, full of satisfaction with my
own cleverness, he turned the corner and I walked right into his handcuffs. If I
had known it was a cul de sac - however, there isn't any excusing a blunder like
that; let it go. Charge it up to profit and loss.
    Of course I was indignant, and swore I had just come ashore from a long
voyage, and all that sort of thing - just to see, you know, if it would deceive
that slave. But it didn't. He knew me. Then I reproached him for betraying me.
He was more surprised than hurt. He stretched his eyes wide, and said:
    »What, wouldst have me let thee, of all men, escape and not hang with us,
when thou'rt the very cause of our hanging? Go to!«
    »Go to« was their way of saying »I should smile!« or »I like that!« Queer
talkers, those people.
    Well, there was a sort of bastard justice in his view of the case, and so I
dropped the matter. When you can't cure a disaster by argument, what is the use
to argue? It isn't my way. So I only said:
    »You're not going to be hanged. None of us are.«
    Both men laughed, and the slave said:
    »Ye have not ranked as a fool - before. You might better keep your
reputation, seeing the strain would not be for long.«
    »It will stand it, I reckon. Before to-morrow we shall be out of prison, and
free to go where we will, besides.«
    The witty officer lifted at his left ear with his thumb, made a rasping
noise in his throat, and said:
    »Out of prison, yes - ye say true. And free likewise to go where ye will, so
ye wander not out of his grace the Devil's sultry realm.«
    I kept my temper, and said, indifferently:
    »Now I suppose you really think we are going to hang within a day or two.«
    »I thought it not many minutes ago; for so the thing was decided and
proclaimed.«
    »Ah, then you've changed your mind, is that it?«
    »Even that. I only thought, then; I know, now.«
    I felt sarcastical; so I said:
    »Oh, sapient servant of the law, condescend to tell us, then, what you know.
«
    »That