ich was slipping
back of the trees. Presently he spoke again. He offered to lick any
gentleman who felt aggrieved by his previous remarks, for fifty cents,
for a drink of whisky, for a chew of tobacco, for nothing--with one hand
tied behind him! He sprang aloft, cracked his heels together as before
and crowed insultingly; then he subsided into silence. An instant later
he appeared stung by the acutest pangs of remorse. In a cringing tone
he begged Polly to forgive him for bringing her to such a place. He
bewailed that they had risked pollution by allowing any inhabitant of
that region to set foot on the raft--he feared for the innocent minds of
their children, and he implored her pardon. Perhaps it was better that
they should cast off at once--unless one of the gentlemen on shore felt
himself insulted, in which event he would remain to fight.

Then as he slowly worked the raft out toward the middle of the stream,
he repeated all his former remarks, punctuating them with frequent
whoops. He recapitulated the terms on which he could be induced to
fight-fifty cents, a drink of liquor, a chew of tobacco, nothing! His
shouts became fainter and fainter as the raft was swept down-stream, and
finally died away in the distance.

CHAPTER XIII. THE JUDGE BREAKS JAIL

The sheriff had brought the judge's supper. He reported that the
crowd was dispersing, and that on the whole public sentiment was not
particularly hostile; indeed, he went so far as to say there existed
a strong undercurrent of satisfaction that the jail should have so
speedily justified itself. Moreover, there was a disposition to exalt
the judge as having furnished the crowning touch to the day's pleasure.

"I reckon, sir, they'd have felt obliged to string you up if there
wa'n't no jail," continued the sheriff lazily from the open door where
he had seated himself. "I don't say there ain't them who don't maintain
you had ought to be strung up as it is, but people are funny, sir; the
majority talk like they might wish to keep you here indefinite. There's
no telling when we'll get another prisoner. Tomorrow the blacksmith will
fix some iron bars to your window so folks can look in and see you. It
will give a heap more air to the place--"

"Unless I do get more air, you will not be troubled long by me!"
declared the judge in a tone of melancholy conviction.

The building was intolerably hot, the advantages of ventilation having
been a thing the citizens o