In the Sunk Lands — page 198: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

IN THE SUNK LANDS. 183 some of which stopped and sniffed in our direction, but were called on. We afterwards learned this was Mr. Jim Lacy, on his way to our cabin. “That was a close shave!” exclaimed Sammy, as the voices died away in the distance. ‘‘I reckon they’ve got all the dogs with ’em.’’ We soon came in sight of the houses. As we stood looking at them from behind a tree, several women came out picked up clubs, and then disappeared in the largest. ‘*T wouldn’t be s’prised,” said Sammy, ‘but what the boys airin the house them wimming went into.” -** Same here,’ I said, trembling with ex- eitement ; ‘*‘ but what are those clubs for ?”’ ‘We'll go an’ see,” replied Sammy. Then he walked boldly toward the building, and I followed. several curs snarled from under the edge of a house, and, as we drew nearer, we could hear the shrill tones of a woman. The next moment there issued sounds of a struggle, and Joe staggered out of the door with two women close behind. Their clubs were uplifted to strike the Eomicdvooks:e