第5章

Hedidn\'tanswerfurseveralminutes。Thenhesays，usingthewordsDEADHOSSasBudhadsaidhewould。

“ADEADHOSSisfittenfo\'nothingbuttoskin。“

“Well，“Isays，usingthewordsfurthethirdtime，asinstructed，“itisaDEADHOSSallright。“

Ihearnthewindowshutandpurtysoonthefrontdooropened。

“Comeuphere，“hesays。Icome。

“Whorodethathossyo\'beentalkingabout？”

heasts。

“OneoftheSILENTBRIGADE，“Itellshim，asBudhadtoldmetosay。IgivehimthegripBudhadshowedmewithhisgoodhand。

“Comeonin，“hesays。

Heshutthedoorbehindusandlightedalampagin。Andwelookedeachotherover。Hewasascrawnylittlefeller，withlittlegrayeyessetneartogether，andsomesandy-complectedwhiskersonhischin。ItoldhimaboutBud，andwhathisfixwas。

“Damnit——oh，damnitall，“hesays，rubbingthebridgeofhisnose，“Idon\'tseehowonAIRTHIkindoit。Mywife\'sjesthadababy。Doyo\'hearthat？”

AndIdidhearasoundlikekittensmewing，somewheresupstairs。Beauregard，hegrinnedandrubbedhisnosesomemore，andlookedatmelikehethoughtthatmewingnoisewasthesmartestsoundthateverwasmade。

“Boy，“hesays，grinning，“bo\'nfivehoursago。

I\'vedonenamedhimBurley——afterthetobaccerassociation，yo\'know。Yes，SIR，BurleyPeoplesishisname——andheshorekinsquall，thedernedlittlecuss！”

“Yes，“Isays，“youbetterstaywithBurley。

LendmearigofsomesortandI\'lltakeBudhome。“

SowewentouttoBeauregard\'sstablewithalanternandhitcheduponeofhishossestoalightroadwagon。HewentintothehouseandcomebackaginwithamattressfurBudtolieon，andapartofabottleofwhiskey。AndIdrovebacktothatlumberpile。IguessInearlykilledBudgettinghimintothere。Buthewasn\'tbleedingmuchfromhiship——itwashisarmwasgivinghimfits。

Wewentslow，andthedawnbrokewithusfourmilesoutoftown。Itwasbroaddaylight，andearlymorningnoisesstirringeverywheres，whenwedroveupinfrontofanoldfarmhouse，withbigbrickchimbleysbuiltontheoutsideofit，acoupleofmilesfartheron。

CHAPTERXIV

AsIdroveintotheyard，abare-headedoldniggerwithagamelegthroweddownanarmfulofwoodhewasgatheringandwentlimpinguptotheverandaasfastashecould。

Heopenedthedoorandbawledout，pointingtous，beforehehaditfairlyopen：

“OMarseWILLyum！OMissLUCY！Dey\'vebrunghimhome！DARhe！”

Alittle，bright，black-eyedoldladylikeawrencomesrunningoutofthehouse，andchirps：

“OBud——Omyhoneyboy！Ishedead？”

“Ireckonnot，MissLucy，“saysBudraisinghimselfuponthemattressassherunsuptothewagon，andtryingtoactlikeeverythingwasallajoke。Shewasjesthighenoughtokisshimovertheedgeofthewagonbox。Aworried-lookingoldgentlemancomeoutthedoor，seenBudandhismotherkissingeachother，andthensaystotheoldniggerman：

“George，yo\'oldfool，whatdoyo\'meanbyshoutingoutlikethat？”

“MarseWillyum——“beginsGeorge，explaining。

“Shutup，“saystheoldgentleman，veryquiet。

“TakethebaymareandgoforDoctorPo\'ter。“

Thenhecomestothewagonandsays：

“Sotheygotyo\'，Bud？Yo\'WOULDgonight-

ridinglikearowdyandathug！Areyo\'muchhurt？”

Hesaiditeasyandgentle，morethanmad。

ButBud，heflushedup，paleashewas，anddidn\'tanswerhisdaddirect。Heturnedtohismotherandsaid：

“MissLucy，dear，itwould\'a\'doneyo\'heartgoodtoseethewaythemtrustwarehousesblazedup！”

Andtheoldlady，smilingandcryingbothtooncet，says，“Godblessherbraveboy。“Buttheoldgentlemanlookedmightyserious，andhisworrysettledintoafrownbetweenhiseyes，andheturnstomeandsays：

“Yo\'mustpardonus，sir，fo\'neglectingtothankyo\'sooner。“Itoldhimthatwouldbeallright，furhimnottoworrynone。AndhimandmeandMandy，whichwastheniggercook，gotBudintothehouseandintohisbed。AndhismothergetsthatbusyorderingMandyandtheoldgentlemanaround，togetthingsandfixthings，andmakeBudaseasyasshecould，thatyoucouldseeshewasoneofthemkindofwomanthatgetsalotofsatisfactionoutofhavingsomeonesicktofussover。AndafterquiteawhileGeorgegetsbackwithDoctorPorter。

HesetsBud\'sarm，andhelocatesthebulletinhim，andhesaysheguesseshe\'lldoinafewweeksifnothinglikebloodpoisoningnorgangrenenorinflammationsetsin。

Onlythedoctorsayshe“reckons“insteadofhe“guesses，“whichtheyalldodownthere。Andtheyallhadthemeasy-going，wait-a-bitkindofvoices，anddidn\'tseenopertic\'lerimportanceintheir“r\'s。“Itwasn\'tthatyoucouldspellitnodifferentwhentheytalked，butitsoundeddifferent。

Ieatmybreakfastwiththeoldgentleman，andthenItookasleepuntiltimefurdinner。Theywouldn\'thearofmeleavingthatnight。Ifullyintendedtogoonthenextday，butbeforeIknoweditIbeenthereacoupleofdays，andhavegotverywellacquaintedwiththatfambly。

Well，thatwasahousedividedaginitself。MissLucy，sheisawfulfavourabletoallthisnight-

riderbusiness。Shespunksupandhereyessparkleswhenevershethinksaboutthattheretobaccertrust。

Shewouldofliketobeenanight-riderherself。

Buttheoldman，hesayslawandorderisthemainpint。Whatthecountryneeds，hesays，ain\'tburningdowntobaccerwarehouses，andshootingyourneighbours，andlickingthemwithswitches，furnowrongdoneneverrightedanotherwrong。

“ButyouwereintheKuKluxKlanyo\'self，“

saysMissLucy。

TheoldmansaystheKuKluxeswasworkingfuraprinciple——theprincipleofkeepingthewhitesupremacyontopoftheniggerrace。Furifyoulet\'emquitworkandgoaroundballotingandvotingitwon\'tdo。Itmakes\'embiggity。Andabiggityniggerislayinguptroublefurhimself。BecausesoonerorlaterhewillgettothinkingheisasgoodasoneofthesehereAngle-SaxtonsyouarealwayshearingsomuchtalkaboutdownSouth。AndiftheAngle-Saxtonswastostandfurthat，purtysoontheywouldbesociableequality。Andnextthehullderncountrywouldbeniggerized。ThemthereAngle-Saxtons，thatcomeoverfromIrelandandScotlandandFranceandtheGreatBritishIslandsandsettleduptheSouthjestsimplycouldn\'taffordtoletthathappen，hesays，andsotheyKuKluxedtheniggerstomake\'emquitvoting。ItwasTHEIRjobtoMAKElawandorder，hesays，whichtheycouldn\'tbewithniggersgettingtheideatheyhadarighttogovern。SotheyKuKluxed\'emlikegentlemen。Buttheseherenight-riders，hesays，isAGINlawandorder——theycanshootupmorelawandorderinonenightthancanbemanu-

facturedaginintenyears。Hewasaveryquiet，peaceableoldman，Mr。Daviswas，andBudsayshewassodernfoolishaboutlawandorderhehadtoupandshootaman，aboutfifteenyearsago，whohearnhimtalkingthat-a-wayandsaidheremindedhimofaBostonschoolteacher。

