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“Who the hell is this?” said one of his friends

“Ain’t but a little old boy, coive us a hand”

I realized I was shivering now as if this were the coldest night of all tio,” I squeaked, instantly ashamed of the tremor in my voice

“You follered us out here to hep this nigger?” said Willy “You want us to string you up next to him, boy?”

“He did nothing wrong,” I said “He was just talking I heard him”

“Willy, that’s Judge Corbett’s kid,” said a tall, skinny man

“That’s right,” I said, “he’s onna be in bad trouble when I tell what you did!”

They laughed as if I’d told the funniest joke they’d ever heard

“Well, now, correctMaster Corbett,” said Willy, “but I believe the law in these parts says if a nigger goes to boasting, his friends and neighbors got every right to throw him a little rope party and teach him how to dance”

My throat was so dry I was surprised any sound caain For soht if I repeated ic

Willy put on a smile that held not a hint of arade-A, nuer-lover”

The otherup in my eyes, but I willed them not to fall I would not cry in front of these awful bastards, these cowards

I recognized a tall, skinny one as J T Mack, the overseer at the McFarland plantation He slurred his words as if he were drunk “If this boy is half smart as his daddy, he’ll just turn his ass around and ht”

In two steps Willy was on rab my other arm

“Hold on, son You can’t go home to daddy yet We need a souvenir of your visit Come on out of there, Scooter,” said JT