f--at the bottom of Hard Times
Bend--it played on "California's" mind like summer lightning and seemed
to call to his romantic spirit supernaturally. He could delay no longer
to take his companions into his confidence.

By guess, he said, by inferences, and by modest inquiries he had
discerned that Hugh was going ashore at Natchez to--they understood. All
right, he would go, too, and ordinarily he would be enough. But the
present need was not a fair fight but peace. Hence the propriety of
overwhelming numbers. Wouldn't they like to take a hand?

"But he'll see the twins privately," said the invited.

"Of course, but 'though lost to sight' they'll know we're too close for
them to get away from, and that's a very convincing situation to 'most
any man, even twins."

"Yes, but we can't turn a feud into a fox-hunt. You don't know these
things as we do."

"Don't? Why, my friends, I'm a Kentucky highlander. Might as well say I
don't know the smell of whiskey because I keep sober, when, in my day,
I've been so drunk I've laid on my back and felt up'ards for the
ground."

However, he yielded sweetly. But it was plain to see that he would
certainly, contentedly, go with Hugh alone. Indeed, only this would he
have preferred--that Gideon Hayle might go instead. But one square look
at the big, grim, baffled commander had told him earlier that Hugh's
perilous isolation was wholly acceptable as a final test of his fitness
to belong to Gideon's Band. He parted with his companions and stood at
the front rail taking comfort in the thought that whoever might
disappoint him the twins would not and looking down on the toiling
singers in placid defiance of their lines:

"My true love's heart to mine 'uz boun'--
O hahd times!--
Dey broke dem bindin's comin' roun'
Hahd Times Ben'.
Boun' an' broke, broke an' boun',
An' broke ag'in a-comin' roun'
Hahd Times Ben'."

Watson's partner touched the listener's arm, who smiled and said:

"Only four hours more."

"That's all," replied the pilot. "But I've just thought of something.
Suppose the twins shouldn't be in Natchez."

[Footnote 2: [Music notation]]

LXII

EUTHANASIA

A few steps aside from Hugh and his grandfather at the forward rail of
the hurricane roof, in a glow of autumn twilight, the Gilmores and the
three couples taken on at Vicksburg observed the _Enchantress_, under
Watson's skill, lay her lower guards against