ButMissLucyandBud，theytellsmewhatallthemnight-ridingsisfur。Itseemsthishereto-

baccertrustisjestasmeanandlow-downandun-

principledasalltherestofthemtrusts。Thefarm-

ersaroundthereraisedconsiderabletobaccer——

more\'ntheydidofanythingelse。Thetrusthadshovedthepricesolowtheycouldn\'thardlymakealiving。Sotheyorganizedandsaidtheywouldallholdtheirtobaccerfurafairprice。Butsomeofthefarmerswouldn\'torganize——saidtheyhadarighttodowhattheypleasedwiththeirownto-

baccer。Sothenight-riderswasformedtoburntheirbarnsandruintheircropsandwhip\'emandshoot\'emandmake\'emjine。Andalsotoburnafewtrustwarehousesnowandthen，andshow\'emthisfreeAmericanpeople，composedmainlyoutoftheAngle-Saxtonraces，wasn\'tgoingtotakenosassfromanybody。

AnoldfellerbythenameofRufeDanielswhowouldn\'tjinethenight-ridershadbeenshottodeathonhisowndoorstep，jestaboutamileaway，onlyaweekorsobefore。Thenight-ridersmostlyusedthesehereautomaticshot-guns，buttheydidn\'tbotherwithbirdshot。Theymostlyloadedtheirshellswithbuckshot。AfewbicycleballbearingsdroppedoutofoldRufewhentheygatheredhimupandgothimintoshapetoplant。Theyisalwayssomelow-downcussineverycrowdthatcarriesthingstothepointwheretheygetbrutal，Budsays；andhefeelslikethembicyclebearingswasgoingalittletoofur，thoughhewouldn\'tletontohisdadthathefeltthat-a-way。

SofurasIcouldseetheyhadn\'thurtthetrustnonetospeakof，themnight-riders。Buttheyhaddoneconsiderabledamagetotheirowncounty，furfolkswasmovingaway，andthepriceoflandhadfell。Still，Iguesstheymustofgotconsiderablesatisfactionoutofraisingthedeucenightsthat-a-

way；andsometimesthatisworthahulllottoafeller。AsfurasIcouldmakeoutboththetrustandthenight-riderswasinthewrong。But，youtake\'emoneatatime，personal-like，andnotintoagang，andmostofthemnight-ridersisgood-dis-

positionedfolks。Ineverknowedanytrustsper-

sonal，butmebbyifyoucouldketch\'emthesamewaytheywouldbesimilar。

IastsGeorgeonedaywhathethoughtaboutit。

George，hegotmightyseriousrightoff，likehefelthisanswerwasgoingtobeusedtodecidethehullthingby。HewascarryingalotofscrapsonaplatetoahounddogthathadakenneloutnearGeorge\'scabin，andhewalledhiseyesrightthought-

ful，andscratchedhisheadwiththeforkhehadbeenscrapingtheplatewith，butfurawhilenothingcomeofit。FinallyGeorgesays：

“I\'se\'spec\'mahjedgmentdesaboutdesameasMarseWILLyum\'san\'MissLUCY\'s。I\'senoticehitmos\'ingin\'llyamdesame。“

“Thatcan\'tbe，George，“saysI，“furtheythinkdifferentways。“

“DenifDATamdecase，“saysGeorge，“deyain\'tNOONEkinsettlehittwellhitsettleshitse\'f。

“I\'semos\'ingin\'llynoticeathingDOsettlehitse\'farterawhile。Yass，SAH，I\'senoticedat！

Longtimeagodeywasconsid\'blegwines-onindishyahcounty，MarseDaniel。Idunnoefyo\'

evahheah\'boutdato\'not，MarseDaniel，butdeywasawahfitrighthyahindishyahcounty。Suchgwines-onasnevahwas——demdarYankeesa-ridin\'

aroun\'an\'eatin\'updefaceo\'deyearth，likedeplagueso\'Pha\'aoah，MarseDaniel，andrippin\'

andrarin\'an\'racin\'an\'stealin\'evehythingdeycouldlaydeyhan\'son，MarseDaniel。An\'ouahfolksa-ridin\'andaracin\'andprojickin\'aroun\'indesameonsettledway。

“MarseWillyum，he\'lowHEgwinesettledatdarwahhe-se\'f——yass，SAH！An\'hegotonhehoss，andherideawayan\'jineMarseJebStuart。Butdeydon\'settlehit。MarseAb\'hamLinkum，he\'lowHEgwinesettlehit，an\'sen\'millyumsan\'

millyumsmo\'o\'demYankeesdownhyah，MarseDaniel。ButdeydesONsettlehitwuss\'nevah！

ButarterawhileitdessettleHITse\'f。

“An\'denfreedombrokeoutamongdeniggers，anddeywasmo\'gwines-ON，an\'talkin\'，an\'someon\'em\'loweddeywasgwineterbenomo\'wohk，MarseDaniel。ButarterawhiledatsettleHITse\'f，anddeyallwentbacktowohkagin。Densomeondeniggersgitsdenotion，MarseDaniel，deygwinefohtoVOTE。An\'deywasmo\'gwines-on，an\'deKuKluxescomeaprojickin\'aroun\'nights，likedegrave-yahdsdonebeenresu\'rected，MarseDaniel，an\'denarterawhiledattroublesettleHITse\'f。

“DenarterdeKuKluxesdeywasdetimeMissLucyBucknergwinetermahyMarsePrentMcMakin。An\'shedon\'wanttoma\'hyhim，ifdeygiveherherdruthersabouthit。ButOl\'MarseKunnelHampton，hergram-pa，andheraunt，MY

MissLucyhyah，deyain\'tgwinegivehernodruthers。Anddeywasmo\'gwines-ON。ButdatsettleHITse\'f，too。“

George，hebeginstochuckle，andIasthimhow。

“Yass，SAH，datsettleHITse\'f。ButI\'spec\'

MissLucyBucknerdonehe\'psomeindesettleMENT。

Fohdedaybefohdeweddin\'wasgwineterbe，sheupsan\'sherunsoffwidaYankeefrien\'ofherbrother，KunnelTomBuckner。An\'I\'se\'spec\'

KunnelToman\'MarsePrentMcMakinwouldo\'settle\'HIMefdeyevahhado\'cotchedhim——

datdarDavidAhmstrong！”

“Who？”saysI。

“DavidAhmstrongwashisentitlement，“saysGeorge，“an\'hebeengwinetodesamecollegeasMarseTomBuckner，upno\'thsomewhah。Dat\'show-comehebeenvisitin\'MarseTomdesbefohdeweddin\'troubledonesettleHITse\'fdat-a-

way。“

Well，itgivemequiteaturntorunontothementionofthatthereDavidArmstrongagininthispartofthecountry。HerehehadbeenjiltingMissHamptonwayupinIndiany，andrunningawaywithanothergirldownhereinTennessee。

ThenitstruckmemebbyitisjestdifferentpartsofthesamestoryIbeenhearingof，andMarthahadgotherpartalittlewrong。

“George，“Isays，“whatdidyousayMissLucyBuckner\'sgran-dad\'snamewas？”

