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"The sheriff says you an' 'Liab Hill has been gittin' into some trouble with the law, and that the Ku Klux has got after you too, so that if you don't leave you're likely to go to States prison or have a whippin' or hangin' bee at your house afore you know it." "Jes let 'em come," said Nimbus, angrily "Ku Kluckers or sheriffs, it don't make no difference which.
Entering his own house, Nimbus placed his burden in the chair at the head of the table, while he himself took his seat on one of the wooden benches at the side. "I jes brought Bre'er 'Liab in ter supper, honey," said he to his wife; "kase I see'd he war gettin' inter de dumps like, an' I 'llowed yer'd chirk him up a bit ef yer jes hed him over h'yer a while."
I've no doubt the old man will get tired of it before you do; but, after all, law is the most uncertain thing in the world." "What does it mean? Has he sued me?" asked Nimbus. "Sued you? I should rather think he had for a thousand dollars damages too. That is you and 'Liab, between you." "But what for? I don't owe him anythin' an' never did." "Oh, that's nothing. He says you've damaged him.
I 'llowed yer'd stan' by 'Liab. Dat's why I fotched him h'yer." "Of course I would, and by you too, Nimbus." "No, Marse Hesden, dat wouldn't do no sort o' good. Nimbus hez jes got ter cut an' run fer it.
You don't want dem to be different from others and have no surname?" "Dat's a fac', 'Liab," said Nimbus, springing to his feet. "I nebber t'ought o' dat. Dey must hev a name, an' I mus' hev one ter gib 'em, but how's I gwine ter git one? Dar's nobody's got enny right ter gib me one, an' ef I choose one dis week what's ter hender my takin' ob anudder nex week?"
"One of them died a year or two afterward was never well after that night and the other is here, alive and well, with a queer seam down the middle of his face," said Hesden. "Died, yer say?" said Nimbus. "Wal, I'se right sorry, but he lived a heap longer nor Bre'er 'Liab would, ef I hadn't come in jest about dat time." "Yes, indeed," said Eliab, as he extended his hand to his old friend.
Now, Miss Mollie, what yer s'pose hez come ob dat ar mule an' carryall? Dat's de question." "I'm sure I don't know, 'Gena, said Mollie thoughtfully. "Ner I don't know, nuther," was the response; "but it's jes my notion dat whar dey is, right dar yer'll fin' Nimbus an' Berry, an' not fur off from dem yer'll find Bre'er 'Liab." "You may be right," said her listener, musingly.
De church an' school-house up dar on de knoll; Nimbus' house jes about a hundred yards furder on, 'cross de road; an' on de side ob de hill de 'backer-barn; you a teachin' an' a preachin' an' Nimbus makin' terbacker, an' Gena a-takin' comfort on de porch, an' de young uns gittin' larnin'! Wh-o-o-p! Bre'er 'Liab, yer's a great man, shuah!"
Now, 'Liab Hill ner me nebber disturb nobody, an' nebber do nothin' only jes stan' up for our own rights, respectful and peaceable-like; but we hain't ter be run down in no sech way, I'se a free man, an' ef I think a man's a gran' rascal I'se gwine ter say so, whether he's black er white; an' ef enny on 'em comes ter Ku Klux me I'll put a bullet t'rough dem! I will, by God!
H'yer, you Axylone," he continued to his eldest born, " fo'd up yer han's while Bre'er 'Liab ax de blessin'. You, too, Capting," shaking his finger at a roll of animated blackness on the end of the seat opposite. "Now, Bre'er 'Liab."
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