CHAPTER VIII.
BUD GOBLE'S WATERLOO.
Did Bud Goble leap over the counter and wrench the threatening weaponfrom Mr. Bailey's grasp with one hand, while he throttled him with theother? We are obliged to say that he did not. He stood quite still, forsomething told him it would be dangerous to do anything else. This wasthe first time his courage had ever been tested, and he was foundwanting; but, strange as it may appear, his friends did not think anythe less of him for it. Under like circumstances they would have showedthe same reluctance to pass the intervening counter. It was not Bud'slack of courage, but Mr. Bailey's pluck, that excited their ire. Thelatter had insulted their friend by refusing him the credit he hadgranted a field-hand, and now he had gone so far as to threaten Bud witha weapon. It opened their eyes to the fact that Union men were dangerousthings to have in the community, and that they ought to have been drivenout long ago.
"Sile, you've got the rifle," said Bud, who gained courage when hisfriends closed about him. "Why don't you draw a bead on him an' make himput that thing down?"
"Can't ye see for yourself that he's got the drop?" replied Silas, whothought discretion the better part of valor.
"Laws-a-massy, what's the matter of ye?" exclaimed Bud. "He dassentshoot."
"I don't b'lieve in fightin' no man when he's got the drop," repeatedSilas. "Put on yer coat an' take yer rifle, Bud. This aint the onliestday there is in the world, an' the next time you ax him for the credithe's willin' to give a nigger, mebbe he'll hearken to ye."
"Pervided he's able to hearken to anything," observed another. "Looka-here, ole man, we-uns don't want sich chaps as you be in the kentry."
"I can easily believe that, but I don't see what you are going to doabout it," answered the storekeeper, still holding the revolver so thathe could cover Bud or any of his friends in a second of time. "I paidfor this property with my own money, and I intend to stay here and enjoyit; and if any of you dispute my right to do so, I'll make it warm foryou. Now clear out, the whole of you, and don't ever darken my doorsagain. I'll not sell you any goods if you come with your pockets full ofcash."
"We-uns will go this time, kase we aint ready to begin business jestyet," said Bud, reaching out his hand for his rifle, but taking goodcare not to point it in Mr. Bailey's direction. "But we'll come aginwhen you aint lookin' for us, an' then you will want to watch out. We'regoin' to drive all you babolitionists outen the kentry, as well as themfellers up to the 'cademy; an' as for that Gray an' Graham boy, who aintno kin if their names is alike, we're goin'--"
Here Bud was interrupted by a poke in the ribs given by one of hiscompanions, who did not think it prudent for him to say anything abouthis plans, if he had any in mind. But he had already revealed enough tointerest Mr. Bailey, who was a firm friend to both the boys whose nameshad been mentioned.
"Those fellows never did you any harm," said he.
"Didn't, hey?" vociferated Bud.
"No, they didn't. They bought quinine right here in this store to cureyour wife and children of the ague when you did not have a cent orcredit, either; and they paid the doctor to go and see them when youwere loafing around, too lazy to do anything but eat. If you fool withthose students you'll get something you won't like. You'll have them allon you."
"I aint speakin' about them things," shouted Bud, as soon as he couldframe a suitable reply. "They're for the Union, dog-gone 'em. An' didn'tthey go an' offer me money to look for that there underground--"
"Haw, haw!" roared the storekeeper, at the same time raising the muzzleof his revolver to a level with Bud's head, when the latter, almostovercome with rage, made a motion as if he were about to draw his rifleto his shoulder. "That underground railroad business was a joke on you,wasn't it? But you don't want to fool with Rodney and Dick, for if youdo you will get the worst of it. The students will all help them.Besides, Rodney is as wild a secessionist as you ever dare be."
"'Taint so," exclaimed Bud. "I know better."
"And Dick Graham stands ready to go with his State the minute she pullsdown the old flag and runs up the new one," continued Mr. Bailey. "Hesaid so the other day when he came in here for a pint of goobers[peanuts]."
"I tell ye it aint so," repeated Bud confidently. "Bein' one of the mostprominent and respected citizens of Barrington, I got a letter tellin'me all about them chaps an' the docterings they're preachin' up. I wastold that the committee wants me to 'tend to their cases, an' I'm goin'to do it; an' to your case too. Hear me, don't you?"
"Who wrote that letter?" inquired the storekeeper, who did not think itnecessary to answer the question.
"I don't know. There wasn't no name hitched to it."
"Then the writer was a coward," said Mr. Bailey, in a tone of contempt,"and you ought not to pay the least attention to it. Somebody wants tobring those boys into trouble, and hopes to use you as a tool. If youwill take advice you will mind your own business and let those studentsalone. Look here, Goble," he added suddenly, "if this State goes out ofthe Union, will you go with her?"
"You jest bet I will. I'll go whether she does or not."
