like dey wants sumfin, and I watch 'em close; if dey boddersme
dey ketch it, sho;" dat's what he say! I done told Massa Dent dat I not
feared. But dat was a story, kase me was some skea'd. I gits on de hoss
and corned right on jes' like I wa'n't skea'd at all. I rides slow doe,
kase as how I wa'n't sho' 'bout dem mans. So I gits 'bout half way down
the road home, and dem mans--dar war free of dem; dar war free, sho',
dey jes' steps right in de road afore me and de hoss. I say "Good
mornin," and takes off my hat like a gemman. Dey say "Whar you goin',
nigga?" Den I know'd who dey is. When dey say "nigga," dat's nuff
for dis child. I know'd dey be "Sesh." Dat's what "Sesh" all call
us--"niggas." I tells you, den I's ska'd. One ob dem say, "What you got
dar, nigga?" I say "wegetables for de house." Ben dey say "Who house?'
I told dem Massa Daniel. Den dey say, "Dat ole Lyon? Dat ole Ablishner?
Dat ole scoun'el what want to whip de Souf? To free de niggas 'mongst
us?" I say, "Don' know 'bout dat. Massa Lyon not say nuffin to me 'bout
dat." Den dey sajr, "Whar you come from, anyhow?" I tole 'em I comed
from up in de State whar Massa Daniel comed from. Den dey swar dat I a
liar; dat dey know'd Massa Daniel; dat he fetched no niggas hyar from
'Hio. Den when dey say "'Hio," golly, I be glad; kase I could't smell
out de name afore; forgot him clar, sho'. Den I say I comed from 'Hio
awhile ago, an' stay wid you, kase I know'd you back dar in 'Hio. Den
dey ax me w'at town I comed from. Den dey get me. I skea'd den. One of
dem say, "O, he a d----d fool; he not know nuffin." I say, "Yes, sah,
sho'; dat's fac. I doesn't know nuffin'bout dem matters what you say."
Den dey laff. Yes, sah, dey laff. I start on. Den dey say, "Nigga, stop
dat hoss." De hoss stop. Yes, sah, den I be orful skea'd. O, dey was de
mos' wostest lookin' disciplinous "Sesh" you eber did see wid yo' eyes.
Dey had ole brown jeans coat an' britches. Dey look like de "Sesh" what
I seed when dey lef Col. Tom at my cabin.'

"'Well, said Peter, 'they were escaped prisoners, I have no doubt, from
some place, and are hunting their way South.'

"'Yes, sah,' said Ham; 'dat's it; dey 'scape and is gwine back to de
reb's army, sho': dat's who dey is. I know'd dey was "Sesh."'

"'Well, go on, Ham; tell us the rest,' said Aunt Sarah. I was so much
amused at Ham's story that I kept rather quiet.

"'Well,' said Ham, 'den dey took de hoss by de bridle and made me git
off. I s'