Hedidn\'tanswerfurseveralminutes。Thenhesays，usingthewordsDEADHOSSasBudhadsaidhewould。
“ADEADHOSSisfittenfo\'nothingbuttoskin。“
“Well，“Isays，usingthewordsfurthethirdtime，asinstructed，“itisaDEADHOSSallright。“
Ihearnthewindowshutandpurtysoonthefrontdooropened。
“Comeuphere，“hesays。Icome。
“Whorodethathossyo\'beentalkingabout？”
heasts。
“OneoftheSILENTBRIGADE，“Itellshim，asBudhadtoldmetosay。IgivehimthegripBudhadshowedmewithhisgoodhand。
“Comeonin，“hesays。
Heshutthedoorbehindusandlightedalampagin。Andwelookedeachotherover。Hewasascrawnylittlefeller，withlittlegrayeyessetneartogether，andsomesandy-complectedwhiskersonhischin。ItoldhimaboutBud，andwhathisfixwas。
“Damnit——oh，damnitall，“hesays，rubbingthebridgeofhisnose，“Idon\'tseehowonAIRTHIkindoit。Mywife\'sjesthadababy。Doyo\'hearthat？”
AndIdidhearasoundlikekittensmewing，somewheresupstairs。Beauregard，hegrinnedandrubbedhisnosesomemore，andlookedatmelikehethoughtthatmewingnoisewasthesmartestsoundthateverwasmade。
“Boy，“hesays，grinning，“bo\'nfivehoursago。
I\'vedonenamedhimBurley——afterthetobaccerassociation，yo\'know。Yes，SIR，BurleyPeoplesishisname——andheshorekinsquall，thedernedlittlecuss！”
“Yes，“Isays，“youbetterstaywithBurley。
LendmearigofsomesortandI\'lltakeBudhome。“
SowewentouttoBeauregard\'sstablewithalanternandhitcheduponeofhishossestoalightroadwagon。HewentintothehouseandcomebackaginwithamattressfurBudtolieon，andapartofabottleofwhiskey。AndIdrovebacktothatlumberpile。IguessInearlykilledBudgettinghimintothere。Buthewasn\'tbleedingmuchfromhiship——itwashisarmwasgivinghimfits。
Wewentslow，andthedawnbrokewithusfourmilesoutoftown。Itwasbroaddaylight，andearlymorningnoisesstirringeverywheres，whenwedroveupinfrontofanoldfarmhouse，withbigbrickchimbleysbuiltontheoutsideofit，acoupleofmilesfartheron。
CHAPTERXIV
AsIdroveintotheyard，abare-headedoldniggerwithagamelegthroweddownanarmfulofwoodhewasgatheringandwentlimpinguptotheverandaasfastashecould。
Heopenedthedoorandbawledout，pointingtous，beforehehaditfairlyopen：
“OMarseWILLyum！OMissLUCY！Dey\'vebrunghimhome！DARhe！”
Alittle，bright，black-eyedoldladylikeawrencomesrunningoutofthehouse，andchirps：
“OBud——Omyhoneyboy！Ishedead？”
“Ireckonnot，MissLucy，“saysBudraisinghimselfuponthemattressassherunsuptothewagon，andtryingtoactlikeeverythingwasallajoke。Shewasjesthighenoughtokisshimovertheedgeofthewagonbox。Aworried-lookingoldgentlemancomeoutthedoor，seenBudandhismotherkissingeachother，andthensaystotheoldniggerman：
“George，yo\'oldfool，whatdoyo\'meanbyshoutingoutlikethat？”
“MarseWillyum——“beginsGeorge，explaining。
“Shutup，“saystheoldgentleman，veryquiet。
“TakethebaymareandgoforDoctorPo\'ter。“
Thenhecomestothewagonandsays：
“Sotheygotyo\'，Bud？Yo\'WOULDgonight-
ridinglikearowdyandathug！Areyo\'muchhurt？”
Hesaiditeasyandgentle，morethanmad。
ButBud，heflushedup，paleashewas，anddidn\'tanswerhisdaddirect。Heturnedtohismotherandsaid：
“MissLucy，dear，itwould\'a\'doneyo\'heartgoodtoseethewaythemtrustwarehousesblazedup！”
Andtheoldlady，smilingandcryingbothtooncet，says，“Godblessherbraveboy。“Buttheoldgentlemanlookedmightyserious，andhisworrysettledintoafrownbetweenhiseyes，andheturnstomeandsays：
“Yo\'mustpardonus，sir，fo\'neglectingtothankyo\'sooner。“Itoldhimthatwouldbeallright，furhimnottoworrynone。AndhimandmeandMandy，whichwastheniggercook，gotBudintothehouseandintohisbed。AndhismothergetsthatbusyorderingMandyandtheoldgentlemanaround，togetthingsandfixthings，andmakeBudaseasyasshecould，thatyoucouldseeshewasoneofthemkindofwomanthatgetsalotofsatisfactionoutofhavingsomeonesicktofussover。AndafterquiteawhileGeorgegetsbackwithDoctorPorter。
HesetsBud\'sarm，andhelocatesthebulletinhim，andhesaysheguesseshe\'lldoinafewweeksifnothinglikebloodpoisoningnorgangrenenorinflammationsetsin。
Onlythedoctorsayshe“reckons“insteadofhe“guesses，“whichtheyalldodownthere。Andtheyallhadthemeasy-going，wait-a-bitkindofvoices，anddidn\'tseenopertic\'lerimportanceintheir“r\'s。“Itwasn\'tthatyoucouldspellitnodifferentwhentheytalked，butitsoundeddifferent。
Ieatmybreakfastwiththeoldgentleman，andthenItookasleepuntiltimefurdinner。Theywouldn\'thearofmeleavingthatnight。Ifullyintendedtogoonthenextday，butbeforeIknoweditIbeenthereacoupleofdays，andhavegotverywellacquaintedwiththatfambly。
Well，thatwasahousedividedaginitself。MissLucy，sheisawfulfavourabletoallthisnight-
riderbusiness。Shespunksupandhereyessparkleswhenevershethinksaboutthattheretobaccertrust。
Shewouldofliketobeenanight-riderherself。
Buttheoldman，hesayslawandorderisthemainpint。Whatthecountryneeds，hesays，ain\'tburningdowntobaccerwarehouses，andshootingyourneighbours，andlickingthemwithswitches，furnowrongdoneneverrightedanotherwrong。
“ButyouwereintheKuKluxKlanyo\'self，“
saysMissLucy。
TheoldmansaystheKuKluxeswasworkingfuraprinciple——theprincipleofkeepingthewhitesupremacyontopoftheniggerrace。Furifyoulet\'emquitworkandgoaroundballotingandvotingitwon\'tdo。Itmakes\'embiggity。Andabiggityniggerislayinguptroublefurhimself。BecausesoonerorlaterhewillgettothinkingheisasgoodasoneofthesehereAngle-SaxtonsyouarealwayshearingsomuchtalkaboutdownSouth。AndiftheAngle-Saxtonswastostandfurthat，purtysoontheywouldbesociableequality。Andnextthehullderncountrywouldbeniggerized。ThemthereAngle-Saxtons，thatcomeoverfromIrelandandScotlandandFranceandtheGreatBritishIslandsandsettleduptheSouthjestsimplycouldn\'taffordtoletthathappen，hesays，andsotheyKuKluxedtheniggerstomake\'emquitvoting。ItwasTHEIRjobtoMAKElawandorder，hesays，whichtheycouldn\'tbewithniggersgettingtheideatheyhadarighttogovern。SotheyKuKluxed\'emlikegentlemen。Buttheseherenight-riders，hesays，isAGINlawandorder——theycanshootupmorelawandorderinonenightthancanbemanu-