“KunnelHampton——desdesameasMYMissLucybefo\'SHEdonema\'hiedMarseWillyum。“

Thatmademesureofit。Itwasthesamewoman。

ShehadrunawaywithDavidArmstrongfromthisheresameneighbourhood。ThenafterhegotherupNorthhehadlefther——orherlefthim。Andthenshewasn\'tMissBucknernolonger。Andshewasmadandwouldn\'tcallherselfMrs。Armstrong。

Soshemovedawayfromwhereanyonewaslibletotraceherto，andtookhermother\'smaidenname，whichwasHampton。

“Well，“Isays，“whateverbecomeof\'emaftertheyrunoff，George？”

ButGeorgehastoldaboutallheknows。TheywentNorth，accordingtowhateverybodythinks，hesays。PrentMcMakin，hefolleredandhunted。

AndCol。TomBuckner，hedonethesame。FuraboutayearColonelTom，hewasalwaysmakingtripsawayfromtheretotheNorth。ButwhetherheevergotanytrackofhissisterandthatDavidArmstrongnobodyknowed。Nobodyneveraskedhim。OldColonelHampton，hegrievedandhegrieved，andnotlongaftertherunawayheupanddied。AndTomBuckner，hefinallysoldallheownedinthatpartofthecountryandmovedfurthersouth。Georgesaidhedidn\'trightlyknowwhetheritwasAlabamaorFlorida。OritmightofbeenGeorgia。

IthinkstomyselfthatmebbyMrs。Daviswouldliketoknowwherehernieceis，andthatIbettertellheraboutMissHamptonbeinginthattherelittleIndianytown，andwhereitis。AndthenI

thinkstomyselfIbetternotbuttin。FurMissHamptonhaslikelygotherownreasonsfurkeepingawayfromherfolks，orelseshewouldn\'tdoit。

Anyhow，it\'snoneofMYaffairtobringthesubjectupto\'em。ItlookstomelikeoneofthemthingsGeorgehasbeengassingabout——oneofthemthingsthathassettleditself，anditain\'tfurmetomeddleandunsettleit。

ItsetmetothinkingaboutMartha，too。NotthatIhadn\'tthoughtofherlotsoftimes。IhadoftenthoughtIwouldwriteher。ButIkeptputtingitoff，andpurtysoonIkindofforgotMartha。I

hadseenalotofdifferentgirlsofallkindssinceI

hadseenMartha。Yet，wheneverIhappenedtothinkofMartha，Ihadalwayslikedherbest。Onlymovingaroundthecountrysomuchmakesitkindofhardtokeepthinkingsteadyofthesamegirl。

Besides，Ihadlostthattherehalfofaring，too。

ButknowingwhatIdidnowaboutMissHamptonbeingMissBuckner——orMrs。Armstrong——andrelatedtotheseDavisesmademewanttogetawayfromthere。Furthatsecretmademefeelkindofsneaking，likeIwasn\'tbeingfrankandopenwiththem。YetifIhadoftold\'emIwouldoffeltsneakingeryetfurgivingMissHamptonaway。

Inevergotintoamixupthat-a-waybetwixtmyconscienceandmydutybutwhatitmademefeelawfuluncomfortable。SoIguessedIwouldlightoutfromthere。Theywasn\'tnevernokinder，betterpeoplethanthemDavises，either。TheywassopleasedwithmybringingBudhomethenighthewasshottheywouldofjestnatcherallygivemehalftheirfarmifIhadofastthemfurit。Theywantedmetostaythere——theydidn\'tsayfurhowlong，andIguesstheydidn\'tgiveadern。ButI

wasinasweattoketchupwithDoctorKirbyagin。

CHAPTERXV

Imadepurtygoodtime，andinacoupleofdaysIwasinAtlanta。Iknowedthedoctormustofgonebackintosomebranchofthemedicinegame——thebottlestoldmethat。I

knoweditmustbesomethingthatheneededsomespecialkindofbottlesfur，too，orhewouldn\'tofhadthemshippedallthatdistance，butwouldofboughtthemnearer。IseenIwasadernfoolfurrushingoffandnotinquiringwhatkindofbottles，soIcouldtracewhathewasintoeasier。

It\'shardworklookingfuramaninagood-sizedtown。IhungaroundhotellobbiesandplacestillIwastiredofit，thinkinghemightcomein。AndIlookedthroughalltheofficebuildingsandreadalltheadvertisementsinthepapers。ThentheseconddayIwastherethestatefairstartedupandIwentouttoit。

IrunacrostacoupleIknowedouttherethefirstthing——itwasWattyandthesnake-charmerwoman。Onlyshewasn\'tcharmingthemnow。

HerandWattyhadaParisianModels\'show。I

astWattywhereDollywas。Hesayshedon\'tknow，thatDollyhasquithim。BywhichIguesshemeanshehasquither。IastwhereReginaldis，andtheHumanOstrich。ButfromthewaytheyansweredmyquestionsIseenIwasn\'twelcomenonearoundthere。IsupposethatMrs。OstrichandWattyhadmetupaginsomewheres，andhadjestnatcherallyrunoffwitheachotherandlefttheirfamblies。LikeasnotshehadleftpooroldReginaldwiththatidioticostrichfellertoselltostrangersthatdidn\'tknowhisdisposition。OrmebbybynowReginaldwasturnedlooseintheopencountrytoshiftfurhimself，amongwildsnakesthatneverhadnohumaneducationnorexperience；andwhatchancetwouldafriendlysnakelikeReginaldhaveinaganglikethat？Somewomenhasjestsimplygotnoconscienceatallabouttheirhusbandsandfamblies，andthatthereMrs。Ostrichwasoneof\'em。

Well，afellercanbeadernedfoolsometimes。

FurallmylookingaroundIwastedalotoftimebeforeIthoughtofgoingtotheonenatcheralplace——thefreightdepotoftheroadthembottleshadbeenshippedby。Ihadlostaweekcomingdown。Butfreightoftenlosesmoretimethanthat。

AnditwasatthefreightdepotthatIfoundhim。

Tickled？Well，yes！Bothofus。

“Well，byGeorge，“sayshe，“you\'regoodforsoreeyes。“

Beforehetoldmehowhehappenednottoofdrowndedorblowedawayoranythinghesayswebetterfixupabit。WhichhemeantIbetter。

Sohebuysmedudsfromheadtoheel，andwegoestoaTurkishbathplaceandIputs\'emon。Andthenwegoesandeats。Hearty。

“Now，“hesays，“FidoCut-up，howdidyoufindme？”*

Itoldhimaboutthebottles。

“Adeadloss，thosebottles，“hesays。“Iwantedsomenon-refillableonesforalittleschemeIhadinmind，andIhadtogetthematacertainplace——andnowthescheme\'supintheairandIcan\'tuse\'em。“

ThedoctorhadchangedsomeinlooksintheyearormorethathadpassedsinceIsawhimfloatingawayinthatballoon。Andnotfurthebetter。

HetoldmehowhehadblowedcleanacrostLakeErieinthatthereballoon。Andthenwhenhegotoverlandaginandwenttopullthecordthatletstheparachutelooseitwouldn\'tworkatfirst。Hejestnatcherallydriftedonintothemidstofnowhere，hesaid——milesandmilesintoCanada。Whenhelittheballoonhadlostsomuchgasandwasflyingsolowthattheparachutedidn\'topenoutquickenoughtodomuchfloating。Sohelithard，andcomenearbeingknockedoutfurgood。But——

*AUTHOR\'SNOTE——CanitbethatDannystrugglesvaguelytoreportsomereferencetoFIDUSACHATES？

thatwasn\'ttheworstofit，furtheexposurehadcrawledintohislungsbythetimehefoundahouse，andhegotnewmoniaintothemalso，andliketoofdied。WhilstIwaslayingsickhehadbeensickalso，onlyhis\'nlastedmuchlonger。

