Part 36 (1/2)
For he felt that they had not taken warning by the hints they had received Hunity, let theht be caught, ironed, and flogged, or perhaps le
But Nic had yet to find that Huns were deeper than this
The walk back was not long enough for a hundredth part of the bitter thoughts that crowded into Nic Revel's brain; neither would they have got a hearing had the distance been a thousand tith, on account of the one do us?--will they flog us?” That question was always repeating itself, and, when the prisoner heard Pete utter a low groan, he was convinced that the poor felloas possessed by sihts
Only so short a time before that they had left their quarters, and now they were back in the darkness, their plans crushed, and only the punishment to look forward to
”Now, Sam, be sharp with a couple of lanthorns and those irons,” cried the overseer
”Iss, sah”
”Prisoners been quiet?” whispered the settler to the sentry
”Iss, sah, berry quiet; all fass asleep;” and the round with an ominous thud as, in obedience to an order, he unlocked the shed-door and lowered the huge bar before drawing it open
”Now then,”to be with that lanthorn? Here, in with them, boys; but don't loose your hold till I tell you”
Nic and Pete were hurried on; and, as soon as they were inside, the settler and his lieutenant stood in the doorway, pistol in hand, while Nic's face was involuntarily turned in the direction of the corner where Hu son, and directly after the _pad_, _pad_ of Saures of those at the doorway Then Sa black face appeared, lit up by the lanthorns he swung, one in each hand
”I take in de light, sah, and den go fetch de irons?”
”Yes; look sharp,” cried Saunders
He made way for the black to pass, and theit upon a hook He did not do this, but raised the other lanthorn and hurriedly took a few steps in the direction of the bunks, to begin shouting directly:
”Hyah!” he cried, ”whar deo and done wid de oder man?”
”What!” roared the settler and the overseer in a breath as they rushed forward, pistol in hand
”All gone, sah,” cried Sa to tremble
”Bah! you 'most fass 'sleep,” cried Xerxes, who had come in at the call of his companion; ”dey all tuck under de corn-'talk”
”You black idiot!” roared the overseer, turning upon the sentry so savagely that the o his hold of his musket, and it fell on the floor with a thud, followed by a flash and an explosion, while the
”Here, quick!” cried the settler, who had seized one of the lanthorns from Samson and convinced hie of the hole an, climbed quietly out in turn ”All of you follow Pick up that ain, you black fool!”
”No 'top clap irons on dese two, sah?” cried Samson
”No Here, Saunders, fetch another one; and if you let them escape I'll shoot you”
”No, no,” said Saunders quickly; ”I'll o and let loose the dogs”
”But these two?” cried the settler is atch them”
”We want them, man, to track the other scoundrels”