The Continental Monthly, page 89 by Various Authors
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nigger, do you dare to speak so to me?' said his master, taking a step toward him.
The knife rose in the air, and the black, in a cool, sneering tone, replied: 'Say your prayers 'fore you come ony nigher, for, so help me God, you're a dead man!'
I laid my hand on the Colonel's arm, to draw him back, saying as I did so: 'There's danger in him! I know it Let him go, and he shall ask your pardon.'
'I shan't ax his pardon,' cried the black, 'leff him and me be, sar; we'll fix dis ourselfs.'
'Don't interfere, Mr. K----,' said my host, with perfect coolness, but with a face pallid with rage. 'Let me govern my own plantation.'
'As you say, sir,' I replied, stepping back a few paces; 'but I warn you--there is danger in him!'
Taking no notice of my remark, the Colonel turned to the trembling negroes, and said: 'One of you go to the house and bring my pistols.'
'You kin shoot me, ef you likes,' said Jim, with a fierce, grim smile; 'but I'll take you to h--l wid me, shore. You knows WE won't stand a blow!'
The Colonel, at the allusion to their relationship, started as if shot, and turning furiously on the negro, yelled out: 'I'll shoot you for that, you d--d nigger, by----.'
'It 'pears ter me, Cunnel, ye've hed 'bout nuff shootin' 'round har, lately; better stop thet sort o' bis'ness; it moight give ye a sore throat,' said the long, lean, loose-jointed stump-speaker of the previous Sunday, as he entered the cabin and strode directly up to my host.
'What brought you here, you d--d insolent hound?' cried the Colonel, turning fiercely on the new-comer.
'Wal, I cum to du ye a naboorly turn--I've kotched two on yer niggers down ter my still, an' I want ye ter take 'em 'way,' returned the corn-cracker, with the utmost coolness.
'Two of my niggers!' exclaimed the Colonel, perceptibly moderating his tone, 'which ones?'
'A yaller gal, and a child.'
'I thank you, Barnes; excuse my hard words--I was excited