facturedaginintenyears。Hewasaveryquiet，peaceableoldman，Mr。Daviswas，andBudsayshewassodernfoolishaboutlawandorderhehadtoupandshootaman，aboutfifteenyearsago，whohearnhimtalkingthat-a-wayandsaidheremindedhimofaBostonschoolteacher。
ButMissLucyandBud，theytellsmewhatallthemnight-ridingsisfur。Itseemsthishereto-
baccertrustisjestasmeanandlow-downandun-
principledasalltherestofthemtrusts。Thefarm-
ersaroundthereraisedconsiderabletobaccer——
more\'ntheydidofanythingelse。Thetrusthadshovedthepricesolowtheycouldn\'thardlymakealiving。Sotheyorganizedandsaidtheywouldallholdtheirtobaccerfurafairprice。Butsomeofthefarmerswouldn\'torganize——saidtheyhadarighttodowhattheypleasedwiththeirownto-
baccer。Sothenight-riderswasformedtoburntheirbarnsandruintheircropsandwhip\'emandshoot\'emandmake\'emjine。Andalsotoburnafewtrustwarehousesnowandthen，andshow\'emthisfreeAmericanpeople，composedmainlyoutoftheAngle-Saxtonraces，wasn\'tgoingtotakenosassfromanybody。
AnoldfellerbythenameofRufeDanielswhowouldn\'tjinethenight-ridershadbeenshottodeathonhisowndoorstep，jestaboutamileaway，onlyaweekorsobefore。Thenight-ridersmostlyusedthesehereautomaticshot-guns，buttheydidn\'tbotherwithbirdshot。Theymostlyloadedtheirshellswithbuckshot。AfewbicycleballbearingsdroppedoutofoldRufewhentheygatheredhimupandgothimintoshapetoplant。Theyisalwayssomelow-downcussineverycrowdthatcarriesthingstothepointwheretheygetbrutal，Budsays；andhefeelslikethembicyclebearingswasgoingalittletoofur，thoughhewouldn\'tletontohisdadthathefeltthat-a-way。
SofurasIcouldseetheyhadn\'thurtthetrustnonetospeakof，themnight-riders。Buttheyhaddoneconsiderabledamagetotheirowncounty，furfolkswasmovingaway，andthepriceoflandhadfell。Still，Iguesstheymustofgotconsiderablesatisfactionoutofraisingthedeucenightsthat-a-
way；andsometimesthatisworthahulllottoafeller。AsfurasIcouldmakeoutboththetrustandthenight-riderswasinthewrong。But，youtake\'emoneatatime，personal-like，andnotintoagang，andmostofthemnight-ridersisgood-dis-
positionedfolks。Ineverknowedanytrustsper-
sonal，butmebbyifyoucouldketch\'emthesamewaytheywouldbesimilar。
IastsGeorgeonedaywhathethoughtaboutit。
George，hegotmightyseriousrightoff，likehefelthisanswerwasgoingtobeusedtodecidethehullthingby。HewascarryingalotofscrapsonaplatetoahounddogthathadakenneloutnearGeorge\'scabin，andhewalledhiseyesrightthought-
ful，andscratchedhisheadwiththeforkhehadbeenscrapingtheplatewith，butfurawhilenothingcomeofit。FinallyGeorgesays：
“I\'se\'spec\'mahjedgmentdesaboutdesameasMarseWILLyum\'san\'MissLUCY\'s。I\'senoticehitmos\'ingin\'llyamdesame。“
“Thatcan\'tbe，George，“saysI，“furtheythinkdifferentways。“
“DenifDATamdecase，“saysGeorge，“deyain\'tNOONEkinsettlehittwellhitsettleshitse\'f。
“I\'semos\'ingin\'llynoticeathingDOsettlehitse\'farterawhile。Yass，SAH，I\'senoticedat！
Longtimeagodeywasconsid\'blegwines-onindishyahcounty，MarseDaniel。Idunnoefyo\'
evahheah\'boutdato\'not，MarseDaniel，butdeywasawahfitrighthyahindishyahcounty。Suchgwines-onasnevahwas——demdarYankeesa-ridin\'
aroun\'an\'eatin\'updefaceo\'deyearth，likedeplagueso\'Pha\'aoah，MarseDaniel，andrippin\'
andrarin\'an\'racin\'an\'stealin\'evehythingdeycouldlaydeyhan\'son，MarseDaniel。An\'ouahfolksa-ridin\'andaracin\'andprojickin\'aroun\'indesameonsettledway。
“MarseWillyum，he\'lowHEgwinesettledatdarwahhe-se\'f——yass，SAH！An\'hegotonhehoss，andherideawayan\'jineMarseJebStuart。Butdeydon\'settlehit。MarseAb\'hamLinkum，he\'lowHEgwinesettlehit，an\'sen\'millyumsan\'
millyumsmo\'o\'demYankeesdownhyah，MarseDaniel。ButdeydesONsettlehitwuss\'nevah！
ButarterawhileitdessettleHITse\'f。
“An\'denfreedombrokeoutamongdeniggers，anddeywasmo\'gwines-ON，an\'talkin\'，an\'someon\'em\'loweddeywasgwineterbenomo\'wohk，MarseDaniel。ButarterawhiledatsettleHITse\'f，anddeyallwentbacktowohkagin。Densomeondeniggersgitsdenotion，MarseDaniel，deygwinefohtoVOTE。An\'deywasmo\'gwines-on，an\'deKuKluxescomeaprojickin\'aroun\'nights，likedegrave-yahdsdonebeenresu\'rected，MarseDaniel，an\'denarterawhiledattroublesettleHITse\'f。
“DenarterdeKuKluxesdeywasdetimeMissLucyBucknergwinetermahyMarsePrentMcMakin。An\'shedon\'wanttoma\'hyhim，ifdeygiveherherdruthersabouthit。ButOl\'MarseKunnelHampton，hergram-pa，andheraunt，MY
MissLucyhyah，deyain\'tgwinegivehernodruthers。Anddeywasmo\'gwines-ON。ButdatsettleHITse\'f，too。“
George，hebeginstochuckle，andIasthimhow。
“Yass，SAH，datsettleHITse\'f。ButI\'spec\'
MissLucyBucknerdonehe\'psomeindesettleMENT。
Fohdedaybefohdeweddin\'wasgwineterbe，sheupsan\'sherunsoffwidaYankeefrien\'ofherbrother，KunnelTomBuckner。An\'I\'se\'spec\'
KunnelToman\'MarsePrentMcMakinwouldo\'settle\'HIMefdeyevahhado\'cotchedhim——
datdarDavidAhmstrong！”
“Who？”saysI。
“DavidAhmstrongwashisentitlement，“saysGeorge，“an\'hebeengwinetodesamecollegeasMarseTomBuckner，upno\'thsomewhah。Dat\'show-comehebeenvisitin\'MarseTomdesbefohdeweddin\'troubledonesettleHITse\'fdat-a-
way。“
Well，itgivemequiteaturntorunontothementionofthatthereDavidArmstrongagininthispartofthecountry。HerehehadbeenjiltingMissHamptonwayupinIndiany，andrunningawaywithanothergirldownhereinTennessee。
ThenitstruckmemebbyitisjestdifferentpartsofthesamestoryIbeenhearingof，andMarthahadgotherpartalittlewrong。
“George，“Isays，“whatdidyousayMissLucyBuckner\'sgran-dad\'snamewas？”
“KunnelHampton——desdesameasMYMissLucybefo\'SHEdonema\'hiedMarseWillyum。“
Thatmademesureofit。Itwasthesamewoman。
ShehadrunawaywithDavidArmstrongfromthisheresameneighbourhood。ThenafterhegotherupNorthhehadlefther——orherlefthim。Andthenshewasn\'tMissBucknernolonger。Andshewasmadandwouldn\'tcallherselfMrs。Armstrong。
Soshemovedawayfromwhereanyonewaslibletotraceherto，andtookhermother\'smaidenname，whichwasHampton。
“Well，“Isays，“whateverbecomeof\'emaftertheyrunoff，George？”
