“Dan!” returns the other, with a fierce stare, as he seizes the bottle and is about to enjoy a glass of whisky uninvited; “let your liquor stop your mouth.  I set the whole pack upon the trail at daylight, and in less than two hours they came upon him, bolted him, and put him to the river.  The leader nabbed him about half way across, but the chap, instead of giving in, turned and fought like a hero.  Twice I thought he would whip the whole pack, but the way they made the rags fly warn’t nobody’s business.  Well, I just come up with him as he plunged into the stream, lifts old sure mark, as gives him about a dozen plugs; and then the old feller begged just so, you’d thought he was a Christian pleadin’ forgiveness at the last moment.  But, when I seizes him and gives him three or four levellers with the butt of the rifle, ye never saw a sarpent plunge, and struggle, and warp so.  Says I, ’It’s no use, old feller,—­yer might as well give her up;’ and the way his eyes popped, just as if he expected I war’nt goin to finish him.  I tell ye, boys, it required some spunk about then, for the critter got his claws upon me with a death grip, and the dogs ripped him like an old corn stalk, and would’nt keep off.  And then there was no fracturin his skull; and seeing how he was overpowering me, I just seizes him by the throat and pops his head off quicker than a Chinese executioner.”

The author has given the language of the slave-hunter who related the case personally.

“Now, thar’ war’nt so much in takin’ the gal, cos jist when she seed the dogs comin’, the critter took to tree and gin right up:  but when I went to muzlin’ on her, so she could’nt scream, then she gets saucy; and I promised to gin her bricks,—­which, fellers, I reckon yer must take a hand in so the brute won’t wake the neighbours; and I’ll do’e it afore I sleeps,” said Nimrod, getting up from the table and playfully touching Romescos upon the arm.  “I see ye ain’t brightened to-day—­Graspum’s share don’t seem to suit yer, old feller; ah! ah!!” he continued.

“Just put another ten per cent. upon the out-lining, and running free ’uns, and I’ll stand flint,” said Romescos, seeming to be acted upon by a sudden change of feelings, as he turned to Graspum, with a look of anxiety.

“Very well,” returned Graspum.  “Yer see, there’s that Marston affair to be brought to a point; and his affairs are just in such a fix that he don’t know what’s what, nor who’s who.  Ther’ll have to be some tall swearing done in that case afore it’s brought to the hammer.  That cunning of yours, Romescos, will just come into play in this case.  It’ll be just the thing to do the crooked and get round the legal points.”  Thus Graspum, with the dignity and assurance of a gentleman, gave his opinion, drank with his companions, and withdrew for the night.