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runaways, runaways,echoed ,by all the rest following at his heels. “Get down quick, Marse Jake, and let’s get to the island, for the very devil will .be to pay here soon.” They dropped to the ground, Cage picking up the left rabbit and they scudded down ihe river. “Dem was some of Huffman's nigger chaps and we skeered dem putty ny to death; no danger dey coming back. I’m glad dey dropped dey rabbit, ’twill do for our supper,” chuckled Cage. Coming to a ledge of rocks running out in the stream, Cage said, “let’s wade here, rain’t deep. ’5 So they pluirged into the water and were soon at Cage’s old den among the eone and ■brambles. “Here where I used ter stay when I was a runaway before. You see nigger dogs can’t trail er-body in running water,” remarked Cag^,. Proverbially fond of dogs as negroes are, they detest and hate as by instinct the very name of blood hounds or “'nigger dogs” as they were then called.and it | “Git back dar you big foot nigger Daueed all night and couldn't cut afigger.”Big Elick, the greatest patter in the land, was letting his hands go with lightning rapidity, first on his thighs, then on his breast, then together over his head, keeping time to the rythm of the screaming fiddle. Jake and Cage watched in silein.ee for a time, edging their way nearer audi nearer through the door. The sight of the dancers and the music ofhands and bow so wrought up their emotions, till suddenly Jake followed by Cage sprang into the arena and began a “hoe down. ” A wild c-ry came from all “3Iarse Jake and runaway Cage.” “Give way for Marse Jake and Cage, give ’em de floor,” and it was readily yielded. The sight of the new comers put new life into Fiddler Bob, and his instrument shrieked as if wild with joy, and big Click’s hands flew through the air like inspired.\*ksh1II1cThey began their fishing .arrangements. Jake 'began putting the bait, on the set 'hooks from the refuse of the rabbit and a few grubs they had gathered from under old chunks and rotting logs, while Cage prepared to roast the rabbit. “’Twas a good thing sho, dem chaps drapped. dis cottontail, for it’ll do fer supper and ■bait both, and -dem Chaps got dey life most skeered outen dem, case they thought we wuz shore enuff runaways, ’ ’ laughed Cage. In. this camp they remained for several days, fishing, eating and sleeping, while Cage would rifle rabbit gums, hen roosts and fish baskets. At night they danced the time away by the dim light of the camp fire, after fishing with their hooks on the hither side of the island. In his nocturnal raidsCage was dreadfully afraid of running against a ghost up near ap old neglected grave yard, and above all was he fearful of cap+uring a “spook rabbit” out of some gum for said he, “I’d as liefer eat a piece of the devil hisself, as a piece of a spook rabbit, for den the witches would ride you to death at night. It’s curious how white folks ak.’t afraid of spooks .and can’t see ’em, while niggers can see so many.” At night Cage dilated on the many ghost stories that had been handed down for generations, from the lore of his ancestors and so wrought up over the recitals that when a night prowler would break a twig or a fis»h jump in the water, Gage would roll his great white eyes around and whisper to Jake, ‘ ‘ wba’s dat ? ” It only amused his young master to listen to his faithful friend’s idea of ghosts, spooks and witches, never trying to convince him that such things did not exist. One night they concluded as ■their .bread had run out to go to a plantation on the mainland, at which .belonged some of Cage’s mother’s ■kinswomen and get some meal, provided the kitchen door wasn’t locked, then gravel some potatoes out of old African Sam’s patch, which lay just behind his house. After nightfall when they allowed that all hands on the plantation, as well as the overseer, were well wrapped in slumber, the two worthies like Don Quixote and his faithful Sancho, set out to seek adventure.Chapter H.All had given way and Jake andhis companion had the entire floor. There were no preliminary steps or sparring, for their dancing blood was up by their watching the others and each began with his best. Up and down they skipped, then back to back, whirl and turn, then away and arounld each other. First the “pid-geon wing” next the “'possum trot” then the “turkey wallow.” .Old fiddler Bob would throw his hoary head far baek. then down, on his beloved fiddle and sing“Stand baek dar you big foot nigger, You danced