ht was that he brung 'em a message from Elishyah, Sam
says, the Elishyah that was to come. And the message was that the time
was not ripe fur him to reveal himself as Elishyah unto the eyes of all
men, fur they had been too much sinfulness and wickedness and walking
into the ways of evil, right amongst that very congregation, and
disobedience of the bishop, which was their guide. And he had sent 'em
word, Elishyah had, that the bishop was his trusted servant, and into
the keeping of the bishop was give the power to deal with his people and
prepare them fur the great day to come. And the bishop would give the
word of his coming. He was a box, that bishop was, in spite of his crazy
streaks; and he had found a way to make himself stronger than ever with
his bunch out of the very kind of thing that would have spoiled most
people's graft. They had had a big meeting till nearly morning, and the
power had hit 'em strong. Sam told us all about it.

But the thing that seemed to interest the doctor, and made him frown,
was the idea that all them niggers round about there still had the idea
he was the feller that had been prophesied to come. All except Sam,
mebby. Sam had spells when he was real sensible, and other spells when
he was as bad as the believingest of them all.

It was a fine day, and really joyous to be a-walking. It would of been
a good deal joyouser if we had had some breakfast, but we figgered we
would stop somewheres at noon and lay in a good, square, country meal.

That wasn't such a very thick settled country. But everybody seemed to
know about the manhunt that was going on, here, there, and everywhere.
People would come down to the road side as we passed, and gaze after us.
Or mebby ast us if we knowed whether he had been ketched yet. Women and
kids mostly, or old men, but now and then a younger man too. We noticed
they wasn't no niggers to speak of that wasn't busier'n all get out,
working at something or other, that day.

They is considerable woods in that country yet, though lots has been
cut off. But they was sometimes right long stretches where they would
be woods on both sides of the road, more or less thick, with underbrush
between the trees. We tramped along, each busy thinking his own
thoughts, and having a purty good time jest doing that without there
being no use of talking. I was thinking that I liked the doctor better
fur turning his back on all this game, jest when he might of made some
sort of