ButGeorgehastoldaboutallheknows。TheywentNorth，accordingtowhateverybodythinks，hesays。PrentMcMakin，hefolleredandhunted。
AndCol。TomBuckner，hedonethesame。FuraboutayearColonelTom，hewasalwaysmakingtripsawayfromtheretotheNorth。ButwhetherheevergotanytrackofhissisterandthatDavidArmstrongnobodyknowed。Nobodyneveraskedhim。OldColonelHampton，hegrievedandhegrieved，andnotlongaftertherunawayheupanddied。AndTomBuckner，hefinallysoldallheownedinthatpartofthecountryandmovedfurthersouth。Georgesaidhedidn\'trightlyknowwhetheritwasAlabamaorFlorida。OritmightofbeenGeorgia。
IthinkstomyselfthatmebbyMrs。Daviswouldliketoknowwherehernieceis，andthatIbettertellheraboutMissHamptonbeinginthattherelittleIndianytown，andwhereitis。AndthenI
thinkstomyselfIbetternotbuttin。FurMissHamptonhaslikelygotherownreasonsfurkeepingawayfromherfolks，orelseshewouldn\'tdoit。
Anyhow，it\'snoneofMYaffairtobringthesubjectupto\'em。ItlookstomelikeoneofthemthingsGeorgehasbeengassingabout——oneofthemthingsthathassettleditself，anditain\'tfurmetomeddleandunsettleit。
ItsetmetothinkingaboutMartha，too。NotthatIhadn\'tthoughtofherlotsoftimes。IhadoftenthoughtIwouldwriteher。ButIkeptputtingitoff，andpurtysoonIkindofforgotMartha。I
hadseenalotofdifferentgirlsofallkindssinceI
hadseenMartha。Yet，wheneverIhappenedtothinkofMartha，Ihadalwayslikedherbest。Onlymovingaroundthecountrysomuchmakesitkindofhardtokeepthinkingsteadyofthesamegirl。
Besides，Ihadlostthattherehalfofaring，too。
ButknowingwhatIdidnowaboutMissHamptonbeingMissBuckner——orMrs。Armstrong——andrelatedtotheseDavisesmademewanttogetawayfromthere。Furthatsecretmademefeelkindofsneaking，likeIwasn\'tbeingfrankandopenwiththem。YetifIhadoftold\'emIwouldoffeltsneakingeryetfurgivingMissHamptonaway。
Inevergotintoamixupthat-a-waybetwixtmyconscienceandmydutybutwhatitmademefeelawfuluncomfortable。SoIguessedIwouldlightoutfromthere。Theywasn\'tnevernokinder，betterpeoplethanthemDavises，either。TheywassopleasedwithmybringingBudhomethenighthewasshottheywouldofjestnatcherallygivemehalftheirfarmifIhadofastthemfurit。Theywantedmetostaythere——theydidn\'tsayfurhowlong，andIguesstheydidn\'tgiveadern。ButI
wasinasweattoketchupwithDoctorKirbyagin。
CHAPTERXV
Imadepurtygoodtime，andinacoupleofdaysIwasinAtlanta。Iknowedthedoctormustofgonebackintosomebranchofthemedicinegame——thebottlestoldmethat。I
knoweditmustbesomethingthatheneededsomespecialkindofbottlesfur，too，orhewouldn\'tofhadthemshippedallthatdistance，butwouldofboughtthemnearer。IseenIwasadernfoolfurrushingoffandnotinquiringwhatkindofbottles，soIcouldtracewhathewasintoeasier。
It\'shardworklookingfuramaninagood-sizedtown。IhungaroundhotellobbiesandplacestillIwastiredofit，thinkinghemightcomein。AndIlookedthroughalltheofficebuildingsandreadalltheadvertisementsinthepapers。ThentheseconddayIwastherethestatefairstartedupandIwentouttoit。
IrunacrostacoupleIknowedouttherethefirstthing——itwasWattyandthesnake-charmerwoman。Onlyshewasn\'tcharmingthemnow。
HerandWattyhadaParisianModels\'show。I
astWattywhereDollywas。Hesayshedon\'tknow，thatDollyhasquithim。BywhichIguesshemeanshehasquither。IastwhereReginaldis，andtheHumanOstrich。ButfromthewaytheyansweredmyquestionsIseenIwasn\'twelcomenonearoundthere。IsupposethatMrs。OstrichandWattyhadmetupaginsomewheres，andhadjestnatcherallyrunoffwitheachotherandlefttheirfamblies。LikeasnotshehadleftpooroldReginaldwiththatidioticostrichfellertoselltostrangersthatdidn\'tknowhisdisposition。OrmebbybynowReginaldwasturnedlooseintheopencountrytoshiftfurhimself，amongwildsnakesthatneverhadnohumaneducationnorexperience；andwhatchancetwouldafriendlysnakelikeReginaldhaveinaganglikethat？Somewomenhasjestsimplygotnoconscienceatallabouttheirhusbandsandfamblies，andthatthereMrs。Ostrichwasoneof\'em。
Well，afellercanbeadernedfoolsometimes。
FurallmylookingaroundIwastedalotoftimebeforeIthoughtofgoingtotheonenatcheralplace——thefreightdepotoftheroadthembottleshadbeenshippedby。Ihadlostaweekcomingdown。Butfreightoftenlosesmoretimethanthat。
AnditwasatthefreightdepotthatIfoundhim。
Tickled？Well，yes！Bothofus。
“Well，byGeorge，“sayshe，“you\'regoodforsoreeyes。“
Beforehetoldmehowhehappenednottoofdrowndedorblowedawayoranythinghesayswebetterfixupabit。WhichhemeantIbetter。
Sohebuysmedudsfromheadtoheel，andwegoestoaTurkishbathplaceandIputs\'emon。Andthenwegoesandeats。Hearty。
“Now，“hesays，“FidoCut-up，howdidyoufindme？”*
Itoldhimaboutthebottles。
“Adeadloss，thosebottles，“hesays。“Iwantedsomenon-refillableonesforalittleschemeIhadinmind，andIhadtogetthematacertainplace——andnowthescheme\'supintheairandIcan\'tuse\'em。“
ThedoctorhadchangedsomeinlooksintheyearormorethathadpassedsinceIsawhimfloatingawayinthatballoon。Andnotfurthebetter。
HetoldmehowhehadblowedcleanacrostLakeErieinthatthereballoon。Andthenwhenhegotoverlandaginandwenttopullthecordthatletstheparachutelooseitwouldn\'tworkatfirst。Hejestnatcherallydriftedonintothemidstofnowhere，hesaid——milesandmilesintoCanada。Whenhelittheballoonhadlostsomuchgasandwasflyingsolowthattheparachutedidn\'topenoutquickenoughtodomuchfloating。Sohelithard，andcomenearbeingknockedoutfurgood。But——
*AUTHOR\'SNOTE——CanitbethatDannystrugglesvaguelytoreportsomereferencetoFIDUSACHATES？
thatwasn\'ttheworstofit，furtheexposurehadcrawledintohislungsbythetimehefoundahouse，andhegotnewmoniaintothemalso，andliketoofdied。WhilstIwaslayingsickhehadbeensickalso，onlyhis\'nlastedmuchlonger。
Buthetellsmehehasjeststruckanideafurabigscheme。Nolittleschemesgofurhimanymore，hesays。Hewantsmoney。Realmoney。
“Howyougoingtogetit？”Iastshim。
“ComealongandI\'lltellyou，“hesays。“We\'lltakeawalk，andI\'llshowyouhowIgotmyidea。“
