pag216iloBEHIND A TREE STOOD GEORGE GOSSETT
pag216ilo
BEHIND A TREE STOOD GEORGE GOSSETT
The lack of respect shown by the Abercrombie negroes for the patrollers irritated George Gossett, but it was a relief to him to know that if the negroes on his "pap's" place were to make any reference to the patrollers they would bow their heads and speak in subdued whispers.
From one of the cabins came the sound of "patting" and dancing, and the noise made by the feet of the dancer was so responsive to that made by the hands of the man who was patting that only an expert ear could distinguish the difference. The dance was followed by a friendly tussle, and a negro suddenly ran out at the door, pursued by another. The pursuer halted, however, and cried out:—
"Ef you fool wid me, nigger, I'll make Marster sen' you in de lot dar an' move dat ar' wil' hoss to his new stable."
"Marster was made 'fo' you wuz de maker," answered the pursued, who had now stopped running.
"Ding 'em!" said young Gossett in a low toneto himself, "they're always and eternally frolicking on this place. No wonder they ain't able to do no more work in the daytime!"
Fretting inwardly, the young man changed his position, and continued to watch for the runaway. How long he stood there young Gossett could not say. Whether the spirits he had swallowed at the stillhouse benumbed his faculties so that he fell into a doze, he did not know. He could only remember that he was aroused from apparent unconsciousness by a tremendous clamor that seemed to come from the hill where he had left the most of his companions. It was a noise of rushing and running, squealing horses, and the exclamations of frightened men.
Young Gossett did not pause to interpret the clamor that came to his ears, but ran back toward the hill as hard as he could go.