[Illustration: “I was on the lookout,” the Major explained.] “Well, suh, I been hittin’ dat away a mighty long time,” Aunt Minervy Ann explained, “and I ain’t never hear no complaints.” “Oh, I’m not complainin’, Minervy Ann.” Colonel Blasengame waved his hand. “I’m mighty glad you did hit the dough a lick too many. If you hadn’t, the biscuit would ’a’ melted in my mouth, and I believe I’d rather chew on ’em to get the taste.” “He des runnin’ on, suh,” said Aunt Minervy Ann to me. “Marse Bolivar know mighty well dat he got ter go ’way fum de Nunited State fer ter git any better biscuits dan what I kin bake.” Then there was a long pause, which was broken by an attempt on the part of Major Perdue to give Aunt Minervy Ann an inkling of the events likely to happen during the night. She seemed to be both hard of hearing and dull of understanding when the subject was broached; or she may have suspected the Major was joking or trying to “run a rig” on her. Her questions and comments, however, were very characteristic. “I dunner what dey want wid Hamp,” she said. “Ef dey know’d how no-count he is, dey’d let ’im ’lone. What dey want wid ’im?” “Well, two or three of the country boys and maybe some of the town chaps are going to call on him between midnight and day. They want to take him out to the cross-roads. Hadn’t you better fix ’em up a little snack? Hamp won’t want anything, but the boys will feel a little hungry after the job is over.” “Nobody ain’t never tell me dat de Legislatur’ wuz like de Free Masons, whar dey have ter ride a billy goat an’ go down in a dry well wid de chains a-clankin’. I done tol’ Hamp dat he better not fool wid white folks’ doin’s.” “Only the colored members have to be initiated,” explained the Major, solemnly. “What does dey do wid um?” inquired Aunt Minervy Ann. “Well,” replied the Major, “they take ’em out to the nearest cross-roads, put ropes around their necks, run the ropes over limbs, and pull away as if they were drawing water from a well.” “What dey do dat fer?” asked Aunt Minervy Ann, apparently still oblivious to the meaning of it all. “They want to see which’ll break first, the ropes or the necks,” the Major explained. “Ef dey takes Hamp out,” remarked Aunt Minervy Ann, tentatively—feeling her way, as it were—“what time will he come back?” “You’ve heard about the Resurrection Morn, haven’t you, Minervy Ann?” There was a pious twang in the Major’s voice as he pronounced the words. “I hear de preacher say sump’n ’bout it,” replied Aunt Minervy Ann. “Well,” said the Major, “along about that time Hamp will return. I hope his record is good enough to give him wings.” “Shuh! Marse Tumlin! you-all des fool’in’ me. I don’t keer—Hamp ain’t gwine wid um. I tell you dat right now.” “Oh, he may not want to go,” persisted the Major, “but he’ll go all the same if they get their hands on him.”