Welefttherestaurantandwentalongthebragstreetofthattown，whichitisawfulproudof，pastwherethestoresstopsandthehousesbegins。
Wecometoafine-lookinghouseonacorner——aswellplaceitwas，withlotsofpalmsandfernsandplantssettingontheverandahandshowingthroughthewindows。Andstablesbackofit；
andbackofthestablesabigyardwithnoisescomingfromitliketheywascircusanimalsthere。WhichIfoundoutlatertheyreallywas，keptfurpets。
Youcouldtellthepeoplethatlivedtherehadmoney。
“This，“saysDoctorKirby，aswewalkedby，“isthehousethatJacksonbuilt。Dr。JuliusJack-
son——OLDDoctorJackson，themanwithanidea！
Theideamadeallthemoneyyousmellaroundhere。“
“Whatidea？”
“Theidea——theglorioushumanitarianandphilanthropicidea——oftakingthekinksandcurlsoutofthehairoftheAfro-Americanbrother，“
saysDoctorKirby，“atsomuchperkink。“
ThisDoctorJackson，hesays，sellswhathecallsAnti-Curltotheniggers。Itistostraightenouttheirhairsoitwilllooklikewhitepeople\'shair。Theyismillionsandmillionsofniggers，andeveryniggerhasmillionsandmillionsofkinks，andsoDoctorJacksonhasgotrichatit。Sorichhecanaffordtokeepthattherepersonalcircusmenagerieinhisbackyard，forhislittleboytoplaywith，andmanyotherinterestingthings。Hemustbeworthtwo，threemilliondollars，DoctorKirbysays，andstilla-makingit，withmoreniggersgrowingupallthetimefurtohavetheirhairun-
kinked。Especiallymulattoesandyallerniggers。
DoctorKirbysaysthinkingwhatagreatideathatAnti-Curlwasgivehimhisowngreatidea。Theyisagoldminethere，hesays，andDr。JuliusJacksonhasonlyscratchedalittleoffthetopofit，butHE
isgoingtodigdeeper。
“WhyisitthattheAfro-AmericanbrotherbuysAnti-Curl？”heasts。
“Why？”Iasts。
“Because，“hesays，“hewantstobeasmuchlikeawhitemanashepossiblycan。Hestrivestobursthisbirth\'sinvidiousbar，Danny。TheytalkaboutprogressandeducationfortheAfro-
Americanbrother，andupliftandadvancementandindustrialeducationandmanualtrainingandallthatsortofthing。EspeciallyweNortherners。
ButwhattheAfro-Americanbrotherthinksaboutanddreamsaboutandlongsforandpraystobe——whenhethinksatall——istobewhite。
Education，tohismind，islearningtotalklikeawhiteman。Progressmeansapingthewhiteman。
ReligionisdyingandgoingtoheavenandbeingaWHITEangel——listentohisprayersandsermonsandyou\'llfindthatout。He\'lldoanythinghecan，orgiveanythinghecangethisEthiopiangrub-
hookson，forsomethingthathethinksisgoingtomakehimmorelikeawhiteman。Poordevil！
ThereforethemillionsofDoctorJacksonAnti-
Curl。
“AllthisDoctorJacksonAnti-Curlhasdis-
coveredandthoughtoutandactedupon。IfhehadgonejustonestepfarthertheAfro-AmericanbrotherwouldhavehailedhimasagreatermanthanAbrahamLincoln，oreitheroftheWashing-
tons，GeorgeorBooker。Itremainsforme，Danny——forUS——tocarrythetorchahead——totakeuptheworkwheretheimaginationofDoctorJacksonAnti-Curlhaslaiditdown。“
“How？”astsI。
“WE\'LLPUTUPANDSELLAPREPARATIONTOTURNTHE
NEGROESWHITE！”
THATwashisgreatidea。HewasmoreexcitedoveritthanIeverseenhimbeforeaboutanything。
Itsoundedlikesoeasyawaytogetrichitmademewonderwhynoonehadeverdoneitbefore，ifitcouldreallybeworked。Ididn\'tbelievemuchitcouldbeworked。
ButDoctorKirby，hesayshehasbegunhisexperimentsalready，witharsenic。Arsenic，hesays，willbleachanything。Onlyheiskindofafraidofarsenic，too。Ifhecouldonlygetholdofsomethingthatdidn\'tcostmuch，andthatwouldwhitenthemupfuralittlewhile，hesays，itwouldn\'tmakenodifferenceiftheydidgetblackagin。
ThishereAnti-Curlstuffworkslikethat——ittakesthekinksoutfuralittlewhile，andtheycomebackagin。Butthatdon\'tseemtohurtthesalenone。ItonlycallsfurMOREofDoctorJackson\'smedicine。
Thedoctortakesmearoundtotheplaceheboardsat，andshowsmeaniggerwaiterhehasbeenex-
perimentingon。Hehadpaidthenigger\'sfineinapolicecourtfurslashinganotherniggersomewithaknife，andkepthimfromgoingintothechain-
gang。Sotheniggeragreedhecouldusehishidetotrydifferentkindsofmedicineson。Hewasavelvety-looking，chocolate-colouredkindofniggertostartwith，andthebestDoctorKirbyhadbeenabletodosofurwastomakeafewlittleliver-
colouredspotscomeontohim。Butitwasmakingtheniggersick，andthedoctorwasafraidtogotoofurwithit，furSammightdieandwewouldbeattheexpenseofanothernigger。Peroxideofhiderginhadn\'tevenphasedhim。Noralotofotherthingswetriedontohim。
YouneverseenaniggerwithhiscolourrunningintohimsodeepasSam\'sdid。Sam，hewasalwaysapologizingaboutit，too。Youcouldseeitmadehimfeelrealbadtothinkhiscolourwassostubborn。
Hefeltlikeitwasn\'tbeingpolitetothedoctorandme，Samdid，furhisskintoactthat-a-way。Hewasawillingnigger，Samwas。Thedoctor，hesayshewillfindouttherightstuffifhehastostartattheletterAandworkSamthrougheverydruginthehullblamealphabetdowntoZ。
Whichhefinallystruckit。Idon\'texactlyknowwhatshehadinher，butshewasamixtureofsomekind。Theonlytroublewithherwasshedidn\'tworkequalandeven——leftSam\'sfacelookingpeeledandspottyinplaces。Butstill，inthemspots，Samwassixshadeslighter。Thedoctorsaysthatisjestwhathewants，thattherepassing-
on-to-the-next-cage-we-have-the-spotted-girocutus-
look，ashecallsit。Thechocolatebrownandthelighterspotssidebyside，hesays，madearegularBeforeandAfteroutofSam\'sface，andwasthebestadvertisementyoucouldhave。
ThenwegoesandhasatalkwithDoctorJacksonhimself。DoctorKirbyhastheideamebbyhewillputsomemoneyintoit。DoctorJacksonwassettingonhisfrontverandawithhischairtiltedback，andhisfeet，withredcarpetslipperson\'em，wasontherailing，andhewassmokingoneoftheselongblackcigarsthatcomeseachoneinalittleglasstubeallbyitself。HelooksSamoververythoughtful，andhesays：
“Yes，itwilldotheworkwellenough。Icanseethat。Butwillitsell？”
DoctorKirbymakeshimquiteaspeech。Ineverhearnhimmakeabetterone。DoctorJacksonhelistensverycalm，withhisthumbsinthearmholesofhisvest，andmovinghiseyebrowsupanddownlikeheenjoyedit。Buthedon\'tgetexcitednone。
FinallyDoctorKirbysayshewillundertaketoshowthatitwillsell——meandhimwilltakeatripdownintotheblackcountryourselvesandshowwhatcanbedonewithit，andtakeSamalongfuranobjectlesson。