Buthetellsmehehasjeststruckanideafurabigscheme。Nolittleschemesgofurhimanymore，hesays。Hewantsmoney。Realmoney。

“Howyougoingtogetit？”Iastshim。

“ComealongandI\'lltellyou，“hesays。“We\'lltakeawalk，andI\'llshowyouhowIgotmyidea。“

Welefttherestaurantandwentalongthebragstreetofthattown，whichitisawfulproudof，pastwherethestoresstopsandthehousesbegins。

Wecometoafine-lookinghouseonacorner——aswellplaceitwas，withlotsofpalmsandfernsandplantssettingontheverandahandshowingthroughthewindows。Andstablesbackofit；

andbackofthestablesabigyardwithnoisescomingfromitliketheywascircusanimalsthere。WhichIfoundoutlatertheyreallywas，keptfurpets。

Youcouldtellthepeoplethatlivedtherehadmoney。

“This，“saysDoctorKirby，aswewalkedby，“isthehousethatJacksonbuilt。Dr。JuliusJack-

son——OLDDoctorJackson，themanwithanidea！

Theideamadeallthemoneyyousmellaroundhere。“

“Whatidea？”

“Theidea——theglorioushumanitarianandphilanthropicidea——oftakingthekinksandcurlsoutofthehairoftheAfro-Americanbrother，“

saysDoctorKirby，“atsomuchperkink。“

ThisDoctorJackson，hesays，sellswhathecallsAnti-Curltotheniggers。Itistostraightenouttheirhairsoitwilllooklikewhitepeople\'shair。Theyismillionsandmillionsofniggers，andeveryniggerhasmillionsandmillionsofkinks，andsoDoctorJacksonhasgotrichatit。Sorichhecanaffordtokeepthattherepersonalcircusmenagerieinhisbackyard，forhislittleboytoplaywith，andmanyotherinterestingthings。Hemustbeworthtwo，threemilliondollars，DoctorKirbysays，andstilla-makingit，withmoreniggersgrowingupallthetimefurtohavetheirhairun-

kinked。Especiallymulattoesandyallerniggers。

DoctorKirbysaysthinkingwhatagreatideathatAnti-Curlwasgivehimhisowngreatidea。Theyisagoldminethere，hesays，andDr。JuliusJacksonhasonlyscratchedalittleoffthetopofit，butHE

isgoingtodigdeeper。

“WhyisitthattheAfro-AmericanbrotherbuysAnti-Curl？”heasts。

“Why？”Iasts。

“Because，“hesays，“hewantstobeasmuchlikeawhitemanashepossiblycan。Hestrivestobursthisbirth\'sinvidiousbar，Danny。TheytalkaboutprogressandeducationfortheAfro-

Americanbrother，andupliftandadvancementandindustrialeducationandmanualtrainingandallthatsortofthing。EspeciallyweNortherners。

ButwhattheAfro-Americanbrotherthinksaboutanddreamsaboutandlongsforandpraystobe——whenhethinksatall——istobewhite。

Education，tohismind，islearningtotalklikeawhiteman。Progressmeansapingthewhiteman。

ReligionisdyingandgoingtoheavenandbeingaWHITEangel——listentohisprayersandsermonsandyou\'llfindthatout。He\'lldoanythinghecan，orgiveanythinghecangethisEthiopiangrub-

hookson，forsomethingthathethinksisgoingtomakehimmorelikeawhiteman。Poordevil！

ThereforethemillionsofDoctorJacksonAnti-

Curl。

“AllthisDoctorJacksonAnti-Curlhasdis-

coveredandthoughtoutandactedupon。IfhehadgonejustonestepfarthertheAfro-AmericanbrotherwouldhavehailedhimasagreatermanthanAbrahamLincoln，oreitheroftheWashing-

tons，GeorgeorBooker。Itremainsforme，Danny——forUS——tocarrythetorchahead——totakeuptheworkwheretheimaginationofDoctorJacksonAnti-Curlhaslaiditdown。“

“How？”astsI。

“WE\'LLPUTUPANDSELLAPREPARATIONTOTURNTHE

NEGROESWHITE！”

THATwashisgreatidea。HewasmoreexcitedoveritthanIeverseenhimbeforeaboutanything。

Itsoundedlikesoeasyawaytogetrichitmademewonderwhynoonehadeverdoneitbefore，ifitcouldreallybeworked。Ididn\'tbelievemuchitcouldbeworked。

ButDoctorKirby，hesayshehasbegunhisexperimentsalready，witharsenic。Arsenic，hesays，willbleachanything。Onlyheiskindofafraidofarsenic，too。Ifhecouldonlygetholdofsomethingthatdidn\'tcostmuch，andthatwouldwhitenthemupfuralittlewhile，hesays，itwouldn\'tmakenodifferenceiftheydidgetblackagin。

ThishereAnti-Curlstuffworkslikethat——ittakesthekinksoutfuralittlewhile，andtheycomebackagin。Butthatdon\'tseemtohurtthesalenone。ItonlycallsfurMOREofDoctorJackson\'smedicine。

Thedoctortakesmearoundtotheplaceheboardsat，andshowsmeaniggerwaiterhehasbeenex-

perimentingon。Hehadpaidthenigger\'sfineinapolicecourtfurslashinganotherniggersomewithaknife，andkepthimfromgoingintothechain-

gang。Sotheniggeragreedhecouldusehishidetotrydifferentkindsofmedicineson。Hewasavelvety-looking，chocolate-colouredkindofniggertostartwith，andthebestDoctorKirbyhadbeenabletodosofurwastomakeafewlittleliver-

colouredspotscomeontohim。Butitwasmakingtheniggersick，andthedoctorwasafraidtogotoofurwithit，furSammightdieandwewouldbeattheexpenseofanothernigger。Peroxideofhiderginhadn\'tevenphasedhim。Noralotofotherthingswetriedontohim。

YouneverseenaniggerwithhiscolourrunningintohimsodeepasSam\'sdid。Sam，hewasalwaysapologizingaboutit，too。Youcouldseeitmadehimfeelrealbadtothinkhiscolourwassostubborn。

Hefeltlikeitwasn\'tbeingpolitetothedoctorandme，Samdid，furhisskintoactthat-a-way。Hewasawillingnigger，Samwas。Thedoctor，hesayshewillfindouttherightstuffifhehastostartattheletterAandworkSamthrougheverydruginthehullblamealphabetdowntoZ。

Whichhefinallystruckit。Idon\'texactlyknowwhatshehadinher，butshewasamixtureofsomekind。Theonlytroublewithherwasshedidn\'tworkequalandeven——leftSam\'sfacelookingpeeledandspottyinplaces。Butstill，inthemspots，Samwassixshadeslighter。Thedoctorsaysthatisjestwhathewants，thattherepassing-

on-to-the-next-cage-we-have-the-spotted-girocutus-

look，ashecallsit。Thechocolatebrownandthelighterspotssidebyside，hesays，madearegularBeforeandAfteroutofSam\'sface，andwasthebestadvertisementyoucouldhave。

ThenwegoesandhasatalkwithDoctorJacksonhimself。DoctorKirbyhastheideamebbyhewillputsomemoneyintoit。DoctorJacksonwassettingonhisfrontverandawithhischairtiltedback，andhisfeet，withredcarpetslipperson\'em，wasontherailing，andhewassmokingoneoftheselongblackcigarsthatcomeseachoneinalittleglasstubeallbyitself。HelooksSamoververythoughtful，andhesays：

