was almost to the quarters.
He will kill me though in a little while, I know; he has a knife and he
is sitting on the doorstep, and the Turk is with him, and I can not
pass them. He held his hand over my mouth and the knife to my heart when
Woodson went the rounds, and I couldn't make no sound--Lord have mercy
upon me! I write this with my blood, on a leaf from your Bible, while he
sits there whispering to the Turk. He goes to his own cabin directly and
he will take me with him and kill me there, I know he will. He goes to
the stables first and I must go with him. If we pass close enough, and
if I can do it without his seeing me I will throw this in at the window
of the room where I know you are, if not--the Lord help us all!...
Landless, for God's sake! before moonrise to-night the Chickahominies
and the Ricahecrians from the Blue Mountains will come down on the
plantation. With them are leagued Luiz Sebastian, the Turk, Trail,
Roach, and most of the slaves.... When all is over, the Indians will
take the scalps and Grey Wolf and will make for the Blue Mountains; Luiz
Sebastian and the others will seize the boats and put off for the ship
at the Point. Her crew will give her up and they will all turn pirate
together. The women go with them if they can keep them from the Indians;
the men are all to be killed.... I have told you all I heard. For God's
sake, save them if you can,--and remember poor Dick Whittington."

Dropping the paper, Landless strained with all his might, first at the
cords which bound his arms, and then at the rope which fastened him to
the wall. Again and again he put forth the strength of despair--his
muscles cracked, great beads stood upon his forehead--but the ropes
held. As well as he could with his shackled feet he stamped upon the
floor; he called aloud, but there came no answering voice or sound from
below. He was at the end of the house over unused chambers, and the
walls and flooring were very thick. He clenched his teeth and began
again the battle with the cords which held him. All in vain. He shouted
until he was hoarse--it was crying aloud in a desert. With a groan he
leaned against the wall, gathering strength for another effort. It was
dark now and the moon rose at eleven.... There was a piece of glass upon
the floor, one of the splinters from the shattered window. He remembered
noticing it--a long narrow piece like the blade of a knife. Sinking to
his knees he felt for it, and after a lon