Well，theywasalotofrag-chewing。DoctorJacksondon\'twarmupnone，andheastsamillionquestions。Likehowmuchitcostsabottletomakeit，andwhatwasourideahowmuchitortersellfur。Hesaysfinallyifwecansellacertainnumberofbottlesinsolongatimehewillputsomemoneyintoit。Only，hesays，theywillbeastockcompany，andhewillhavetohavefifty-onepercent。ofthestock，orhewon\'tputnomoneyintoit。HesaysifthingsgowellhewillletDoctorKirbybemanagerofthatcompany，andlethimhavesomestockinittoo，andhewillbepresidentandtreasurerofithimself。
DoctorKirby，hedidn\'tlikethat，andsaidso。
SaidHEwasgoingtoorganizethatstockcompany，andcontrolithimself。ButDoctorJacksonsaidheneverputmoneyintonothinghecouldn\'trun。
Soitwassettledwewouldgivethestuffatry-outandreporttohim。BeforewewentawayfromthereitlookedtomelikeDoctorKirbyandmewasgoingtoworkfurthishereDoctorJackson，insteadofmakingallthemtheremillionsfurourselves。
WhichIdidn\'ttakemuchtothatAnti-Curlmanmyself；hewassocold-bloodedlike。
Ididn\'tliketheschemeitselfanytoowell，neither。Notanywayyoucouldlookatit。Inthefirstplaceitseemedlikeameantrickontheniggers。ThenIdidn\'tmuchbelievewecouldgetawaywithit。
ThemoreIlookedhimoverthemoreIseenDoctorKirbyhadchangedconsiderable。WhenIfirstknowedhimhelikedtohearhimselftalkingandhelikedtolivefreeandeasyandhelikedtoberunningaroundthecountryandallthemthings，more\'nhelikedtobemakingmoney。Ofcourse，hewantedit；butthatwasn\'ttheONLYthinghewasintotheSagrawgamefur。Ifhehadmoney，hewasfreewithitandwouldhelpmostanyoneoutofahole。Buthewasn\'tthinkingitandtalkingitallthetimethen。
Butnowhewasthinkingmoneyanddream-
ingmoneyandtalkingofnothingbuthowtogetit。Andplanningtomakeitoutofskinningthemniggers。Hedidn\'tcareadernhowheworkedontheirfeelingstogetit。Hedidn\'tevenseemtocarewhetherhekilledSamtryingthemdrugsontohim。HewantedMONEY，andhewanteditsobadhewasreadyandwillingtotakeupwithmostanywildschemetomakeit。
Theywassomethingabouthimnowthatdidn\'tfitinmuchwiththeDoctorKirbyIhadknowed。
Itseemedlikehehadspellswhenhesawhimselfhowhehadchanged。Hewasn\'tgayandjokingallthetimelikehehadbeenbefore，neither。I
guessthedoctorwasgettingalongtowardfiftyyearsold。Isupposehethoughtifhewasevergoingtogetanythingoutofhisgiftofthegabhebettersettledowntosomething，andquitfoolingaround，anddoitrightaway。Butitlookedtomelikehemightneverturnthetrick。Furhewasdrinkingrightsmartallthetime。Drinkingmadehimthinkalot，andthinkingwasmakinghimlookold。Hewasmore\'noneyearolderthanhehadbeenayearago。
Hekeptaquartbottleinhisroomnow。ThenightafterwehadtookSamtoseeDoctorJacksonwewassettinginhisroom，andhewashittingitpurtyhard。
“Danny，“hesaystome，afterawhile，likehewastalkingoutloudtohimselftoo，“whatdidyouthinkofDoctorJackson？”
“Idon\'tlikehimmuch，“Isays。
“NorI，“hesays，frowning，andtakesadrink。
Thenhesays，afterquiteafewminutesoffrowningandthinking，underhisbreathlike：“He\'sablamesightmoredecentthanIam，forallofthat。“
“Why？”Iastshim。
“BecauseDoctorJackson，“hesays，“hasn\'ttheleastideathatheISN\'Tdecent，andgettinghismoneyinadecentway。WhileatonetimeI
was——“
Hebreaksoffanddon\'tsaywhathewas。I
astshim。“Iwasgoingtosayagentleman，“
hesays，“butonreflection，IdoubtifIwaseveranythingbutacheapimitation。Ineverheardamansaythathewasagentlemanatonetime，thatIdidn\'tdoubthim。Also，“hegoeson，work-
inghimselfintoabetterhumouragainwiththesoundofhisownvoice，“ifIHADeverbeenagentle-
manatanytime，enoughofitwouldsurelyhavestucktometokeepmeoutofpartnershipwithamanwhocheatsniggers。“
Hetakesanotherdrinkandsayseventwentyyearsofrunningaroundthecountrycouldn\'toftookallthegentlemanoutofhimlikethis，ifhehadeverbeenone，furyoucanbreak，youcanscatterthevaseifyouwill，butthesmelloftheroseswillstickrounditstill。
Iseennowthekindofconversationsheisalwayshavingwithhimselfwhenhegetsjestsodrunkandisthinkinghard。Onlythistimeithappenstobeoutloud。
“Whatisagentleman？”Iastshim，thinkingifhewasn\'toneitmighttakehismindoffhimselfalittletotellme。“WhatMAKESone？”
“Authoritiesdiffer，“saysDoctorKirby，slouchingdowninhischair，andgrinninglikeheknowedajokehewasn\'tgoingtotellnoone。“IheardDoctorJacksondescribehimselfthatwaytheotherday。“
Well，speakingpersonal，Ineverhadsmellednoneofroses。Iwasn\'tnothingbuttrashmyself，sobeingagentlemandidn\'tbothermeonewayortheother。TheonlyreasonIdidn\'twanttoseethemniggersbunkedsoverybadwasonlyjestbecauseitwassuchalow-down，ornerykindoftrick。
“Itain\'ttoolate，“Isays，“topulloutofthisniggerschemeyetandgetintosomethingmorehonest。“
“Idon\'tknow，“hesaysthoughtful。“IthinkperhapsitIStoolate。“Andhesetstherelookinglikeamanthatisgoingoveragoodmanyyearsoflifeinhismind。Purtysoonhesays：
“Asfarashonestygoes——itisn\'tthatsomuch，ODaniel-come-to-judgment！It\'saboutashonestasmostmedicinegames。It\'s——“Hestoppedandfrownedagin。
“Whatisit？”
“It\'stheirbeingNIGGERS，“hesays。
Thatmadethedifferencefurme，too。Idunnohow，norwhy。
“I\'vetriednearlyeverythingbutblackmail，“
hesays，“andI\'llprobablybetryingthatbythistimenextyear，ifthisschemefails。Butthere\'ssomethingabouttheirbeingniggersthatmakesmesickofthisthingalready——justasthetimehascometomakethestart。AndIdon\'tknowWHYitshould，either。“Heslippedanotherbigslugofwhiskeyintohim，andpurtysoonheastsme：
“Doyouknowwhat\'sthematterwithme？”
Iastshimwhat。
“I\'mtoodecenttobeacrook，“hesays，“andtoocrookedtobedecent。You\'vegottobeonethingortheothersteadytomakeitpay。“
Thenhesays：
“DidyoueverhearofthedescenttoAvernus，Danny？”
“Imight，“Itellshim，“andthenaginImightn\'t，butifIeverdid，Idon\'trememberwhatsheis。
Whatisshe？”
“It\'sthechutetotheinfernalregions，“hesays。
“Theysayit\'sgreased。Butitisn\'t。It\'sreallynoeasierslidingdownthanitisclimbingback。“
