Eye-to-eye he considered the pitbucks separately, carefully, looking for signs of indecision or fear. When he came to Cat he lingered a moment longer until the thin, hot-blooded youth shrank back before the fierce stare. The killing of Butkis and the others left Cat totally unprepared. He had feared the overseer but feared the man who killed him even more. He had thought Rafe beaten, and called him a dog. Now the giant had risen and lesser men must tremble. “We’re all together now. Say so if we ain’t.” Rafe spoke softly the words directed to all, but specifically to Cat. Cat shook his head, “no,” quickly changed it to “yes.” “Ain’t a nigger among us won’t be held ta ’count fer killin’ dese men. Ah din’t ask fer no sech trouble,” he muttered in a voice betraying his nervousness “Ask or no, you got it, an’ no choice offered,” Rafe said matter-of-factly. “Tonight we takin’ our freedom. Cat here’s talkin’ like a whupped dog, but I’m sayin’ that come mornin’ we’ll be free.”
