第5章
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。