FOLKS FROM DIXIE
out o' yore cabins an' bring 'em up here. It won't do no harm to be careful until we find out what kind of a move they 're goin' to make."
The men had stopped eating, and they stared at the speaker with open mouths. There were some incredulous eyes among the gazers, too.
"I don't believe they'd dare come right out an' do anything," said one.
"Stay in yore cabin, then," retorted the leader angrily.
There was no more demur, and as soon as night had fallen, the Negroes did as they were bidden, though the rude, ill-furnished huts contained little or nothing of value. Another precaution taken by the blacks was to leave short candles burning in their dwellings so as to give the impression of occupancy. If nothing occurred during the night, the lights would go out of themselves and the enemy would be none the wiser as to their vigilance.
In the large assembly room the men waited in silence, some drowsing and some smoking. Only one candle threw its dim circle of light in the centre of the room, throwing the remainder into denser shadow. The flame flickered and
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