Well，Iseenthisniggerschemeofour\'nwasn\'ttheonlythingthatwastroublingDoctorKirbythatnight。Itwasthinkingofalltheschemeslikeitintheyearspasthehadwentinto，andhowhehadwentinto\'emlight-heartedandmore\'nhalffurfunwhenhewasayoungman，andnowhewasn\'tfittenfurnothingelsebutthemkindofschemes，andheknowedit。Hewasseeinghimselfhowhehadbeenchanging，likeanotherpersoncouldofseenit。That\'sthemaintroublewithdrinkingtofergityourself。Youfergitthewrongpartofyourself。
Ilefthimpurtysoon，andwentalongtobed。
Myroomwasnexttohis\'n，andtheywasadoorbetween，sothetwocouldberentedtogetherifwanted，Isuppose。Iwenttosleepandwokeupaginwithastartoutofadreamthathadinitmillionsandmillionsandmillionsofniggers，everywayyoulooked，andtheirmouthswasallopenredandtheireyeswalledwhite，fittoscareyououtofyourshoes。
IhearnDoctorKirbymovingaroundinhisroom。Butpurtysoonhesetsdownandbeginstotalktohimself。Everythingelsewasquiet。
Iwaskindofworriedabouthim，hehadtakensomuch，andhopedhewouldn\'tgetanotiontogodowntownthattimeo\'night。SoIthinksIwillseehowheisacting，andstepsovertothedoorbe-
tweentherooms。
Thekeyhappenedtobeonmyside，andIun-
lockedit。Butsheonlyopensalittleways，furhiswashstandwasneartothehingeendofthedoor。
Ilookedthrough。Heissettingbythetable，lookingatawoman\'spicturethatisproppeduponit，andtalkingtohimself。Hehasneverhearnmeopenthedoor，heissointerested。Butsomehow，hedon\'tlookdrunk。Helookslikehehadfoughthiswayupoutofit，somehow——hisforeheadwassweaty，andtheywasoneintoxicatedlockofhairstickingtoit；butthatwastheonlyun-sober-
lookingthingabouthim。Iguesshislegswouldofbeenunsteadyifhehadoftriedtowalk，buthisintellectswasuncomfortableandsober。
Heisstillkeepingupthatsameoldargumentwithhimself，orwiththepicture。
“Itisn\'tanyuse，“Ihearnhimsay，lookingatthepicture。
Thenhelistenedlikehehearnitansweringhim。
“Yes，youalwayssayjustthat——justthat，“
hesays。“AndIdon\'tknowwhyIkeeponlisteningtoyou。“
Thewayhetalked，andharkenedfurananswer，whentheywasnothingtheretoanswer，givemethecreeps。
“Youdon\'thelpme，“hegoeson，“youdon\'thelpmeatall。Youonlymakeitharder。Yes，thisthingisworsethantheothers。Iknowthat。
ButIwantmoney——andfoolthingslikethisHAVE
sometimesmadeit。No，Iwon\'tgiveitup。No，there\'snousemakinganymorepromisesnow。
Iknowmyselfnow。Andyououghttoknowmebythistime，too。Whycan\'tyouletmealonealtogether？Ishouldthink，whenyouseewhatI
am，you\'dletmebe。
“Godhelpyou！ifyou\'donlystayawayitwouldn\'tbesohardtogotohell！”
CHAPTERXVI
There\'salotofcountiesinGeorgiawheretheblacksareequalinnumbertothewhites，andtwoorthreecountieswheretheblacksnumberoverthewhitesbytwotoone。
Itwasfuralittletowninoneofthelatterthatwepintedourselves，DoctorKirbyandmeandSam——
rightintotheblackestpartoftheblackbelt。
Thatcountryisfullofbig-sizedplantations，wheretheyraisecotton，cotton，cotton，andthenMOREcotton。Someof\'emraisesfruit，too，andotherthings，ofcourse；butcottonisthemainstand-by，anditlookslikeitalwayswillbe。
Someplacesthereshowsthatthingscan\'tbesoawfulmuchchangedsinceslaverydays，andmostoftheniggersaresureenoughcountryniggersyet。Somerentstheirlandrightoutfromtheowners，andsomeof\'emcropsitontheshares，andverymanyof\'emjestworksashands。Alotof\'emdon\'tdonighsowellnowastheydidwhentheirbosseswastheirmasters，theytellme；andthenagin，somehasdonerightwellontheirownhook。
Theyintrustedme，becauseIneverhadbeenusetolookingatsomanyniggers。Everywayyouturntheretheyisniggersandthenmoreniggers。
Themthatthinkstheyisawfuleasytohandleoutofanatcheralrespectfurwhitefolkshasgotanotherguesscoming。Theyain\'tsobadtogetalongwithifyoukeepitmostpintedlyshovedintotheirheadstheyISniggers。Yougottodothatespecialintheblackbelt，jestbecausetheyISsomanyof\'em。Theyischildrenalltheirlives，mebby，tillsomeoneminuteofcrazinessmaystrikeoneofthem，andthenheisadeviltemporary。
Mebby，whenthecrazyfithaspassed，somewhitewomanisworseoffthanifshewasdead，ormebbysheISdead，ormebbyaloonaticfurlife，andthatniggerisacandidatefuralynchingbeeandginerallyelectedbyananonymousmajority。
NotthatALLniggersisthat-a-way，norHALFof\'em，norveryMANYof\'em，even——butyoucannevertellWHICHniggerisgoingtobe。Sointheblackbeltthewhitefolksismightypertic\'lerwhocomesalongfoolingwiththeirniggers。Furyoucannevertellwhatturnanigger\'sthoughtswilltake，onceanythingatallstirs\'emup。
Wedidn\'tknowthemthingsthen，DoctorKirbyandmedidn\'t。Wedidn\'tknowwewasmovinglight-heartedrightintothemiddleofthebiggestquestionthathaseverbeenast。WhichIdisre-
memberexactlyhowthatniggerquestionisworded，buttheyisalwaysastingitintheSouth，andan-
sweringofitdifferentways。Wehadn\'tnoideahowsuspiciousthewhitepeopleinthemawfulblackspotsonthemapcangetoveranyonethatcomesalongtalkingtotheirniggers。Wedidn\'tknowanythingaboutniggersmuch，beingbothfromtheNorth，exceptwhatDoctorKirbyhadcountedonwhenhemadehismedicine，andTHAT
heknowedsecond-handedfromotherpeople。Wedidn\'ttake\'emveryserious，norallthetalkwehearnabout\'emdownSouth。
Butevenatthatwemightn\'tofgotintoanytroubleifithadn\'tofbeenfuroldBishopWarren。
Butthatisgettingaheadofthestory。
Wegotintothatlittletown——ImightjestaswellcallitCottonville——jestaboutsuppertime。
Cottonvilleisalittleplaceofnotmore\'nsixhundredpeople。Iguessfourhundredof\'emmustbeniggers。
Aftersupperwegotacquaintedwithpurtynighalltheprominentcitizensintown。Theywasfriendlywithus，andwewasfriendlywiththem。
Georgiahadjestwentfurprohibitionafewmonthsbeforethat，andtheyhadn\'topeneduptheseherenear-beerbar-roomsinthelittletownsyet，liketheyhadinAtlantaandthebigtowns。Georgiahadwentprohibitionsotheniggerscouldn\'tgetwhiskey，somesaid；butotherssaidtheydidn\'tknowWHATitsexcusewas。Themprominentcitizenswasloafingaroundthehotelandeverynowandtheninvitingeachotherverymysteriousintoabackroomthatusetobeapoolparlour。