“Yes，itwilldotheworkwellenough。Icanseethat。Butwillitsell？”

DoctorKirbymakeshimquiteaspeech。Ineverhearnhimmakeabetterone。DoctorJacksonhelistensverycalm，withhisthumbsinthearmholesofhisvest，andmovinghiseyebrowsupanddownlikeheenjoyedit。Buthedon\'tgetexcitednone。

FinallyDoctorKirbysayshewillundertaketoshowthatitwillsell——meandhimwilltakeatripdownintotheblackcountryourselvesandshowwhatcanbedonewithit，andtakeSamalongfuranobjectlesson。

Well，theywasalotofrag-chewing。DoctorJacksondon\'twarmupnone，andheastsamillionquestions。Likehowmuchitcostsabottletomakeit，andwhatwasourideahowmuchitortersellfur。Hesaysfinallyifwecansellacertainnumberofbottlesinsolongatimehewillputsomemoneyintoit。Only，hesays，theywillbeastockcompany，andhewillhavetohavefifty-onepercent。ofthestock，orhewon\'tputnomoneyintoit。HesaysifthingsgowellhewillletDoctorKirbybemanagerofthatcompany，andlethimhavesomestockinittoo，andhewillbepresidentandtreasurerofithimself。

DoctorKirby，hedidn\'tlikethat，andsaidso。

SaidHEwasgoingtoorganizethatstockcompany，andcontrolithimself。ButDoctorJacksonsaidheneverputmoneyintonothinghecouldn\'trun。

Soitwassettledwewouldgivethestuffatry-outandreporttohim。BeforewewentawayfromthereitlookedtomelikeDoctorKirbyandmewasgoingtoworkfurthishereDoctorJackson，insteadofmakingallthemtheremillionsfurourselves。

WhichIdidn\'ttakemuchtothatAnti-Curlmanmyself；hewassocold-bloodedlike。

Ididn\'tliketheschemeitselfanytoowell，neither。Notanywayyoucouldlookatit。Inthefirstplaceitseemedlikeameantrickontheniggers。ThenIdidn\'tmuchbelievewecouldgetawaywithit。

ThemoreIlookedhimoverthemoreIseenDoctorKirbyhadchangedconsiderable。WhenIfirstknowedhimhelikedtohearhimselftalkingandhelikedtolivefreeandeasyandhelikedtoberunningaroundthecountryandallthemthings，more\'nhelikedtobemakingmoney。Ofcourse，hewantedit；butthatwasn\'ttheONLYthinghewasintotheSagrawgamefur。Ifhehadmoney，hewasfreewithitandwouldhelpmostanyoneoutofahole。Buthewasn\'tthinkingitandtalkingitallthetimethen。

Butnowhewasthinkingmoneyanddream-

ingmoneyandtalkingofnothingbuthowtogetit。Andplanningtomakeitoutofskinningthemniggers。Hedidn\'tcareadernhowheworkedontheirfeelingstogetit。Hedidn\'tevenseemtocarewhetherhekilledSamtryingthemdrugsontohim。HewantedMONEY，andhewanteditsobadhewasreadyandwillingtotakeupwithmostanywildschemetomakeit。

Theywassomethingabouthimnowthatdidn\'tfitinmuchwiththeDoctorKirbyIhadknowed。

Itseemedlikehehadspellswhenhesawhimselfhowhehadchanged。Hewasn\'tgayandjokingallthetimelikehehadbeenbefore，neither。I

guessthedoctorwasgettingalongtowardfiftyyearsold。Isupposehethoughtifhewasevergoingtogetanythingoutofhisgiftofthegabhebettersettledowntosomething，andquitfoolingaround，anddoitrightaway。Butitlookedtomelikehemightneverturnthetrick。Furhewasdrinkingrightsmartallthetime。Drinkingmadehimthinkalot，andthinkingwasmakinghimlookold。Hewasmore\'noneyearolderthanhehadbeenayearago。

Hekeptaquartbottleinhisroomnow。ThenightafterwehadtookSamtoseeDoctorJacksonwewassettinginhisroom，andhewashittingitpurtyhard。

“Danny，“hesaystome，afterawhile，likehewastalkingoutloudtohimselftoo，“whatdidyouthinkofDoctorJackson？”

“Idon\'tlikehimmuch，“Isays。

“NorI，“hesays，frowning，andtakesadrink。

Thenhesays，afterquiteafewminutesoffrowningandthinking，underhisbreathlike：“He\'sablamesightmoredecentthanIam，forallofthat。“

“Why？”Iastshim。

“BecauseDoctorJackson，“hesays，“hasn\'ttheleastideathatheISN\'Tdecent，andgettinghismoneyinadecentway。WhileatonetimeI

was——“

Hebreaksoffanddon\'tsaywhathewas。I

astshim。“Iwasgoingtosayagentleman，“

hesays，“butonreflection，IdoubtifIwaseveranythingbutacheapimitation。Ineverheardamansaythathewasagentlemanatonetime，thatIdidn\'tdoubthim。Also，“hegoeson，work-

inghimselfintoabetterhumouragainwiththesoundofhisownvoice，“ifIHADeverbeenagentle-

manatanytime，enoughofitwouldsurelyhavestucktometokeepmeoutofpartnershipwithamanwhocheatsniggers。“

Hetakesanotherdrinkandsayseventwentyyearsofrunningaroundthecountrycouldn\'toftookallthegentlemanoutofhimlikethis，ifhehadeverbeenone，furyoucanbreak，youcanscatterthevaseifyouwill，butthesmelloftheroseswillstickrounditstill。

Iseennowthekindofconversationsheisalwayshavingwithhimselfwhenhegetsjestsodrunkandisthinkinghard。Onlythistimeithappenstobeoutloud。

“Whatisagentleman？”Iastshim，thinkingifhewasn\'toneitmighttakehismindoffhimselfalittletotellme。“WhatMAKESone？”

“Authoritiesdiffer，“saysDoctorKirby，slouchingdowninhischair，andgrinninglikeheknowedajokehewasn\'tgoingtotellnoone。“IheardDoctorJacksondescribehimselfthatwaytheotherday。“

Well，speakingpersonal，Ineverhadsmellednoneofroses。Iwasn\'tnothingbuttrashmyself，sobeingagentlemandidn\'tbothermeonewayortheother。TheonlyreasonIdidn\'twanttoseethemniggersbunkedsoverybadwasonlyjestbecauseitwassuchalow-down，ornerykindoftrick。

“Itain\'ttoolate，“Isays，“topulloutofthisniggerschemeyetandgetintosomethingmorehonest。“

“Idon\'tknow，“hesaysthoughtful。“IthinkperhapsitIStoolate。“Andhesetstherelookinglikeamanthatisgoingoveragoodmanyyearsoflifeinhismind。Purtysoonhesays：

“Asfarashonestygoes——itisn\'tthatsomuch，ODaniel-come-to-judgment！It\'saboutashonestasmostmedicinegames。It\'s——“Hestoppedandfrownedagin。

“Whatisit？”

“It\'stheirbeingNIGGERS，“hesays。

Thatmadethedifferencefurme，too。Idunnohow，norwhy。

“I\'vetriednearlyeverythingbutblackmail，“

hesays，“andI\'llprobablybetryingthatbythistimenextyear，ifthisschemefails。Butthere\'ssomethingabouttheirbeingniggersthatmakesmesickofthisthingalready——justasthetimehascometomakethestart。AndIdon\'tknowWHYitshould，either。“Heslippedanotherbigslugofwhiskeyintohim，andpurtysoonheastsme：

“Doyouknowwhat\'sthematterwithme？”

