Page:The leopard's spots - a romance of the white man's burden-1865-1900 (IA leopardsspotsrom00dixo).pdf/182

 "Haven't smelled a coward anywhere have you, deacon?"

"I've seen one or two a little fidgety, I thought. Cheer 'em up with a word, Preacher."

Springing on the platform of the judge's desk he looked over the crowd for a moment, and a cheer shook the building.

"Boys, I don't believe there's a single coward in our ranks." Another cheer.

"Just keep cool now and let our enemies do the talking. In ten days every man of you will be back at home at his work."

"How will we get out with the writ suspended?" asked a man standing near.

"That's the richest thing of all. A United States judge has just decided that the Governor of the state cannot suspend the rights of a citizen of the United States under the new Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution so recently rammed down our throats. Hogg is hoisted on his own petard. Our lawyers are now serving out writs of Habeas Corpus before this Federal judge under the Fourteenth Amendment, and you will be discharged in less than ten days unless there's a skunk among you. And I don't smell one anywhere." Again a cheer shook the building.

An orderly walked up to the Preacher and handed him a note.

"What is it?"

"Read it!" The men crowded around.

"Read it, Major Dameron, I'm dumb," said the Preacher.

"A military order from the dirty rascal. Berry, commanding the mountain bummers, forbidding the Rev. John Durham to speak during his imprisonment!"

A roar of laughter followed this announcement.