Theyhadbeenseveraljugscometotownbyexpressthatday。Wewentbackseveraltimesourselves，andsoonbegantogetalongpurtywellwiththemprominentcitizens。
TalkingaboutthisandthattheyfinallyedgesaroundtotheonethingeverybodyissuretogettotalkingaboutsoonerorlaterintheSouth——
niggers。AndthentheygetstotellingusaboutthishereBishopWarrenIhasmentioned。
Hewasaniggerbishop，BishopWarrenwas，andhadagooddealofwhitebloodintohim，theysay。Anashy-colourednigger，withbumpsonhisface，fatasapossum，andascunningasafox。
Hehadplentyofbrainsintohishead，too；buthisbrainshadturnedsourinhisheadthelastfewyears，andthebishophadcrazystreaksrunningthroughhissensenow，likefatandleanmixedinaslabofbacon。Heusedtobefriendswithalotofbigwhitefolks，andthewhitesdependedonhimatonetimetopreachorderlinessandobedienceandagricultureandbeingintheirplacetotheniggers。
Furyearstheythoughthepreachedthat-a-way。
HealwaysDIDpreachthat-a-waywhenanywhiteswasaround，andhesetonplatformssometimeswithwhitepreachers，andhegotgooddonationsfurschemesofdifferentkinds。Butgradualthesuspiciongotaroundthatwhenhewasalonewithalotofniggershisniggerbloodwouldgetthebestofhim，andwhathepreachedwasn\'twhitesu-
premacyatall，buthopefulnessofbeingequal。
Sothewhiteshadfellawayfromhim，andthenhisgraftwasgone，andthenhisbrainsturnedsourinhisheadandgottoworkingandfermentinginitlikecidergettinghard，andhemadeafewbadbreaksbynotbeingcarefulwhathesaidbeforewhitepeople。Buttheniggerslikedhimallthebetterfurthat。
Theyalwayshadbeenmoreorlesshellinthebishop\'sheart。Hehadbrainsandheknowedit，andthewhitefolkshadlethimseeTHEYknowedit，too。Andhewaspartwhite，andhiswhiteforefathershadbeenbigmenintheirday，andyet，inspiteofallofthat，hehadtoherdwithniggersandtopertendhelikedit。Hewasbothwhiteandblackinhisfeelingsaboutthings，sosomeofhisfeelingscounterdictedothers，andoneofthesehereraceriotswentonallthetimeinhisowninsides。Butgradualhegottotheplacewheretheywasspellshehatedbothwhitesandniggers，buthehatedthewhitestheworst。Andnow，inthelasttwoorthreeyears，sincehiscrazystreakshadgrowedasbigashissensiblestreaks，orbigger，theywasnotellingwhathewouldpreachtothemniggers。Butwhateverhepreachedmostofthemwouldbelieve。Itmightbesomethingcrazyandharmless，oritmightbecrazyandharmful。
Hehadbeenholdingsomerevivalmeetingsinniggerchurchesrightthereinthatverycounty，andwasatitnotfurawayfromthererightthen。
Theideahadgotaroundhewaspreachingsomemostunusualfoolishnesstotheblacks。Furtheniggerswasallactingliketheyknowedsomethingtoogoodtomentiontothewhitefolks，allaboutthere。Butsomewhitemenhadgonetooneofthemeetings，andthebishophadpreachedoneofhisold-timesermonswhilsttheywasthere，tellingtheniggerstobeorderlyandagriculturous——hewasconsiderableofafoxyet。ButheandtherestoftheniggerswassoDERNEDanxioustobethoughtagriculturousandservitudinousthatthewhitessmeltarat，andwishedhewouldgo，furtheydidn\'twanttochasehimwithouttheyhadto。
Jestwhenwewasgettingalongfineoneofthemprominentcitizensaststhedoctorwaswetherefiggeringonbuyingsomeland？
“No，“saysthedoctor，“wewasn\'t。“
Theywassilencefurquitealittlespell。Eachprominentcitizenhadmebbyhadhishopesofunloadingsome。Theyalllooksalittlesad，andthenanotherprominentcitizenastsusintothebackroomagin。
Whenwereturnstothefrontroomanotherpromi-
nentcitizenmakesalittlespeechthatwasquitebeautifultohear，andsaysmebbywerepresentssomenewconcernthatain\'tneverbeeninthempartsandisfiggeringonbuyingcotton。
“No，“thedoctorsays，“weain\'tcottonbuyers。“
Anotherprominentcitizenhastheideamebbyweisfiggeringononeofthesehereinter-Reubentrolleylines，sotheRubesinonevillagecanrideoverandvisittheRubesinthenext。Andanotheronethinksmebbyweisfiggeringonatelephoneline。Andeachonemakesaveryeloquentlittlespeechaboutthemthings，andringsinsomethingaboutourfairSouthland。Andwhenbothofthemmissestheirguessitistimefuranothervisittothebackroom。
Waswesellingsomething？
Wewas。
Waswesellingfruittrees？
Wewasn\'t。
Finally，aftereveryonehasachewofnatcheralleaftobaccerallaround，oneprominentcitizenmakessoboldastoastusverycourteousifhemightenquirewhatitwaswewasselling。
Thedoctorsaysmedicine。
Thentheywasaslowgrinwentaroundthattherecrowdofprominentcitizens。Andonceaginwehastomakeatriptothatbackroom。Furtheyareallsurewemustbetakingordersfursomethingtobeatthatthereprohibitiongame。Whentheymissesthatguesstheyallgetskindofthoughtfulandsad。Acoupleof\'emdon\'ttakenomoreinterestinus，butgoesalonghomesighing-like，asifitwasn\'tnodifferenceWHATwesoldaslongasitwasn\'twhattheywaslookingfur。
Butpurtysoononeofthemasts：
“WhatKINDofmedicine？”
Thedoctor，hetellsaboutit。
Whenhefinishesyouneverseensuchachangeashadcomeontothefacesofthatbunch。I
neverseensuchdisgustedprominentcitizensinmyhulllife。Theylookedateachotherembarrassed，liketheyhadbeenketchedatsomethingornery。
Andtheywentoutoneatatime，sayinggoodnighttothehotel-keeperandinthemostpintedwaytakingnonoticeofusatall。Itcertainlywasachill。Weseessomethingiswrong，andwebeginstohaveanotionofwhatitis。
Thehotel-keeper，hespitsouthischew，andgoesbehindhislittlecounterandtakesafive-centcigaroutofhislittleshowcaseandbitestheendoffcareful。Thenheleanshiselbowsontohiscounterandreadsournamestohimselfoutoftheregisterbook，andlooksatus，andfromustothenames，andfromthenamestous，likeheistryingtofiggerouthowhecometoletuswrite\'emthere。ThenhewantstoknowwherewecomefrombeforewecometoAtlanta，wherewehadregisteredfrom。
WetellshimweisfromtheNorth。Helightshiscigarlikehedidn\'tthinkmuchofthatcigarandsticksitinhismouthandlooksatussolonginanabsent-mindedkindofwayitgoesout。
ThenhesaysweortergobackNorth。
“Why？”aststhedoctor。
Hechewedhiscigarpurtynighuptothemiddleofitbeforeheanswered，andwhenhespokeitwasasoftkindofadrawl——notmadorloud——butliketheywassorrowfulthoughtsworkinginhim。
