But her trust was not in her own strength, and dismissing Jake from her presence, she bent her face upon the piano lid and prayed most earnestly to be delivered from the approaching peril, to know just what to do, and how to act; then summoning the entire household to the large sitting-room, she explained to them what she had heard, and asked what they must do.
"Shall we lock ourselves inside the house and let them have the horses, or shall we try to keep them ?" It took a few minutes for the negroes to recover from their fright, and when they had done so Claib was the first to speak.
"Please, Miss Ellis, Massa Hugh's last words to me was: 'Mind, boy, you takes good keer of de hosses.' Massa Hugh sot store by dem.

He not stay quiet in de chimbly corner and let Sudden 'Federacy stole 'em." "Dem's my theology, Miss Ellis," chimed in Uncle Sam, rising and standing in the midst of the dark group assembled near the door.

"I'se for savin' de horses." "An' I'se for shootin' Harney," interrupted the little Mug, her eyes flashing, and her nostrils dilating as she continued: "I knows it's wicked, but I hates him, an' I never tole you how I seen him in de woods one day, an' he axes me 'bout my Miss and Mars'r Hugh--did they writ often, an' was they kinder sparkin'?
I told him none of his bizness, and cut and run, but he bawl after me and say how't he steal Miss Ellis some night and make her be his wife.

I flung a rock at him, big rock, too, and cut again.

Ugh!" Mug's face, expressive as it was, only reflected the feelings of the others and Alice's decision was taken.