"Will you join the army and fight for her?"
"Sartingly."
"Well, we'll see who will go first--you or I."
"You? Why, dog-gone it, you're for the Union."
"Of course I am; always was and always shall be; but as I can't controlmy State, I shall have to do as she does. So you see, when you tried togouge me out of a pair of shoes and a dress awhile ago, you tried to robas good a friend of the South as you are yourself. I'll make it mybusiness to see some of that committee and find out whether or not theyuphold you in such doings. Now, clear out and don't bother me again."
Almost involuntarily Bud Goble and his friends turned toward the door,and Mr. Bailey followed them, revolver in hand, to make sure that theywent without trying to "get the drop" on him. As they faced about,"Elder Bowen's nigger Sam" glided across the porch, but they did not seehim.
We said the negro, who was alarmed by Bud Goble's fiery speech, startedfor home, and so he did; but he had not made many steps before he heardGoble's voice pitched in a high key, and prompted by curiosity, and adesire to learn something of the nature and purposes of that company ofminute-men of whom Bud had spoken, he came back and took his standbeside the open door out of sight. The slaves were all eavesdroppers inthose days, and if anything escaped their notice and hearing, it was nottheir fault. They were better posted and took a deeper interest in theaffairs of the day than many people supposed. The Northern papers, whichnow and then in some mysterious way came into their hands, just as the_Tribune_ came into Uncle Toby's hands, told them the truth; while thewhite people around them pinned their faith to the falsehoodsdisseminated by the secession press. Sam stood on the porch and heardall that was said and saw all that was done in the store; and when Mr.Bailey brought the interview to a close by ordering Bud and hiscompanions to "clear out," Sam made haste to get away before they caughtsight of him. This time he went home and hunted up his master, who wasat work in the garden.
Bud Goble had encountered an obstacle where he had least expected tofind it; but although he was surprised, and a little disheartened, hewould not admit that he was beaten. All Union men could not be as pluckyas Mr. Bailey was, and Bud determined to try his plan again as soon ashe could rid himself of the company of his four friends. He had no usefor them just now, and if he succeeded in frightening Mr. Bowen intogiving him a ham or a side of bacon, he did not want to be obliged toshare it with any one.
"That's a trifle the beatenest thing I ever heared of," declared Silas,who was the first to speak. "I do think in my soul that that ole manoughter be dealt with. When does that company of your'n meet, Bud, an'how are we-uns goin' to get into it?"
"We aint met nowheres yet, an' to tell you the truth, I aint got the'rangements fairly goin'," was the answer. "What I meant to say was,that I have been thinkin' of sich a thing; an' you can see from whathappened in t
he store that a company of that sort is needed, can't you?S'pose you-uns talk it up. 'Pears like we'd oughter get twenty fellersof our way of thinkin' together, an' if we can, jest see how much helpwe-uns could be to that committee of our'n. Tell 'em what you've seenan' heared this mornin', that the kentry is full of sich men as Baileyis, an' that we aint goin' to have 'em here no longer. Now, where'll Ifind you-uns agin in about an hour so't we can talk it over? I'll beback directly I 'tend to a little private business I've got on hand."
The place of meeting having been agreed upon, Bud hastened away,confidently expecting to be successful in the attempt he was about tomake to frighten a supply of provisions out of the Methodist minister.Elder Bowen did not believe in fighting, and of course it would be easyto make him open his smoke-house as often as he chose to demand it.Besides, Bud was made happy by a brilliant idea that suddenly poppedinto his mind; and in order that there might be no hitch in it at thecritical time, he turned toward the post-office, hoping that he mightfind Mr. Riley there. He was not disappointed. Mr. Riley and a good manyother planters about Barrington had taken to loitering around thetelegraph and post offices during the last few months, and weregenerally to be met there or in the immediate neighborhood.
"Well, Goble, what is the news to-day?" he inquired, as Bud drew nearand intimated by a wink that he would like to see him privately. Therehad been a time when Mr. Riley would have resented anything likefamiliarity on the part of such a man as Goble, but now that he wantedto use him, he was forced to treat him with a faint show of friendship.
"I don't get a bit of news of no kind," answered Bud, in a whining tone."'Pears like the babolitionists all shet up their mouths soon's I comearound. I've warned a few of 'em, but I aint seen no money for mytrouble yet. My time is wuth a dollar and a quarter a day, an' when Igive it all, it looks to me as though I oughter be paid for it; don't itto you?"
"Certainly," replied the planter, putting his hand into his pocket. "Ourcommittee hasn't been organized long enough to get into working orderyet, and so I shall have to give you something out of my own funds. Howwill that do to begin on?" he added, slipping a few pieces of silverinto Bud's ready palm. "Go ahead with your work and come to me when youwant anything. Whom have you warned?"
