His eye at once perceived the orifice on a
line enervatingly little above the top of his head; and, although
he had not supposed himself so well known in this neighbourhood,
he was aware that he did, here and there, possess acquaintances
of whom some such uncomplimentary action might be expected as
natural and characteristic. His immediate procedure was to
prostrate himself flat upon the ground, against the stable doors.
In so doing, his shoulders came brusquely in contact with one of
them, which happened to be unfastened, and it swung open,
revealing to his gaze two stark-white white boys, one of them
holding an enormous pistol and both staring at him in stupor of
ultimate horror. For, to the glassy eyes of Penrod and Sam, the
stratagem of the young coloured man, thus dropping to earth,
disclosed, with awful certainty, a slaughtered body.
This dreadful thing raised itself upon its elbows and looked at
them, and there followed a motionless moment--a tableau of brief
duration, for both boys turned and would have fled, shrieking,
but the body spoke:
"'At's a nice business!" it said reproachfully.
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