stonishing to the State and to
the nation. They had gathered to await the signal to begin; they had
good rifles and a plentiful supply of ammunition, and their tethered
steeds standing about the old "Wigwam" were pawing and neighing for the
fray. The clock in the old Presbyterian Church on Orange street dismally
tolled out the hour of three. Teck Pervis arose, yawned, walked up and
then down the floor among the men who lay asleep with their weapons
beside them. He made a deep, long, loud whistle; the men began to arise
one after another, and soon the room was in a bustle. Some were washing
faces, others sipping coffee as a forerunner of something hotter that
would stimulate and give force to the spirit of deviltry that the work
of the day required.

"Gentermen," said Teck Pervis, standing in the middle of the hall and
holding a cup of coffee in his hand. "This is ther day thet ther white
people of North Ca'liny is going ter show Mr. Nigger who's ter rule in
Wilmin'ton, and there's ter be no drawin' back in this here bizness."
Just then Dick Sands interrupted the leader by jumping out into the
floor. He shuffled, he danced, kissed his gun, threw it into the air,
and twirled it between his fingers like a born drum major. "Gentermen!
hit's ther happies' day I seed sence way foe ther war. This is er day I
bin er longin' fur and prayin' fur eber since ther ding Yanks cum and
freed Mr. Nigger an' sot im on ekal footin' wid er white man. Laws er
massy me'. Gentermen, I'se seed things happen in this here town sence
Fo't Fisher fell thet wus enuf ter make eny dec'nt white man go inter
his hole, an' pull his hole after 'im. Think uv it, gentermen, think uv
it! Nigger lawyers, Nigger doctors, Nigger storekeepers, Nigger
teachers, Nigger preachers, Niggers in fine houses--why, gentermen,
jedgmint hain't fur off. Who was in ther Cote House thet day when thet
Nigger White tole Colonel Buck he did'n no law? I wus thar, an' never
wanter see sich ergin. Evrybody jis' opened his mouth an' stared fus at
ther Nigger an' then at Colonel Buck. I felt thet ther merlineum wus at
han', jus' waitin' ter see ther worl' turn een uppermos', an' go ter
smash. Whoopalah! but we air goin' ter show um sump'n ter day, an' I jes
wish thet Nigger White wus in Wilminton, fur these big Niggers'll be the
firs' whose cases we'll try. Oh. Mr. Peaman, Oh, Mr. Bryant, Mr. Miller
and all you uns er the Afrikin foe hundered! yo time is cum!" Dick Sands
ended his h