w," said the judge sympathetically. "Some people
on a raft had picked him up out of the river. He was unconscious and no
one knew him. He was apparently a stranger in these parts."

"It were Uncle Bob! It were Uncle Bob--I know it were my Uncle Bob! I
must go find him!" and Hannibal slipped from the judge's lap and ran for
his rifle and bundle.

"Stop a bit!" cried the judge. "He was taken on past here, and he was
badly injured. Now, if it was your Uncle Bob, he'll come back the moment
he is able to travel. Meantime, you must remain under my protection
while we investigate this man Slosson."

But alas--that thoroughfare which is supposed to be paved exclusively
with good resolutions, had benefited greatly by Slocum Price's labors in
the past, and he was destined to toil still in its up-keep. He borrowed
the child's money and spent it, and if any sense of shame smote his
torpid conscience, he hid it manfully. Not so Mr. Mahaffy; for while
he profited by his friend's act, he told that gentleman just what
he thought of him with insulting candor. On the eighth day there was
sobriety for the pair. Deep gloom visited Mr. Mahaffy, and the judge was
a prey to melancholy.

It was Saturday, and in Pleasantville a jail-raising was in progress.
During all the years of its corporate dignity the village had never
boasted any building where the evil-doer could be placed under
restraint; hence had arisen its peculiar habit of dealing with crime;
but a leading citizen had donated half an acre of ground lying midway
between the town and the river landing as a site for the proposed
structure, and the scattered population of the region had assembled for
the raising. Nor was Pleasantville unprepared to make immediate use of
the jail, since the sheriff had in custody a free negro who had knifed
another free negro and was awaiting trial at the next term of court.

"We don't want to get there too early," explained the judge, as they
quitted the cabin. "We want to miss the work, but be on hand for the
celebration."

"I suppose we may confidently look to you to favor us with a few
eloquent words?" said Mr. Mahaffy.

"And why not, Solomon?" asked the judge.

"Why not, indeed!" echoed Mr. Mahaffy.

The opportunity he craved was not denied him. The crowd was like most
southwestern crowds of the period, and no sooner did the judge appear
than there were clamorous demands for a speech. He cast a glance of
triumph at Mahaffy, and nimbly mou