Suddenly all singing stopped. There was a
flutter in the bushes and birds flew away and a rabbit scampered over a
log. It was a loud cry of distress and all nature heeds the cry of pain.
Laugh and the bird listens; shriek and it flies away.
"Whoa!" shouted Jasper. "What was that yell?"
"Someone in distress," Tom answered. "Seems to be over to the left."
They listened. The cry came again, and upon it was borne the words,
distinct now in the stillness: "Fur de Lawd's sake doan kill me."
"Come on!" Jasper shouted, as he leaped out of the wagon; and everyone
followed him. "Hold on thar!" the old man cried. "Don't tetch him
whoever you air. Do you hear me? It's Jasper Starbuck that's a talkin'
to you."
Down a slant and in an open space there was a fire of twigs, and in its
light were four men, one a negro bound hand and foot, the others an
oldish man and evidently his two sons.
"What's the matter here?" Jasper demanded.
"Wall," replied the oldish man, "whatever it is, it ain't no affair of
yourn. Tie him across the log, boys.
Pages:
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130