MOBILE DIGITAL LIBRARY - SOCIETY OF YOUNG NIGERIAN ...

"Come along, John, old man. You know how you'd hate to find a lot of dead women andbabies because we got there too late to save them! Make a pace, Johnny boy!"The First Sergeant was talking gently, leaning over his pommel. But John G. waslistening more from politeness than because he needed a lift. His stride was as steady as aclock.It was three hours after midnight on that bitter black morning as they entered the streetsof the town. And the streets were as quiet, as peaceful, as empty of men, as the heart ofthe high woods."Where's their mob?" growled the Sergeant."Guess its mother's put it to sleep," a cold, wet Trooper growled back."Well, we thought there was going to be trouble," protested the local power, roused fromhis feather bed. "It really did look like serious trouble, I assure you. And we could nothave handled serious trouble with the means at our command. Moreover, there mayeasily be something yet. So, gentlemen, I am greatly relieved you have come. I can sleepin peace now that you are here. Good-night! Good-night!"All through the remaining hours of darkness the detail patrolled the town. All through the