Iastshimwhat。

“I\'mtoodecenttobeacrook，“hesays，“andtoocrookedtobedecent。You\'vegottobeonethingortheothersteadytomakeitpay。“

Thenhesays：

“DidyoueverhearofthedescenttoAvernus，Danny？”

“Imight，“Itellshim，“andthenaginImightn\'t，butifIeverdid，Idon\'trememberwhatsheis。

Whatisshe？”

“It\'sthechutetotheinfernalregions，“hesays。

“Theysayit\'sgreased。Butitisn\'t。It\'sreallynoeasierslidingdownthanitisclimbingback。“

Well，Iseenthisniggerschemeofour\'nwasn\'ttheonlythingthatwastroublingDoctorKirbythatnight。Itwasthinkingofalltheschemeslikeitintheyearspasthehadwentinto，andhowhehadwentinto\'emlight-heartedandmore\'nhalffurfunwhenhewasayoungman，andnowhewasn\'tfittenfurnothingelsebutthemkindofschemes，andheknowedit。Hewasseeinghimselfhowhehadbeenchanging，likeanotherpersoncouldofseenit。That\'sthemaintroublewithdrinkingtofergityourself。Youfergitthewrongpartofyourself。

Ilefthimpurtysoon，andwentalongtobed。

Myroomwasnexttohis\'n，andtheywasadoorbetween，sothetwocouldberentedtogetherifwanted，Isuppose。Iwenttosleepandwokeupaginwithastartoutofadreamthathadinitmillionsandmillionsandmillionsofniggers，everywayyoulooked，andtheirmouthswasallopenredandtheireyeswalledwhite，fittoscareyououtofyourshoes。

IhearnDoctorKirbymovingaroundinhisroom。Butpurtysoonhesetsdownandbeginstotalktohimself。Everythingelsewasquiet。

Iwaskindofworriedabouthim，hehadtakensomuch，andhopedhewouldn\'tgetanotiontogodowntownthattimeo\'night。SoIthinksIwillseehowheisacting，andstepsovertothedoorbe-

tweentherooms。

Thekeyhappenedtobeonmyside，andIun-

lockedit。Butsheonlyopensalittleways，furhiswashstandwasneartothehingeendofthedoor。

Ilookedthrough。Heissettingbythetable，lookingatawoman\'spicturethatisproppeduponit，andtalkingtohimself。Hehasneverhearnmeopenthedoor，heissointerested。Butsomehow，hedon\'tlookdrunk。Helookslikehehadfoughthiswayupoutofit，somehow——hisforeheadwassweaty，andtheywasoneintoxicatedlockofhairstickingtoit；butthatwastheonlyun-sober-

lookingthingabouthim。Iguesshislegswouldofbeenunsteadyifhehadoftriedtowalk，buthisintellectswasuncomfortableandsober。

Heisstillkeepingupthatsameoldargumentwithhimself，orwiththepicture。

“Itisn\'tanyuse，“Ihearnhimsay，lookingatthepicture。

Thenhelistenedlikehehearnitansweringhim。

“Yes，youalwayssayjustthat——justthat，“

hesays。“AndIdon\'tknowwhyIkeeponlisteningtoyou。“

Thewayhetalked，andharkenedfurananswer，whentheywasnothingtheretoanswer，givemethecreeps。

“Youdon\'thelpme，“hegoeson，“youdon\'thelpmeatall。Youonlymakeitharder。Yes，thisthingisworsethantheothers。Iknowthat。

ButIwantmoney——andfoolthingslikethisHAVE

sometimesmadeit。No，Iwon\'tgiveitup。No，there\'snousemakinganymorepromisesnow。

Iknowmyselfnow。Andyououghttoknowmebythistime，too。Whycan\'tyouletmealonealtogether？Ishouldthink，whenyouseewhatI

am，you\'dletmebe。

“Godhelpyou！ifyou\'donlystayawayitwouldn\'tbesohardtogotohell！”

CHAPTERXVI

There\'salotofcountiesinGeorgiawheretheblacksareequalinnumbertothewhites，andtwoorthreecountieswheretheblacksnumberoverthewhitesbytwotoone。

Itwasfuralittletowninoneofthelatterthatwepintedourselves，DoctorKirbyandmeandSam——

rightintotheblackestpartoftheblackbelt。

Thatcountryisfullofbig-sizedplantations，wheretheyraisecotton，cotton，cotton，andthenMOREcotton。Someof\'emraisesfruit，too，andotherthings，ofcourse；butcottonisthemainstand-by，anditlookslikeitalwayswillbe。

Someplacesthereshowsthatthingscan\'tbesoawfulmuchchangedsinceslaverydays，andmostoftheniggersaresureenoughcountryniggersyet。Somerentstheirlandrightoutfromtheowners，andsomeof\'emcropsitontheshares，andverymanyof\'emjestworksashands。Alotof\'emdon\'tdonighsowellnowastheydidwhentheirbosseswastheirmasters，theytellme；andthenagin，somehasdonerightwellontheirownhook。

Theyintrustedme，becauseIneverhadbeenusetolookingatsomanyniggers。Everywayyouturntheretheyisniggersandthenmoreniggers。

Themthatthinkstheyisawfuleasytohandleoutofanatcheralrespectfurwhitefolkshasgotanotherguesscoming。Theyain\'tsobadtogetalongwithifyoukeepitmostpintedlyshovedintotheirheadstheyISniggers。Yougottodothatespecialintheblackbelt，jestbecausetheyISsomanyof\'em。Theyischildrenalltheirlives，mebby，tillsomeoneminuteofcrazinessmaystrikeoneofthem，andthenheisadeviltemporary。

Mebby，whenthecrazyfithaspassed，somewhitewomanisworseoffthanifshewasdead，ormebbysheISdead，ormebbyaloonaticfurlife，andthatniggerisacandidatefuralynchingbeeandginerallyelectedbyananonymousmajority。

NotthatALLniggersisthat-a-way，norHALFof\'em，norveryMANYof\'em，even——butyoucannevertellWHICHniggerisgoingtobe。Sointheblackbeltthewhitefolksismightypertic\'lerwhocomesalongfoolingwiththeirniggers。Furyoucannevertellwhatturnanigger\'sthoughtswilltake，onceanythingatallstirs\'emup。

Wedidn\'tknowthemthingsthen，DoctorKirbyandmedidn\'t。Wedidn\'tknowwewasmovinglight-heartedrightintothemiddleofthebiggestquestionthathaseverbeenast。WhichIdisre-

memberexactlyhowthatniggerquestionisworded，buttheyisalwaysastingitintheSouth，andan-

sweringofitdifferentways。Wehadn\'tnoideahowsuspiciousthewhitepeopleinthemawfulblackspotsonthemapcangetoveranyonethatcomesalongtalkingtotheirniggers。Wedidn\'tknowanythingaboutniggersmuch，beingbothfromtheNorth，exceptwhatDoctorKirbyhadcountedonwhenhemadehismedicine，andTHAT

heknowedsecond-handedfromotherpeople。Wedidn\'ttake\'emveryserious，norallthetalkwehearnabout\'emdownSouth。

Butevenatthatwemightn\'tofgotintoanytroubleifithadn\'tofbeenfuroldBishopWarren。

Butthatisgettingaheadofthestory。

Wegotintothatlittletown——ImightjestaswellcallitCottonville——jestaboutsuppertime。

Cottonvilleisalittleplaceofnotmore\'nsixhundredpeople。Iguessfourhundredof\'emmustbeniggers。

Aftersupperwegotacquaintedwithpurtynighalltheprominentcitizensintown。Theywasfriendlywithus，andwewasfriendlywiththem。

