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he had noticeda barrier of rough palingscrossed the field。
With the moon low on the other side of it； it was a mere black
silhouette； broken only by bright silver openings and gaps along
its surface that indicated the moonlit field beyond。 At first
Courtland saw nothing else。 Then he was struck by the fact that
these openings became successively and regularly eclipsed； as with
the passing of some opaque object behind them。 It was a file of
men on the other side of the fence； keeping in its shelter as they
crossed the field towards his house。 Roughly calculating from the
passing obscurations； there must have been twelve or fifteen in
all。
He could no longer doubt their combined intentions； nor hesitate
how to meet them。 He must at once make for the quarters with Cato；
even if he had to cross that open field before them。 He knew that
they would avoid injuring him personally； in the fear of possible
Federal and political complications； and he resolved to use that
fear to insure Cato's safety。 Placing his hands on the negro's
shoulders； he shoved him forwards； falling into a 〃lock step〃 so
close behind him that it became impossible for the most expert
marksman to fire at one without imperiling the other's life。 When
half way across the field he noticed that the shadows seen through
the openings of the fence had paused。 The ambushed men had
evidently seen the double apparition； understood it； and； as he
expected； dared not fire。 He reached the other side with Cato in
safety； but not before he saw the fateful shadows again moving； and
this time in their own direction。 They were evidently intending to
pursue them。 But once within the woods Courtland knew that his
chances were equal。 He breathed more freely。 Cato； now less
agitated； had even regained something of his former emotional
combativeness which Courtland had checked。 Although far from
confident of his henchman's prowess in an emergency； the prospect
of getting him safe into the quarters seemed brighter。
It was necessary； also； to trust to his superior wood…craft and
knowledge of the locality； and Courtland still walking between him
and his pursuers and covering his retreat allowed him to lead the
way。 It lay over ground that was beginning to slope gently； the
underbrush was presently exchanged for springy moss； the character
of the trees changed； the black trunks of cypresses made the gloom
thicker。 Trailing vines and parasites brushed their faces； a
current of damp air seemed to flow just above the soil in which
their lower limbs moved sluggishly as through stagnant water。 As
yet there was no indication of pursuit。 But Courtland felt that it
was not abandoned。 Indeed； he had barely time to check an
exclamation from the negro； before the dull gallop of horse…hoofs
in the open ahead of them was plain to them both。 It was a second
party of their pursuers； mounted； who had evidently been sent to
prevent their final egress from the woods； while those they had
just evaded were no doubt slowly and silently following them on
foot。 They were to be caught between two fires！
〃What is there to the left of us？〃 whispered Courtland quickly。
〃De swamp。〃
Courtland set his teeth together。 His dull…witted companion had
evidently walked them both into the trap！ Nevertheless； his
resolve was quickly made。 He could already see through the
thinning fringe of timber the figures of the mounted men in the
moonlight。
〃This should be the boundary line of the plantation？ This field
beside us is ours？〃 he said interrogatively。
〃Yes；〃 returned the negro； 〃but de quarters is a mile furder。〃
〃Good！ Stay here until I come back or call you； I'm going to talk
to these fellows。 But if you value your life； don't YOU speak nor
stir。〃
He strode quickly through the intervening trees and stepped out
into the moonlight。 A suppressed shout greeted him； and half a
dozen mounted men； masked and carrying rifles； rode down towards
him； but he remained quietly waiting there； and as the nearest
approached him； he made a step forward and cried； 〃Halt！〃
The men pulled up sharply and mechanically at that ring of military
imperiousness。
〃What are you doing here？〃 said Courtland。
〃We reckon that's OUR business； co'nnle。〃
〃It's mine； when you're on property that I control。〃
The man hesitated and looked interrogatively towards his fellows。
〃I allow you've got us there； co'nnle；〃 he said at last with the
lazy insolence of conscious power； but I don't mind telling you
we're wanting a nigger about the size of your Cato。 We hain't got
