Thank you," said I, touching my hat with the condescending air one
occasionally employs to humiliate an inferior, by its mingled pride and
courtesy; and I turned into the street.

"You ain't a-going to Hall's Court, are you?" said Kit, overtaking me.

"Of course not," responded I, indignantly. "Such sights are anything but
pleasurable."

"He ain't all right, that 'un," said Gauze-eyes, as old Kit re-entered
the office, and I stepped back to listen.

"Well, I don't know," muttered the other; "I 'm a-think-ing it be
doubtful, sir. He ha' n't got much clink with him, that's a fact."

"I have half a mind to send Chico up in the boat to-night, just to dodge
him a bit."

"Well, ye might do it," yawned the other; "but Chico is such an almighty
villain that he'll make him out a rogue or a swindler, at all events."

"Chico is smart, _that_ I do confess," said the other, with a grin.

"And he do look so uncommon like a vagabond, too; Chico, I don't like
him."

"He can look like anything he pleases, Chico can. I've seen him pass for
a Pawnee, and no one ever disciver it."

"He 's a rank coward, for all that," rejoined the skipper; "and he can
put no disguise upon _that_."

The sound of feet, indicative of leaving, made me hasten from the
spot, but in a mood far from comfortable. With the fate of my ingenious
predecessor in "Hall's Court" before me, and the small possibility of
escaping the shrewd investigations of "Chico," I really knew not what
course to follow. The more I reflected, however, the less choice was
there at my disposal; the bold line, as generally happens, being not
a whit more dangerous than the timid path, since, were I to abandon my
prize, and not proceed to Houston, the inevitable Chico would only be
the more certain to discover me.

My mind was made up; and, stepping into a shop, I expended two of my
four dollars in the purchase of a "revolver,"--second-hand, but an
excellent weapon, and true as gold. A few cents supplied me with some
balls and powder; and, thus provided, I took my way towards the
wharf where the steamer lay, already making some indicative signs of
readiness.

I took a steerage passage; and, not knowing where or how to dispose of
myself in the interval before starting, I clambered into a boat on deck,
and, with my bundle for a pillow, fell into a pleasant doze. It was
not so much sleep as a semi-waking state that merely dulled and dimmed
impressions,--a frame of mind I have ofte