“Settle it?” said Capt. Doc. “Major General Rives, nothing will settle it but to let the company be broken up. I won’t do that, and my oath to the State, that I have taken as Captain, wonldn’t let me if I wanted to.”
“I can’t see the end of this yet, I can’t,” said the Judge, with a sigh, as the trio separated.
CHAPTER V.
PREPARATIONS.
“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world,
Like a Colossus; and we petty men
Walk under his huge legs, and peep about
To find ourselves dishonorable graves.”
Casca, in Julius Caesar.
The 8th of July, 1876, was an exceedingly hot day, and few white residents of the State of South Carolina ventured out of doors in the hotter hours, though, as is usual, the colored race needed less caution to avoid sunstroke.
About nine o’clock, A. M., two gentlemen issued from an attractive residence, which was situated on a slight eminence on the outskirts of a little village called Enfield Court-House. Leaving the broad piazza, they walked leisurely down the gently sloping lawn to the street. As they closed the gate behind them a covered buggy passed, in which was seated a middle-aged man who bore a decidedly commanding air.
His hat lay upon the seat beside him, and the light hot breeze lifted the long iron-gray hair which lay upon his shoulders, and fluttered his linen duster and the loose flapping curtains of the carriage with a cool and comfortable appearance.