“And all your own fault and folly, Guy.  What business had you to advance upon the fellow, as you did, before everything was ready, and when we could have brought him, without any risk whatever; into the snare, from which nothing could have got him out?  But no!  You must be at your old tricks of the law—­you must make speeches before you cut purses, as was your practice when I first knew you at Gwinnett county-court; a practice which you seem not able to get over.  You have got into such a trick of making fun of people, that, for the life of me, I can’t be sorry that the lad has turned the tables so handsomely upon you.”

“You would no doubt have enjoyed the scene with far more satisfaction, had the fellow’s shot taken its full effect on my skull—­since, besides the failure of our object, you have such cause of merriment in what has been done.  If I did go something too much ahead in the matter, it is but simple justice to say you were quite as much aback.”

“Perhaps so, Guy; but the fact is, I was right and you wrong, and the thing’s beyond dispute.  This lesson, though a rough one, will do you service; and a few more such will perhaps cure you of that vile trick you have of spoiling not only your own, but the sport of others, by running your head into unnecessary danger; and since this youth, who got out of the scrape so handsomely, has beat you at your own game, it may cure you of that cursed itch for tongue-trifling, upon which you so much pride yourself.  ’Twould have done, and it did very well at the county sessions, in getting men out of the wood; but as you have commenced a new business entirely, it’s but well to leave off the old, particularly as it’s now your policy to get them into it.”

“I shall talk as I please, Munro, and see not why, and care not whether, my talk offends you or not.  I parleyed with the youth only to keep him in play until your plans could be put in operation.”

“Very good—­that was all very well, Guy—­and had you kept to your intention, the thing would have done.  But he replied smartly to your speeches, and your pride and vanity got to work.  You must answer smartly and sarcastically in turn, and you see what’s come of it.  You forgot the knave in the wit; and the mistake was incurable.  Why tell him that you wanted to pick his pocket, and perhaps cut his throat?”

“That was a blunder, I grant; but the fact is, I entirely mistook the man.  Besides, I had a reason for so doing, which it is not necessary to speak about now.”

“Oh, ay—­it wouldn’t be lawyer-like, if you hadn’t a reason for everything, however unreasonable,” was the retort.

“Perhaps not, Munro; but this is not the matter now.  Our present object must be to put this youth out of the way.  We must silence suspicion, for, though we are pretty much beyond the operation of law in this region, yet now and then a sheriff’s officer takes off some of the club; and, as I think it is always more pleasant to be out of the halter than in it, I am clear for making the thing certain in the only practicable way.”