anything agin YOU； co'nnle； we don't want to interfere with YOUR
property； and YOUR ways； but we don't calculate to have strangers
interfere with OUR ways and OUR customs。 Trot out your niggeryou
No'th'n folks don't call HIM 'property；' you knowand we'll clear
off your land。〃
〃And may I ask what you want of Cato？〃 said Courtland quietly。
〃To show him that all the Federal law in h…ll won't protect him
when he strikes a white man！〃 burst out one of the masked figures；
riding forward。
〃Then you compel me to show YOU；〃 said Courtland immovably； 〃what
any Federal citizen may do in the defense of Federal law。 For I'll
kill the first man that attempts to lay hands upon him on my
property。 Some of you； who have already tried to assassinate him
in cold blood； I have met before in less dishonorable warfare than
this； and THEY know I am able to keep my word。〃
There was a moment's silence； the barrel of the revolver he was
holding at his side glistened for an instant in the moonlight； but
he did not move。 The two men rode up to the first speaker and
exchanged words。 A light laugh followed； and the first speaker
turned again to Courtland with a mocking politeness。
〃Very well； co'nnle； if that's your opinion； and you allow we can't
follow our game over your property； why； we reckon we'll have to
give way TO THOSE WHO CAN。 Sorry to have troubled YOU。 Good…
night。〃
He lifted his hat ironically； waved it to his followers； and the
next moment the whole party were galloping furiously towards the
high road。
For the first time that evening a nervous sense of apprehension
passed over Courtland。 The impending of some unknown danger is
always more terrible to a brave man than the most overwhelming odds
that he can see and realize。 He felt instinctively that they had
uttered no vague bravado to cover up their defeat； there was still
some advantage on which they confidently reckonedbut what？ Was
it only a reference to the other party tracking them through the
woods on which their enemies now solely relied？ He regained Cato
quickly； the white teeth of the foolishly confident negro were
already flashing his imagined triumph to his employer。 Courtland's
heart grew sick as he saw it。
〃We're not out of the woods yet； Cato；〃 he said dryly； 〃nor are
they。 Keep your eyes and ears open； and attend to me。 How long
can we keep in the cover of these woods； and still push on in the
direction of the quarters？〃
〃There's a way roun' de edge o' de swamp； sah； but we'd have to go
back a spell to find it。〃
〃Go on！〃
〃And dar's moccasins and copperheads lying round here in de trail！
Dey don't go for us ginerallybut；〃 be hesitated； 〃white men don't
stand much show。〃
〃Good！ Then it is as bad for those who are chasing us as for me。
That will do。 Lead on。〃
They retraced their steps cautiously； until the negro turned into a
lighter by…way。 A strange mephitic odor seemed to come from sodden
leaves and mosses that began to ooze under their feet。 They had
picked their way in silence for some minutes； the stunted willows
and cypress standing farther and farther apart； and the openings
with clumps of sedge were frequent。 Courtland was beginning to
fear this exposure of his follower； and had moved up beside him；
when suddenly the negro caught his arm； and trembled violently。
His lips were parted over his teeth； the whites of his eyes
glistened； he seemed gasping and speechless with fear。
〃What's the matter； Cato？〃 said Courtland glancing instinctively at
the ground beneath。 〃Speak； man！have you been bitten？〃
The word seemed to wring an agonized cry from the miserable man。
〃Bitten！ No； but don't you hear 'em coming； sah！ God Almighty！
don't you hear dat？〃
〃What？〃
〃De dogs！ de houns！DE BLOODHOUNS！ Dey've set 'em loose on me！〃
It was true！ A faint baying in the distance was now distinctly
audible to Courtland。 He knew now plainly the full； cruel purport
of the leader's speech；those who could go anywhere were tracking
their game！
Every trace of manhood had vanished from the negro's cowering
frame。 Courtland laid his hand assuringly； appealingly； and then
savagely on his shoulder。
〃Come！ Enough of this！ I am here； and will stand by you； whatever
comes。 These dogs are no more to be feared than the others。 Rouse
yourself； man； and at least help ME make a fight of it。〃
〃No！ no！〃 screamed the terrified man。 〃Lemme go！ Lemme go back to
de Massas！ Tell 'em I'll come！ Tell 'em to call de houns off me；
and I'll go quiet！ Lemme go！〃 He struggled violently in his
companion's grasp。
In all Courtl