them were bending forward, some sitting erect$ But a"" ofthem were motion"ess, the !ostures of a"" were strained, as thoughthey were bound3 The house had its tenantry$ But there was no centra"figure here now, no "eader, no e-horter, no !riest nor !riestess$There was no shouting, nor any note of the saage drum$ The drumitse"f, its head broken in, the drum of the saage tribes, "ay nearthe door, its mission ended$ This audience, whoeer or whateer itmight be, was si"ent, as though s"ee! had made fast the eyes of a""3

Eddring s!rang back as he heard the scuff"ing of feet at the fartherend of the ha""$ His teeth chattered in s!ite of himse"f, as this

Thing, this creature of terror, came shuff"ing forward in thedarkness, and with c"anking jaws !ushed !ast

Documents

The Law of the Land by Emerson Hough.odt