"Sarvent, sah," said Bud, pocketing the money. "Thank you very kindly,sah. Well, I've warned that there ole man Bailey, for one. He's pizen."
"Let him alone," said Mr. Riley, rather shortly.
"Why, he's Union the wust kind," exclaimed Bud, who was astonished aswell as disappointed. He had hoped that the planter would tell him todrive the storekeeper out of town, and so furnish him and his friendswith an excuse for any act of ruffianism they might be disposed toindulge in. "He'd oughter be whopped, ole man Bailey had, an' drove outbefore he has any more time to preach his docterings up amongst theniggers."
"You let him alone," repeated Mr. Riley. "He will come out all right.When the first gun is fired he will be as warm a secessionist as I am.Who else have you warned?"
Bud mentioned the names of three or four suspected men whom he hadneither seen nor heard of for a week or more, and finally said that hewas on his way to Elder Bowen's to tell him that he could not get out ofthe country any too quick.
"I don't care what you say or do to that man," exclaimed Mr. Riley, whogrew angry at the sound of the minister's name. "He is dangerous, andalways has been. He takes abolition papers. I don't know how they comeinto his hands, the mail being so closely watched, but he gets them, andI suspect gives them to Toby to read. If I could prove it on him, Iwould have him whipped this very night."
Bud Goble opened his lips to tell Mr. Riley that he could furnish himwith all the evidence he needed, but suddenly remembered that that wassomething he intended to use for his own benefit. That was what he washolding over Toby like an overseer's whip, ready to fall whenever hedidn't hoe his row right, and it was no part of his plan to expose theold negro unless the latter declined to keep him in provisions, orrefused to surrender his money on demand. So he said nothing aboutfinding that copy of the _Tribune_ in Toby's cabin the night before, butcame at once to the point he desired to reach.
"Then there's them boys up to the 'cademy," said he. "They need lookin'after, some of 'em, the very wust kind."
"I've heard that the school of which we have been so proud is a hotbedof treason, but I can hardly believe it," answered Mr. Riley. "No doubtthere is strong love for the old Union there, as there is here inBarrington; but when the time for action comes, I think the majority ofthose boys will go with their States."
"But there's that Gray an' Graham boy," continued Goble; and it made himangry to notice that Mr. Riley could scarcely refrain from laughingoutright. "If they was poor boys do you reckon they'd be allowed to holdout agin the 'Federacy like they do, an' talk agin it? I'll bet theywouldn't. But they are all rich. I reckon them boys' paps is wuth apower of money an' niggers."
"I don't know anything about Graham's family, but Rodney's is wealthy.His father has six hundred blacks on one plantation. You want revenge,don't you? Well, I don't see how you are going to get it, for if youfool with any of the students the others will jump on you, sure."
"Not if we whop the traitors," exclaimed Bud.
"Yes, they will. They are as clannish as a drove of wild hogs, and ifone squeals the others will rush to his assistance. You had better takemy advice and pocket the insult Rodney and Dick put upon you when theysent you to look for that underground railroad. Now I think I will go tothe telegraph office and see if there is anything new from Montgomery.Keep us posted, for we like to know who our enemies are."
"You bet I will," soliloquized Bud as he turned away, jingling thesilver pieces in his pocket as he went. "But I won't let them two boysget off easy, nuther. Six hundred niggers on one plantation. They'rewuth eight hundred dollars, I reckon, take 'em big _an_' little, an'that would make 'em all wuth--"
When Bud reached this point he stopped and shook his head. Finding thevalue of six hundred slaves at an average price of eight hundred dollarswas too much arithmetic for him. He was obliged to content himself withthe knowledge that Rodney's father was worth a good deal of money, andthat Rodney would give five hundred and perhaps a thousand dollars,rather than be whipped as if he were a black boy. A Southern youngster,no matter how disobedient and unruly he might be, considered it adisgrace to be whipped, and the school-teacher who ventured uponcorporal punishment was likely to get himself into serious difficulty.While Bud was turning these things over in his mind, he came withinsight of Elder Bowen's house.
"Riley don't care what I do to this chap," said he to himself. "Thatmeans that I can be as sassy as I please, an' mebbe I'll make up my mindthat I'd better lick him before I leave. I'll wait an' see how he actswhen I ax him for some of the things he's got into his smokehouse. Tellyour moster I want to see him directly," he added, addressing a littleblack boy who was playing at the foot of the steps that led to theporch.
The pickaninny disappeared, but in a few minutes returned with theannouncement--
"Marse Joe workin' in de ga'den, an' he say if you want see him you bestcome wha' he is."
"That's an insult that I won't put up with from no babolitionist,"declared Bud, who was about as angry as he could hold; and one wouldhave thought, from the vicious way he settled his rifle on his shoulderand crunched the gravel under his feet as he strode around the house,that he would surely do something when he found himself face to facewith the object of his wrath.
