The Wrong Man — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

A FRIGHT. a1 “Lord! golly | hebbens! won’t there be a time when 1 oy as ow dey’ll open dere eyes! Whcop! what’s dat? it out !”” A bat swooped down so close to his ebony visage as to omy him recoil in affright, and spring suddenly from the und. “Golly! t'uught dere was somebody follerin’ me. Wonder if there’s ghustes trabelin’ about to-night Y The affrighted negro walked several yards on tip-toe, glanc- ing about him, and listening us though he expected to hear tle footfall of some apparition ; but, hearing none, he resumed Jus ; ot Gow 8 stays at hum sich nights. Who's afeard, any way ?” Cato is a darkey nebber knowed de base passion ob fear. No, sal:!—Lord ! hebbens! I’m bit by a rattlesnake !” The African being barefoot, was walking carefully along, when something struck his ankle with a sharp, stinging thrust, such as is made by the fang of the rattlesnake. He was following a sort of path, where these reptiles had been seen on several oc- casions, and now was certain that he was doomed. Droppin ~ his load, he caught up the foot in both hands, hopping pte), - on the other, giving utterance all the while to the most doleful lamentations. “J's killed! I’s killed! I can nebber see Massa Dudley now! fi’s all up! Now lay me down to sleep—blast dat snake! what did he bite dis niggah for?—I pray the Lord m soul to keep. If I should die—Lord bress me ' darnation—fire—cuss dat snake! my delicate ankle am swelled as big as de stove-pipe now. Cuss dat reptil’! What did he want to bite me for ?—I pray de Lord my soul to take !” And, dropping on the ground, he rolled over and over in his— ny, muttering and groaning harder than ever. | “What did I come ‘long dis path for? Might’ve knowed dat =. war snakes curled up waitin’ for me. Blast ‘em! Why didn’t _. ae ornery cuss rattle his tail afore he stuck his tooth into my n? Its all up wid Cato now. Might've knowed better to try and sabe Massa ey. Blast ’im! he kin sta in de block“house for all I keers. Its all up wid Cato, and he might as well die fust as last.” on his Back, he phy a out his limbs, d, rolling over , and waited for the advent of the Dark Angel. But, somehow or other, the latter nage delayed his comin considerably. _-- By-an-by Cato down to see how far his leg was sw a Lord ! golly! hebbens! ’spect the cussed leg will bust them = éw trousers Miss Dayton made for me. Blast that reptil’! ss Why couldn't he bit somebody else ?” -—s—- Lying motionless some twenty minutes longer, he felt of the — : ether ankle, then of both; then rose to the sitting position, ty Y “ 4A Oy te Hee ee cComicbooks- cor, 4 - “ oe al 2.