"See! Isn't the earth worn smooth and hard about that post ?" Nathaniel looked and his blood grew hot.
"I have seen such things in the South," he said.

"But not--for white men!" The councilor caught him by the arm.
"They are coming!" In the direction of the jail the crowd was separating.

Men crushed back on each side, forming a narrow aisle, even the whispering of the women ceased.

A moment later three men appeared in the opening between the spectators.

One of these, who walked between the other two, was stripped to the waist.