Georgiahadjestwentfurprohibitionafewmonthsbeforethat，andtheyhadn\'topeneduptheseherenear-beerbar-roomsinthelittletownsyet，liketheyhadinAtlantaandthebigtowns。Georgiahadwentprohibitionsotheniggerscouldn\'tgetwhiskey，somesaid；butotherssaidtheydidn\'tknowWHATitsexcusewas。Themprominentcitizenswasloafingaroundthehotelandeverynowandtheninvitingeachotherverymysteriousintoabackroomthatusetobeapoolparlour。

Theyhadbeenseveraljugscometotownbyexpressthatday。Wewentbackseveraltimesourselves，andsoonbegantogetalongpurtywellwiththemprominentcitizens。

TalkingaboutthisandthattheyfinallyedgesaroundtotheonethingeverybodyissuretogettotalkingaboutsoonerorlaterintheSouth——

niggers。AndthentheygetstotellingusaboutthishereBishopWarrenIhasmentioned。

Hewasaniggerbishop，BishopWarrenwas，andhadagooddealofwhitebloodintohim，theysay。Anashy-colourednigger，withbumpsonhisface，fatasapossum，andascunningasafox。

Hehadplentyofbrainsintohishead，too；buthisbrainshadturnedsourinhisheadthelastfewyears，andthebishophadcrazystreaksrunningthroughhissensenow，likefatandleanmixedinaslabofbacon。Heusedtobefriendswithalotofbigwhitefolks，andthewhitesdependedonhimatonetimetopreachorderlinessandobedienceandagricultureandbeingintheirplacetotheniggers。

Furyearstheythoughthepreachedthat-a-way。

HealwaysDIDpreachthat-a-waywhenanywhiteswasaround，andhesetonplatformssometimeswithwhitepreachers，andhegotgooddonationsfurschemesofdifferentkinds。Butgradualthesuspiciongotaroundthatwhenhewasalonewithalotofniggershisniggerbloodwouldgetthebestofhim，andwhathepreachedwasn\'twhitesu-

premacyatall，buthopefulnessofbeingequal。

Sothewhiteshadfellawayfromhim，andthenhisgraftwasgone，andthenhisbrainsturnedsourinhisheadandgottoworkingandfermentinginitlikecidergettinghard，andhemadeafewbadbreaksbynotbeingcarefulwhathesaidbeforewhitepeople。Buttheniggerslikedhimallthebetterfurthat。

Theyalwayshadbeenmoreorlesshellinthebishop\'sheart。Hehadbrainsandheknowedit，andthewhitefolkshadlethimseeTHEYknowedit，too。Andhewaspartwhite，andhiswhiteforefathershadbeenbigmenintheirday，andyet，inspiteofallofthat，hehadtoherdwithniggersandtopertendhelikedit。Hewasbothwhiteandblackinhisfeelingsaboutthings，sosomeofhisfeelingscounterdictedothers，andoneofthesehereraceriotswentonallthetimeinhisowninsides。Butgradualhegottotheplacewheretheywasspellshehatedbothwhitesandniggers，buthehatedthewhitestheworst。Andnow，inthelasttwoorthreeyears，sincehiscrazystreakshadgrowedasbigashissensiblestreaks，orbigger，theywasnotellingwhathewouldpreachtothemniggers。Butwhateverhepreachedmostofthemwouldbelieve。Itmightbesomethingcrazyandharmless，oritmightbecrazyandharmful。

Hehadbeenholdingsomerevivalmeetingsinniggerchurchesrightthereinthatverycounty，andwasatitnotfurawayfromthererightthen。

Theideahadgotaroundhewaspreachingsomemostunusualfoolishnesstotheblacks。Furtheniggerswasallactingliketheyknowedsomethingtoogoodtomentiontothewhitefolks，allaboutthere。Butsomewhitemenhadgonetooneofthemeetings，andthebishophadpreachedoneofhisold-timesermonswhilsttheywasthere，tellingtheniggerstobeorderlyandagriculturous——hewasconsiderableofafoxyet。ButheandtherestoftheniggerswassoDERNEDanxioustobethoughtagriculturousandservitudinousthatthewhitessmeltarat，andwishedhewouldgo，furtheydidn\'twanttochasehimwithouttheyhadto。

Jestwhenwewasgettingalongfineoneofthemprominentcitizensaststhedoctorwaswetherefiggeringonbuyingsomeland？

“No，“saysthedoctor，“wewasn\'t。“

Theywassilencefurquitealittlespell。Eachprominentcitizenhadmebbyhadhishopesofunloadingsome。Theyalllooksalittlesad，andthenanotherprominentcitizenastsusintothebackroomagin。

Whenwereturnstothefrontroomanotherpromi-

nentcitizenmakesalittlespeechthatwasquitebeautifultohear，andsaysmebbywerepresentssomenewconcernthatain\'tneverbeeninthempartsandisfiggeringonbuyingcotton。

“No，“thedoctorsays，“weain\'tcottonbuyers。“

Anotherprominentcitizenhastheideamebbyweisfiggeringononeofthesehereinter-Reubentrolleylines，sotheRubesinonevillagecanrideoverandvisittheRubesinthenext。Andanotheronethinksmebbyweisfiggeringonatelephoneline。Andeachonemakesaveryeloquentlittlespeechaboutthemthings，andringsinsomethingaboutourfairSouthland。Andwhenbothofthemmissestheirguessitistimefuranothervisittothebackroom。

Waswesellingsomething？

Wewas。

Waswesellingfruittrees？

Wewasn\'t。

Finally，aftereveryonehasachewofnatcheralleaftobaccerallaround，oneprominentcitizenmakessoboldastoastusverycourteousifhemightenquirewhatitwaswewasselling。

Thedoctorsaysmedicine。

Thentheywasaslowgrinwentaroundthattherecrowdofprominentcitizens。Andonceaginwehastomakeatriptothatbackroom。Furtheyareallsurewemustbetakingordersfursomethingtobeatthatthereprohibitiongame。Whentheymissesthatguesstheyallgetskindofthoughtfulandsad。Acoupleof\'emdon\'ttakenomoreinterestinus，butgoesalonghomesighing-like，asifitwasn\'tnodifferenceWHATwesoldaslongasitwasn\'twhattheywaslookingfur。

Butpurtysoononeofthemasts：

“WhatKINDofmedicine？”

Thedoctor，hetellsaboutit。

Whenhefinishesyouneverseensuchachangeashadcomeontothefacesofthatbunch。I

neverseensuchdisgustedprominentcitizensinmyhulllife。Theylookedateachotherembarrassed，liketheyhadbeenketchedatsomethingornery。

Andtheywentoutoneatatime，sayinggoodnighttothehotel-keeperandinthemostpintedwaytakingnonoticeofusatall。Itcertainlywasachill。Weseessomethingiswrong，andwebeginstohaveanotionofwhatitis。

Thehotel-keeper，hespitsouthischew，andgoesbehindhislittlecounterandtakesafive-centcigaroutofhislittleshowcaseandbitestheendoffcareful。Thenheleanshiselbowsontohiscounterandreadsournamestohimselfoutoftheregisterbook，andlooksatus，andfromustothenames，andfromthenamestous，likeheistryingtofiggerouthowhecometoletuswrite\'emthere。ThenhewantstoknowwherewecomefrombeforewecometoAtlanta，wherewehadregisteredfrom。

WetellshimweisfromtheNorth。Helightshiscigarlikehedidn\'tthinkmuchofthatcigarandsticksitinhismouthandlooksatussolonginanabsent-mindedkindofwayitgoesout。

