inent.

"Wal', how fur is it then, ter thet damn Yellow Banks?"

"I dunno 'sackly in miles," I acknowledged doubtfully. "Everything
looks just 'bout alike 'long yere," and I took a squint at the bank, as
though endeavoring a guess. "I reckon maybe it'll be 'bout twenty-four
hours' steamin' yet--morn'n thet, likely, if we got ter tie up much
'long shore. Are yer goin' fer ter jine the army?"

"Whut, me jine the army?" he laughed as though at a good joke. "Hell,
no; I'm a sorter sheriff down Saint Louee way, an' all I want fer ter
do now is just git back thar as fast as God Almighty'll let me."

"I see, yer a headin' in the wrong direction. I reckon yer mus' be one
o' them parties whut we done yanked outer thet keel-boat down river
las' night, aint yer?"

"I reckon I wus; whut of it?"

"Nuthin' 'tall; 'tain't no manner o' 'count ter me, fur as thet goes,"
and I got down on my knees again to resume scrubbing. "All I wus goin'
fer ter ask yer wus--wan't thar a couple o' womin 'long with ye?
Whut's becom' o' them? I ain't seed hide ner hair ov either since they
cum aboard."

I did not glance around, yet knew that Tim spat over the rail, and
stroked his chin-beard reflectively, after looking hard at me.

"They'se both of 'em niggers," he said, evidently persuaded my question
was prompted only by curiosity. "They belong ter Joe Kirby, an' we got
'em locked up."

"That's whut yer way up yere fur, hey? Goin' ter take 'em back down
river ter Saint Louee, I reckon?"

"Furst boat thet cums 'long. They skipped out night afore las', but we
cotched 'em all right. Yer goin' back on this steamer?"

"Not me; I'm goin' fer ter enlist whin we git ter Yellow Banks. Thar's
a heap more fun in thet, then steam-boatin'."

We continued to talk back and forth for some time but to little
purpose, although I endeavored to lead the conversation so as to learn
more definitely the exact situation of the two prisoners. Whether Tim
was naturally cautious, or had been warned against talking with
strangers by Kirby, I do not know, but, in spite of all my efforts, he
certainly proved extremely close-mouthed, except when we drifted upon
other topics in which I felt no interest. He was not suspicious of me,
however, and lingered on in his seat beside the rail, expectorating
into the running water below, until Mapes suddenly appeared on deck,
and compelled me to resume work. The two disappeared together, seeking
a friendly drink