Slosson paused impressively. "And here's Mr. Ware feeling bad, feeling
like hell," he resumed. "Him and me don't want to be left in no trap
with you gone God only knows where."

"I'll send a man to take charge of the keel boat. I can't risk any more
of your bungling, Joe."

"That's all right, but you don't answer my question," persisted Slosson,
with admirable tenacity of purpose.

"What is your question, Joe?"

"A lot can happen between this and midnight--"

"If things go wrong with us there'll be a blaze at the head of the
bayou; does that satisfy you?"

"And what then?"

Murrell hesitated.

"What about the girl?" insisted Slosson, dragging him back to the point
at issue between them. "As a man I wouldn't lift my hand ag'in' no good
looking woman except like I said--in kindness, but she can't be turned
loose, she knows too much. What's the word, Captain--you say it!" he
urged. He made a gesture of appeal to Ware.

"Look for the light; better still, look for the man I'll send." And with
this Murrell would have turned away, but Slosson detained him.

"Who'll he be?"

"Some fellow who knows the river."

"And if it's the light?" asked the tavern-keeper in a hoarse undertone.
Again he looked toward Ware, who, dry-lipped and ashen, was regarding
him steadfastly. Glance met glance, for a brief instant they looked deep
into each other's eyes and then the hand Slosson had rested on Murrell's
shoulder dropped at his side.

CHAPTER XXVIII. THE JUDGE MEETS THE SITUATION

The judge's and Mr. Mahaffy's celebration of the former's rehabilitated
credit had occupied the shank of the evening, the small hours of the
night, and that part of the succeeding day which the southwest described
as soon in the morning; and as the stone jug, in which were garnered the
spoils of the highly confidential but entirely misleading conversation
which the judge had held with Mr. Pegloe after his return from Belle
Plain, lost in weight, it might have been observed that he and Mr.
Mahaffy seemed to gain in that nice sense of equity which should form
the basis of all human relations. The judge watched Mr. Mahaffy, and Mr.
Mahaffy watched the judge, each trustfully placing the regulation of his
private conduct in the hands of his friend, as the one most likely to be
affected by the rectitude of his acts.

Probably so extensive a consumption of Mr. Pegloe's corn whisky had
never been accomplished with greater highmindedness. They h