ThenhesaysweortergobackNorth。

“Why？”aststhedoctor。

Hechewedhiscigarpurtynighuptothemiddleofitbeforeheanswered，andwhenhespokeitwasasoftkindofadrawl——notmadorloud——butliketheywassorrowfulthoughtsworkinginhim。

“Yo\'alldonestruckthewo\'stpahto\'theSouthtopeddleyo\'niggahmedicinein，sah。Ireckonyo\'mustlove\'emaheaptobethatconcehnedoverthecolouroftheirskins。“

Andheturnedhisbackonusandwentintothebackroomallbyhimself。

Weseenwewasinwronginthattown。Thedoctorsaysitwillbenousetryingtointerduceourstuffthere，andwemightaswellleavethereinthemorningandgoovertoBairdstown，whichwasalittleplaceabouttenmilesofftherailroad，andmakeourstartthere。

Sowegotarigthenextmorninganddroveacrostthecountry。Noonebidusgood-bye，neither，andDoctorKirbysaysit\'sawondertheyrentedustherig。

Butbeforewestartedthatmorningwenoticedafunnything。Wehadn\'tsomuchasspoketoanynigger，exceptourownniggerSam，andhecouldn\'toftoldALLtheniggersinthattownaboutthestufftoturnniggerswhite，evenifhehadsetupallnighttodoit。Buteverylastniggerwesawlookedlikeheknowedsomethingaboutus。

Evenafterwelefttownourniggerdriverhailedtwoorthreeniggersintheroadthatactedthat-a-

way。Itseemedliketheywasallawfulpolitetous。AndyettheywasdifferentintheirpolitenessthantheywastothemGeorgiafolks，whichistheirnatcheral-bornbosses——actedmorefamiliar，some-

how，asiftheyknowedwemustbethinkingaboutthesamethingtheywasthinkingabout。

Abouthalf-waytoBairdstownwestoppedataplacetogetadrinkofwater。Seeminglythewhitefolkswasawayfurtheday，andanoldniggercomeupandtalkedtoourdriverwhileSamanduswasatthewell。

Iseenthemcuttingtheireyesatus，whilsttheywasuncheckingthehossestoletthemdrinktoo，andthenIhearntheonethatbelongedtheresay：

“Isyo\'SUAHdathitairdem？”

“SUAH！”saysthedriver。

“How-comeyo\'soall-powerfulSUAHabouthit？”

Thedriverpertendedtheharnessneededsomefixing，andtheywentaroundtotheothersideoftheteamandtinkeredwithoneofthetraces，a-talkingtoeachother。Ihearntheoldniggersay，kindofwonderized：

“Isdeya-gwinedarNOW？”

Sam，hewaspullingabucketofwaterupoutofthewellfuruswithawindlass。Thedoctorsaystohim：

“Sam，whatdoesallthismean？”

Sam，hepertendshedon\'tknowwhatthedoctoristalkingabout。ButDoctorKirbyhefinallypinshimdown。Samhemmedandhawedconsidera-

ble，makinguphismindwhetherhebetterlietousornot。Then，allofasudden，hebustedoutintoanawfulfitoflaughing，andliketooffellinthewell。Seeminglyhedecidedfurtotellusthetruth。

FromwhatSamsaysthattherebishophasbeenholdingrevivalmeetingsinBigBethel，whichisaniggerchurchrightontheedgeofBairdstown，andniggersfurmilesaroundhasbeencomingnightafternight，andsomeofthemwhoopingherupdaytimestoo。Andthebishophasworkedhimselfupthelastthreeorfournightstowherehehasbeenperdictingandprophesying，furthespirithashitthemeetinghard。

Whathehasbeenprophesying，Samsays，isthecomingofaMessiahfurtheniggerrace——anewElishyah，hesays，aswillleadthemfromout\'ntheirinequalityandbring\'emuptowhitestandardsrightonthespot。ThewhiteshashadtheirMessiah，thebishopsays，buttheniggersain\'tneverhadnoneoftheirSPECIALOWNyet。

Andtheyneedsonebad，andoneissurea-coming。

Itseemsthewhitesdon\'tknowyetjestwhatthebishop\'sbeena-preaching。ButeveryniggerfurmilesoneverysideofBigBethelisa-listeninganda-lookingfursignsandomens，andhasbeenfurtwo，threedaysnow。Thisherehalf-crazybishophasgot\'emworkeduptowheretheyisreadytobelieveanything，ordoanything。

SothenightbeforewhenthewordgotoutinCottonvillethatwehadsomeschemetomaketheniggerswhite，theniggerstheretookupwiththeideathatthedoctorwasmebbythefellerthebishophadbeenprophesyingabout，andforasignandaomenandamiracleofhisgraceandpowerswasgoingouttoBigBetheltoturn\'emwhite。

Poordevils，theydidn\'tseebutwhatbeingturnedwhiteorterbeapartofwhattheywastogetfromthecomingofthatthereMessiah。

Newsspreadsamongniggersquickerthanamongwhites。Nooneknowshowtheydoit。ButI\'vehearntalesabouthowwhenwartimeswasthere，theywouldfrequenthavethenewsofabigfightbeforethewhitefolks\'paperswould。SoldiershastoldmethatinthemtherePhilippineIslandsweconqueredfromSpain，wheretheyissomuchniggerbloodmixedupwithotherkindsintheislanders，thismysteriousspreadingaroundofnewsisjestthesame。Andjestsincenineo\'clockthenightbefore，thenewshadspreadfurmilesaroundthatBishopWarren\'sMessiahwasonhisway，andwasgoingfurtoturnthebishopwhitetoshowhispowerandgrace，andhehadwithhimonehehadturnedpartwhite，andthatwasSam，andonehehadturnedclearwhite，andthatwasme。

AndtheywastobesignsandwonderstobeholdatBigBethel，withpillarsofcloudandsoundsoftrumpetsandfiresquirtingdownfromheaven，likeitalwaysusetobeinthemoldBibledays，andthemthereniggerstobeledsingingandshoutingandrejoicingintoalandofmilkandhoney，forever-

more，AMEN！

That\'swhatSamsaystheyarelookingfur，dozensandscoresandhundredsofthemniggersroundabout。Sam，hehadlivedintownfiveorsixyears，andhelookeddownonallthesehereignoramuscountryniggers。Sohebustsoutlaugh-

ingatfirst，andhepertendslikehedon\'ttakenostockinanyofit。Besides，heknowedwellenoughhewasn\'tspottedupbynoMessiah，butitwasthedopeinthebottlesdoneit。Butashetoldaboutthemgoings-onSamgotmoreandmoreinterestedandwarmeduptoit，andhisvoicewentintoakindofasing-songlikehewasprophesyinghimself。

Andtheothertwoniggersquitpertendingtofoolaroundtheteamandedgedalittlecloseter，andalittlecloseteryet，withtheirmouthsopenandtheirheadsa-noddingandthewhitesoftheireyesa-rolling。

Furmypart，Ineverhearnsuchalotofdernfoolishnessinallmylife。Butthedoctor，hesaysnothingatall。HelistenstoSamrantingandrollingoutbigwordsandraving，andonlyfrowns。Heclimbsbackintothebuggyaginsilent，andalltherestofthewaytoBairdstownhesettherewiththatscowlonhisface。Iguesseshewasthinkingnow，thewaythingshadshapedup，hewouldn\'tsellnoneofhisstuffatallwithouthefellrightinwiththereceptionchancehadplannedfurhim。

Butifhedidfallinwithit，andpertendlikehewasaMessiahtothemniggers，hecouldgetalltheyhad。Hewasmebbythinkinghowmuchornerierthatwouldmakethehullscheme。