"He says, 'I knows whar de upper crossin' is, I'se askin' you whar de lower one is. Don' fool with us, nigger.'
"Dere was a big fellow, 'bout 250, settin' in de saddle and sorta ant goglin', with his gun pointin' at me. De hole in de end of dat gun looked big as a cannon. He was mean lookin' and chewin' a quid of terbaccy. He says, 'You is goin' with us to de crossin'. Lead de way.' Den I gits de quaverment powerful bad. I knows I'se a gone nigger.
"I says to dem, 'I done nothin',' and de big fellow raises his gun and says, 'Git goin', nigger, to dat lower crossin', or you'll be a dead nigger.'
"On de way I never says a word, but I'se prayin' de good Lawd to save dis nigger. When we reached de crossin' I says to myself, 'Dis am de end.'
"De little fellow says, 'Do you know who I is?' I says, 'No.'
"He says, 'I'se Sam Bass.'
"I'se heered of Sam Bass, everybody had in dem days. He was leader of a band.
"He says, 'We don' want nobody to know we been here. Which you ruther be, a dead nigger befo' or after tellin'?'
"De big fellow says, 'Make a sno' job. A dead nigger cain't talk,' and den starts raisin' de gun.
"I wants to talk, but I'se so skeered I can' say one word.