Page:Rowland--In the shadow.djvu/291

 "Will you go!" she commanded fiercely. "You are on my land; I do not want you here. Go! Do you hear me?"

One man stirred; one stared with wide eyes and gaping mouth; the others glanced at one another and grinned.

"Reckin this yeah's Major Moultrie's land," ventured one, "but hit don't make no diffe'unce. We want that niggeh, ma'am, and we shore are goin' to have him."

"You are not going to have him!" retorted Virginia. "You are talking to Miss Moultrie. If you think that you have any claim to this man you may go to my brother, Mr. Moultrie; but now—go!"

The faces of the men stiffened; one moved the rifle restlessly in his hands. Virginia caught the motion and it reminded her that she too was armed. She thrust her hand into her pocket and drew out the deadly little pistol.

"I will shoot the first man who tries to harm this negro!" she said, and at the words she felt Dessalines stir, move, partly rise.

"Put up your pistol, ma'am," said one of the "crackers" roughly. "Y' all ain't no call to interfere. This yeah is our business … do y' all know what for we want this big niggeh?"

"I do not know and I do not care!" answered Virginia. "You cannot have him, do you understand? I tell you to go!" To emphasize her command she waved them from her with the hand which held the weapon.

There was a sharp report; the man, not twenty feet from her, slightly staggered; the high-power bullet from the pistol had mushroomed against the barrel of the rifle; 281