Summary:
Hamp and his dog Bone lived in a swamp in Georgia during the Civil War period. Hamp hopes the South wins the war between the states, even though he's never seen a slave, let alone had one. He hates the Union for taking his father's leg and a big chunk of his father's soul.
Hamp and his dog Bone lived in a swamp in Georgia during the Civil War period. Hamp hopes the South wins the war between the states, even though he's never seen a slave, let alone had one. He hates the Union for taking his father's leg and a big chunk of his father's soul. Now all his father does is sits on the porch and sings to himself. Now as the Civil War draws closer to home, his family gets poorer. Hamp hears about a no good runaway slave boy named Duff, who killed his master and is loose in the swamp. Hamp goes after him because there is a reward for who ever catches the runaway slave.
Hamp and Bone leave to look for the runaway. While he gets farther and farther away from home he noticed a fresh foot print. He follows it into a marsh. In the distance he could hear cannons and shots that cracked in the distance like thunder. Hamp was starving and he could tell his dog was too. They stopped and decided to rest the night on a riverbank. He built a fire and decided to catch bullfrogs. He fried them up and he and Bone ate. That night he thought a lot about the war and the people that fought in it. The next morning he woke up to the bushes rustling. Hamp knew it was Duff. Hamp grabbed his musket, and aimed. There was the runaway slave in the flesh! He got a piece of rope and tied Duff's hands behind his back.
Hamp was so excited. He did it! They had a five-day walk ahead of them. On the third day Hamp asked Duff why he did it. Duff explained that the master had promised that he would never separate his family. The master had lied. Duff asked if they could eat. Hamp agreed. Hamp took his musket and went to the woods. That's when a wild bore charged at Hamp, hitting him and sending the musket fling in the air. Duff caught it. The bore was charging a second time at Hamp. Duff shot and killed the bore.
Duff had saved his life! Hamp was shocked at what a black slave had done for a white male, who was taking him in for a reward. At that moment, he finally understood why the Union was fighting. Every man should be equal! Hamp decided that he would let Duff go. Duff told him where his family was and wanted him to meet them. Duff's family was overwhelmed that he was okay. The boys enjoyed their visit with Duff's family, but Hamp knew it was time to go home. He was still amazed that he could be friends with Duff, and hoped that after the war was over they would meet again. They all said good-bye and Hamp and Bone were on their way home. Singing all the way home, Hamp wondered what his Pop would think.
This is the complete article, containing 496 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page).
