Bags, pillow-cases, bed-ticks, sheets and coverlets had been called into requisition to hold the precious leaves.

Here was a woman with a great bundle on her head, which sank down so as to almost entirely conceal her face; and near her was an old man who supported on his bare head a load that looked heavy enough for a horse.

Even little children carried bundles considerably larger than themselves, and all were laughing and talking merrily as they made their way to the village store at the cross-roads.
Kate ran eagerly out to question these people.

They must certainly have seen Harry.
The good-natured negroes readily stopped to talk with Kate.

The ox-driver halted his team, and every head-burdened man, woman, and child clustered around her, until it seemed as if sumac clouds had spread between her and the sky, and had obscured the sun.
But no one had seen Harry.