Although Chunk knew his danger and was cautious, he was disposed on the first night of his arrival to take some serious risks in order to carry out the schemes dwelt upon during the long days of skulking home.  Naturally fearless he had acquired much of Scoville’s soldier-like and scouting spirit.  The young officer had associated his dwarfish follower with the service rendered by Miss Lou and was correspondingly grateful.  Chunk therefore received much consideration and good counsel by which he had profited.  Especially had Scoville scoffed at the negro’s superstitions, telling him that a fool afraid of spooks was neither fit to be a free man nor a soldier.

Since Chunk had no imagination and believed absolutely in his master there were no more “spooks” for him, but he knew well the dread inspired by that word on the plantation, and it was his purpose to avail himself of these deep-rooted fears.  He heard the colloquy between Zany and the overseer very distinctly, but so far from running away, dogged the latter home.  Long knife and revolver were handy in his belt and a heavy club was carried also.  Since no soldiers were around, Perkins was not to be dreaded in the night, when once his resting-place was known.  Crouching a long time in the shadow of some cedars Chunk watched the overseer’s window, but the light was not extinguished.  A sudden suspicion dawned on our watcher, causing him to chuckle low with delight.  “Hi! he des feared of sleepin’ in de dark, en dat can’le bu’n all night!” Gliding a few steps nearer brought to the quick ear a resounding snore, accompanied with a warning growl from, the bloodhound.  “I des fix ‘em bof fo’ I froo,” and the brawny hand clutched with greater force the heavy club it carried.

“Nex’, some dem fellers mus’ be tole ter he’p,” and Chunk crept away to the quarters.  It was an easy task to waken and enlist Jute, well known to be one of the most disaffected and fearless among the hands.  The two started off to a grove which none could approach without being seen, and had a long whispered consultation.  As a result, Jute returned to the quarters and brought back three others whom he knew would enter into the schemes on foot.  By midnight Chunk had six of the braver and more reckless spirits among the slaves bound to him by such uncouth oaths as he believed would hold them most strongly.  Then they returned to their cabins while the chief conspirator (after again reconnoitring the overseer’s cottage) sought the vicinity of his granny’s home.

With mistaken kindness and much shrewdness Chunk had resolved upon a course that would fill the old woman’s life with terror.  He adopted the policy of not letting her know anything of his plans, so that she could honestly say “I dunno” and prove the fact by her manner.  He instinctively felt that it would have a very bad look if superstitious Aun’ Jinkey remained composed and quiet through the scenes he purposed to bring about.  Her sincere and very apparent fears were to be his allies.  It was part of his scheme also that Zany should be very badly frightened and made eager to run away with him as soon as he and the others were ready for departure.