Spade worked for a while, revolving these things in his mind. “I reckoned I sho’ was gwine to be sassy and free When I swum dat river,” he said. Ginger grinned like a monkey, “Swing your shubbel, boy, and forget what you ain’t. You mought be out on de chain-gang, bustin’ up rocks, Or agin, you mought be enlisted.” “Huh?” said Spade.

“Sho’, dey’s gwine to enlist us all when we finish dis road. All excep’ me. I got bad sight in my eyes And dey knows about it.” “Dey kain’t enlist me,” said Spade. “I ain’t honin’ to go an’ fight in no white-folks war, I ain’t bust loose into Freedom’s land fer dat, All I want is a chance to git me a gal and a mule. If I’se free, how kin dey enlist me, lessen I want?”