The first thing that attracted the visitor's attention was a very broadback covered by a clean white shirt (Bud detested "boiled" shirts, forhe had never had one of his own), and when the owner of that backstraightened up and turned toward him, Bud was confronted by a man whostood six feet four without his boots, and was built in proportion. Hehad tucked up his sleeves to keep them from being soiled, and the whiteforearms thus exposed were as muscular as a blacksmith's. He had beenwaiting for this visit, for his boy Sam, who came from town a quarter ofan hour before, had t
old him just what happened in the store, and warnedhis master that Bud had said in his speech that he was on the war-path,and meant to drive every abolitionist out of the country before he quit.But for all that the minister greeted Bud pleasantly.
"Well, neighbor Goble, what do you find to shoot this time of year?"said he. "It is rather early for young squirrels, and turkey and deerwill not be on the game list before September."
"I aint a-lookin' for little game," answered Bud gruffly. "I'm huntin'for babolitionists, an' you're one of 'em."
"Well, now that you have found me what do you purpose doing about it?"inquired the stalwart minister, smiling at Bud in a way the latter didnot like. Perhaps it wasn't going to be so easy, after all, to frightenhim into handing over a ham or a side of meat.
"I came here pur_pose_ly to tell you that you an' your kind aint wantedround yer no longer," said Bud. "You take babolition papers an' give 'emto old Toby to read."
"Can you prove that assertion?"
"Yes, I can. I seen one of 'em in his shanty last night, an' had it intomy hand."
"But can you prove that I gave it to him?"
"Yes, I can," repeated End, growing bolder by degrees. "Everybody intown says it's you who spreads them papers around, kase there's no oneelse who is low enough down to 'sociate with niggers."
"That will do. I have heard enough of such talk."
"But I aint got half through," protested Bud. "One man told me, notmore'n half an hour ago, that if he could prove it was you who give Tobythem papers, he would have you licked before sun-up."
"Ah! And what would _I_ do?"
"What would you do?" echoed Bud, who did not quite catch the minister'smeaning. "You'd have to cl'ar yourself or take another an' wuss lickin'.Go up to the United States where you b'long. You aint wanted here."
"You don't understand me. If the gentleman of whom you spoke shouldattempt any violence, would I submit to it without trying to defendmyself? I don't think I should. I have a double gun with fifteenbuckshot in each barrel, and you may say you have been assured by methat I will shoot the first man who puts a hostile foot on my gallery[porch]. Now go."
"Then you'll shoot--"
"Go!" interrupted the minister; and Bud ought to have been warned by theflash in his eye that he was thoroughly in earnest.
"The best men in town say--"
"Will you go peaceably," said the minister, pointing toward the gate,"or shall I be obliged to pick you up and throw you off my grounds?"
He took a single step forward as he spoke, and in an instant Bud Goblejumped back and swung his rifle from his shoulder; but before he couldthink twice his antagonist, whose agility equaled his strength, was uponhim, the weapon was twisted from his grasp, and Bud buried his face inthe soft earth of a flower-bed. But the minister was not yet done withhim. Holding the rifle in one hand he seized Bud by the neck with theother, jerked him to his feet, and walked him out of the gate and intothe road at double time. Then he fired the rifle into the air and leanedthe weapon against the fence.
"I think this ends our interview, neighbor Goble," said he, without theleast sign of anger or excitement, "and I will bid you good-day. Thenext time you visit me come in a proper frame of mind, and I willreceive you accordingly; but please do not bring me any more threateningmessages."
"This beats me," soliloquized Goble, who, after seeing the ministerdisappear around the corner of the house, felt of the back of his neckto make sure that the strong fingers which grasped it a moment beforehad not left any holes there. "Who'd a thought that a preacher could ahad sich an amazin' grip? I wasn't no more'n a babby in his hands. Nowwhat's to be done? Be I goin' to put up with sich an insult? I guess I'dbest set down yer an' think about it."
Bud Goble was a thoroughly subdued man now. The events of the morninghad satisfied him that open warfare was not his best hold, and that ifhe hoped to accomplish anything and retain the confidence of thecommittee, he must make a decided change in his tactics. He must work insecret and under cover of the darkness, and now when it was too late, hewished he had adopted that method at the outset. If he had he wouldn'thave lost his reputation. There were two men in the neighborhood he wasquite sure he would not trouble again unless he had a strong force athis back, for they had threatened to shoot, and Bud believed they werejust reckless enough to do it. When he reached this point in hismeditations he chanced to look up and saw old Uncle Toby emerge from thethicket on one side of the road, take a few long, rapid steps, anddisappear among the bushes on the other side. He held something tightlyclasped under his coat, and seemed so anxious to avoid observation thatBud's suspicions were aroused at once.
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