and marched him toward town.
But before the mob arrived the night before, Johnson feeling that his safety lay in informing the white folks, had crawled with his gun into the swamp. In the morning he peered out as the cavalcade approached, and not knowing what had happened, he recognized Colton, the sheriff, and signalled to him cautiously. In a moment a dozen men were on him, and he appealed and explained in vain‚ÅÝ‚Äîthe gun was damning evidence. The voices of Rob‚Äôs wife and children could be heard behind the two men as they were hurried along at a dog trot.
The town poured out to greet them‚ÅÝ‚Äî‚ÄúThe murderers! the murderers! Kill the niggers!‚Äù and they came on with a rush. The sheriff turned and disappeared in the rear. There was a great cloud of dust, a cry and a wild scramble, as the white and angry faces of men and boys gleamed a moment and faded.