Strained whispers arose.
“Careful there!”
“Go on, damn ye!”
“There’s someone by yon fire.”
“No, there ain’t.”
“See the bushes move.”
Bang! bang! bang!
“Who’s that?”
“It’s me.”
“Let’s rush through and fire the house.”
“And leave a pa’cel of niggers behind to shoot your lights out? Not me.”
“What the hell are you going to do?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“I wish I could see a nigger.”
“ Hark! ”
Stealthy steps were approaching, a glint of steel flashed behind the fire lights. Each band mistook the other for the armed Negroes, and the leaders yelled in vain; human power can not stay the dashing torrent of fear-inspired human panic. Whirling, the mob fled till it struck the road in two confused, surging masses. Then in quick frenzy, shots flew; three men threw up their hands and tumbled limply in the dust, while the main body rushed pellmell toward town.