The overseer hesitated for a moment, and then unstrapped a revolver from his belt, and handed it to Courtland.
“Now how many of you are in the habit of going round the town armed like this?”
“Only de men who've been insulted, sah.”
“And how have YOU been insulted?”
“Marse Tom Highee down in de market reckoned it was high time fancy niggers was drov into de swamp, and I allowed that loafers and beggars had better roost high when workin' folks was around, and Marse Tom said he'd cut my haht out.”
“And do you think your carrying a revolver will prevent him and his friends performing that operation if you provoked them?”
“You said we was to pertect ourse'fs, sah,” returned the negro gloomily. “What foh den did you drill us to use dem rifles in de armory?”
“To defend yourselves TOGETHER under orders if attacked, not to singly threaten with them in a street row. Together, you would stand some chance against those men; separately they could eat you up, Cato.”
“I wouldn't trust too much to some of dem niggers standing together, sah,” said Gate darkly. “Dey'd run before de old masters—if they didn't run to 'em. Shuah!”
A fear of this kind had crossed Courtland's mind before, but he made no present comment. “I found two of the armory rifles in the men's cabins yesterday,” he resumed quietly. “See that it does not occur again! They must not be taken from the armory except to defend it.”