“Yo\'alldonestruckthewo\'stpahto\'theSouthtopeddleyo\'niggahmedicinein，sah。Ireckonyo\'mustlove\'emaheaptobethatconcehnedoverthecolouroftheirskins。“
Andheturnedhisbackonusandwentintothebackroomallbyhimself。
Weseenwewasinwronginthattown。Thedoctorsaysitwillbenousetryingtointerduceourstuffthere，andwemightaswellleavethereinthemorningandgoovertoBairdstown，whichwasalittleplaceabouttenmilesofftherailroad，andmakeourstartthere。
Sowegotarigthenextmorninganddroveacrostthecountry。Noonebidusgood-bye，neither，andDoctorKirbysaysit\'sawondertheyrentedustherig。
Butbeforewestartedthatmorningwenoticedafunnything。Wehadn\'tsomuchasspoketoanynigger，exceptourownniggerSam，andhecouldn\'toftoldALLtheniggersinthattownaboutthestufftoturnniggerswhite，evenifhehadsetupallnighttodoit。Buteverylastniggerwesawlookedlikeheknowedsomethingaboutus。
Evenafterwelefttownourniggerdriverhailedtwoorthreeniggersintheroadthatactedthat-a-
way。Itseemedliketheywasallawfulpolitetous。AndyettheywasdifferentintheirpolitenessthantheywastothemGeorgiafolks，whichistheirnatcheral-bornbosses——actedmorefamiliar，some-
how，asiftheyknowedwemustbethinkingaboutthesamethingtheywasthinkingabout。
Abouthalf-waytoBairdstownwestoppedataplacetogetadrinkofwater。Seeminglythewhitefolkswasawayfurtheday，andanoldniggercomeupandtalkedtoourdriverwhileSamanduswasatthewell。
Iseenthemcuttingtheireyesatus，whilsttheywasuncheckingthehossestoletthemdrinktoo，andthenIhearntheonethatbelongedtheresay：
“Isyo\'SUAHdathitairdem？”
“SUAH！”saysthedriver。
“How-comeyo\'soall-powerfulSUAHabouthit？”
Thedriverpertendedtheharnessneededsomefixing，andtheywentaroundtotheothersideoftheteamandtinkeredwithoneofthetraces，a-talkingtoeachother。Ihearntheoldniggersay，kindofwonderized：
“Isdeya-gwinedarNOW？”
Sam，hewaspullingabucketofwaterupoutofthewellfuruswithawindlass。Thedoctorsaystohim：
“Sam，whatdoesallthismean？”
Sam，hepertendshedon\'tknowwhatthedoctoristalkingabout。ButDoctorKirbyhefinallypinshimdown。Samhemmedandhawedconsidera-
ble，makinguphismindwhetherhebetterlietousornot。Then，allofasudden，hebustedoutintoanawfulfitoflaughing，andliketooffellinthewell。Seeminglyhedecidedfurtotellusthetruth。
FromwhatSamsaysthattherebishophasbeenholdingrevivalmeetingsinBigBethel，whichisaniggerchurchrightontheedgeofBairdstown，andniggersfurmilesaroundhasbeencomingnightafternight，andsomeofthemwhoopingherupdaytimestoo。Andthebishophasworkedhimselfupthelastthreeorfournightstowherehehasbeenperdictingandprophesying，furthespirithashitthemeetinghard。
Whathehasbeenprophesying，Samsays，isthecomingofaMessiahfurtheniggerrace——anewElishyah，hesays，aswillleadthemfromout\'ntheirinequalityandbring\'emuptowhitestandardsrightonthespot。ThewhiteshashadtheirMessiah，thebishopsays，buttheniggersain\'tneverhadnoneoftheirSPECIALOWNyet。
Andtheyneedsonebad，andoneissurea-coming。
Itseemsthewhitesdon\'tknowyetjestwhatthebishop\'sbeena-preaching。ButeveryniggerfurmilesoneverysideofBigBethelisa-listeninganda-lookingfursignsandomens，andhasbeenfurtwo，threedaysnow。Thisherehalf-crazybishophasgot\'emworkeduptowheretheyisreadytobelieveanything，ordoanything。
SothenightbeforewhenthewordgotoutinCottonvillethatwehadsomeschemetomaketheniggerswhite，theniggerstheretookupwiththeideathatthedoctorwasmebbythefellerthebishophadbeenprophesyingabout，andforasignandaomenandamiracleofhisgraceandpowerswasgoingouttoBigBetheltoturn\'emwhite。
Poordevils，theydidn\'tseebutwhatbeingturnedwhiteorterbeapartofwhattheywastogetfromthecomingofthatthereMessiah。
Newsspreadsamongniggersquickerthanamongwhites。Nooneknowshowtheydoit。ButI\'vehearntalesabouthowwhenwartimeswasthere，theywouldfrequenthavethenewsofabigfightbeforethewhitefolks\'paperswould。SoldiershastoldmethatinthemtherePhilippineIslandsweconqueredfromSpain，wheretheyissomuchniggerbloodmixedupwithotherkindsintheislanders，thismysteriousspreadingaroundofnewsisjestthesame。Andjestsincenineo\'clockthenightbefore，thenewshadspreadfurmilesaroundthatBishopWarren\'sMessiahwasonhisway，andwasgoingfurtoturnthebishopwhitetoshowhispowerandgrace，andhehadwithhimonehehadturnedpartwhite，andthatwasSam，andonehehadturnedclearwhite，andthatwasme。
AndtheywastobesignsandwonderstobeholdatBigBethel，withpillarsofcloudandsoundsoftrumpetsandfiresquirtingdownfromheaven，likeitalwaysusetobeinthemoldBibledays，andthemthereniggerstobeledsingingandshoutingandrejoicingintoalandofmilkandhoney，forever-
more，AMEN！
That\'swhatSamsaystheyarelookingfur，dozensandscoresandhundredsofthemniggersroundabout。Sam，hehadlivedintownfiveorsixyears，andhelookeddownonallthesehereignoramuscountryniggers。Sohebustsoutlaugh-
ingatfirst，andhepertendslikehedon\'ttakenostockinanyofit。Besides，heknowedwellenoughhewasn\'tspottedupbynoMessiah，butitwasthedopeinthebottlesdoneit。Butashetoldaboutthemgoings-onSamgotmoreandmoreinterestedandwarmeduptoit，andhisvoicewentintoakindofasing-songlikehewasprophesyinghimself。
Andtheothertwoniggersquitpertendingtofoolaroundtheteamandedgedalittlecloseter，andalittlecloseteryet，withtheirmouthsopenandtheirheadsa-noddingandthewhitesoftheireyesa-rolling。
Furmypart，Ineverhearnsuchalotofdernfoolishnessinallmylife。Butthedoctor，hesaysnothingatall。HelistenstoSamrantingandrollingoutbigwordsandraving，andonlyfrowns。Heclimbsbackintothebuggyaginsilent，andalltherestofthewaytoBairdstownhesettherewiththatscowlonhisface。Iguesseshewasthinkingnow，thewaythingshadshapedup，hewouldn\'tsellnoneofhisstuffatallwithouthefellrightinwiththereceptionchancehadplannedfurhim。
Butifhedidfallinwithit，andpertendlikehewasaMessiahtothemniggers，hecouldgetalltheyhad。Hewasmebbythinkinghowmuchornerierthatwouldmakethehullscheme。