“Now, General,” said a stumpy little man, strutting up to that dignitary, “yo’ve brought us all here, all this crowd, and we’ve got the niggers; and now if you won’t kill them, they’ll just go and give testimony agin us, and get us into trouble.” The General stared at the little man with the most serene contempt, and turning his horse’s head, rode away without speaking. But the little man was neither abashed nor silenced. He continued,—“Here General Baker has brought us here, and kept us up all night helping him to capture a lot of niggers, and he ought to kill the last one of ’em; for if he don’t they’ll be up here to vote against us, and they’ll be giving testimony against us.” “That’s true enough, Volier, true enough,” said several of his associates. “I’m sleepy and tired,” continued Volier. “Here, Bub,” addressing a small boy of twelve years, “You ought to be abed and asleep long ago.” “No, sir-_ee_,” said the boy, ejecting a volume of tobacco-juice from his mouth. “_I_ a’n’t sleepy.” “Let’s go up into this piazza, and go to sleep,” urged the little man, “Come, come on!” “No, I _sha’n’t_,” replied the boy. “I want to go and spit on them niggers some more.” So the little man yielded, and accompanied the lad in quest of his rare sport; much to the relief of Captain Doc’s mind. At the same time Gaston and Tom Baker approached the “dead ring” also, and the name of Alden Watta was immediately called, as that of the first victim to be sacrificed. “We’ll fix you! we’r’e going to kill you now, without a doubt,” cried the mob. “Gentlemen,” said Watta, standing up in a calm manner, “I am not ready to die, and haven’t done anything to be killed for. Will you allow me to prepare to meet my God? Please let me pray.” “You ought to have been praying before now; you have talked enough without praying, and we’re going to kill you now. I don’t care,” said young Tom Baker, with numerous oaths. “But we’re going to kill you.” “Oh, gentlemen, do spare my life! I will not interfere with you. I will only take care of my family as an honest man should. I will go clear away out of the State, if you will only spare me to take care of my wife and my little children!” “Watta, old chap, is that you?” cried Gaston, crowding nearer, (with an oath). “We’ll fix you directly.” “Oh, Gaston! Gaston! What do you want with me? Please do, do all you can for me, and I will be your friend as long as I live, and leave the legacy of gratitude to my children!” “Yes, I _will_ do all I can for you; I’ll do it in a short while. He’s had time enough, boys.”