Watta did not heed it.
“Boys, we’d better go to work, and kill what niggers we’ve got; what’s the use o’ waiting? We shan’t be able to find Capt. Doc,” said a new speaker.
“We’ve had our orders from Gen. Baker, so far, and we’d better get orders from him now,” said another, who was possibly more merciful.
“If we don’t kill all, they’ll give testimony against us, some day to come,” said the first speaker.
“That’s so,” said a third. “Gen. Baker has got us here, and we ketched the men as he told us, and I think we’ve got something to say now.”
“No, gentlemen,” said a fourth, “just pick out the Republican leaders and kill them, and let the rest go. They’re all Republicans, I know, but they a’n’t all leaders; and some of these boys didn’t never hurt nobody. Some of ’em is good fellows!”
“A—h! that a’n’t worth a cent! We’ve come out here to have some fun, and now let’s have it.”
So they contended till the excitement became quite alarming, and pistols were drawn upon each other by the mob.
“Well now,” said a new voice, “I’ll tell you how you must do it.”
“Listen! Listen! Hear the Judge’s son! Hear the the young Georgia Judge!” shouted several men; and so there came a calm.