all night and couldn’t cut a figger.”They skirted along between fields nd woods till they neared the negro uarters, the cabins placed iln. two rag rows, when they stopped and istened. All was' quiet. They bean dodging from house to house, ometimes on all fours, then rush to nother covering. All at once a dis-ant strain, a weird wail of a sound eached their alert ears, then a ‘thumpity thump” as heavy feet ailing upon a floor. “Hush,” hissed ake, “what is that?” Both listen-d intently. “Great jemince if dat in’t old Swygert’s Bob .playing his ddle and big Elick pattin. I b ’lieve ey got a froliek, less go closer,” whispered .Cage. They crept nearer mid nearer. They could distinctly ear the shrieking of the fiddle, the huffling of dancing feet, the loud •oiee of one calling the figures. It vas here that Jake’s and Cage’s pro-ensity for dancing overcame their faction. They made for the house, .asting discretion to the winids. ‘Fiddler Bob’s got a frolic shore.” [he door and little yard in front was riled with onlookers, while the house vas rocking to its foundation from he shuffling feet of the dancers, [hey boldly made their way through he yard's, no one giving them any teed, and at the door peeped in. they watched the whirling, circling fonples of young bucks and' dusky lamsels, each doing a “hoe down” o the other, for a few moments.Cage eyes his .protege with exultant pride, as his young master took up new steps, or caught those of the runaway. Fast and furious went the dancers, louder shrieked the fiddle, while .big Elick’s hands battered his chest and legs. The little cabin rolled and rocked like a ship at sea, and the young bucks and damsels around the sides, swayed back and forth in unison with the rythm of the wild music of the fiddle and the clatter of Elick’s hands. Round and round the dancers whirled and twirled', changed sides, turn and glide around each other, then to the farther ends, and, as if standing on air, they would cut still more dancing steps. “Can’t Marse Jake idance?” would whisper some of the dusky damsels. “He sho can,” would come back proudly from loyal /Cage, “case I larned him myself.”Even through all this maelstrom of gaiety the negro, as if by instinct, can scent danger afar, like the camel of the desert detects the coming of the Simoon or the Sirocco. Some one shouted that dread and ominous word “Paterrollers.” Then a cyclone of excitement struck the revelers. The door was soon blocked, but Cage made a frantic leap for the window, tearing the shutter from its moorings and went sprawling on the ground beneath, with Marse Jake on top of Kim, Regaining their feet, Cage‘I: c'3cknowing the laind called out, “runfor the big ditch behind the cuppin (cow .pen)” and leaping over a rambling fence around a garden, they burst through a plum thicket, at its outer edge they were met by the •night riders calling to them to “stop you rascals.” But they cast awayaround the cow lot acd on to the big gully, down went Cage an/d' Marse Jake again on top of him.■The patrols not knowing the layof the land tumbled belter skelter into the gully too, but Cage led away calling his master to come on. Jake lay still and groained, while the patrols cursed and swore. Lights were brought and' on examination of the wreck, one of the men turned over the groaning reveler, uttered a great oath and said “I wish I may die if this ain’t Jake Baldwin..”On missing his young master at his heels, Cage returned to the scene of disaster, determined to never leave him in distress, and as one of the patrol recognized him said, “Yes, and dammit, if there aiia’t that roguish runaway Cage.”Jake was badly injured in his right knee, so they procured a wagon to carry him to his home. All the patrol liked Young Baldwin and were very sorry indeed for his mischief. Some of them accompanied him on the journey, amid; at the break of day, the sorrowing cortege filed into the yard of old Major Baldwin.(To Be Continued.)r Bob, with his snow white .■own back upon his shoulders filing the bow with a mon-ill, then came his head down idle, he would sing a snatchSUICIDE OF GREENWOOD LADY£(3(j.(1aPDV121Mrs. George E. Anderson Fires a Shot Ending Her Own Life. j -e -lbGreenwood. March 27.—Mrs. Geo. je E. Anderson, wife of a well known j p
Newspaper Details
The Herald and News
Newberry, South Carolina, US
Fri, Apr 01, 1910
Page 2
Full Page
Clipped by
Kevin S.
CA 02 Apr 2023
Other Publications Near Newberry, South Carolina
The Daily Herald Bulletin
The Tri Weekly Herald
The Herald and News
