dly indifferent as to how it was obtained. If I could only have
a moment alone with Kennedy, in which to learn exactly what he knew.
But it was plainly useless to hope for this privilege; the fellow slept
soundly, his face hidden in his arms, the sleep of complete drunkenness.

The two soldiers, whose entrance had interrupted our talk, remained at
the bar drinking, until after I had completed my toilet; and were still
there listening to a story Rale was telling, when the slatternly white
woman announced that supper was ready to serve. Seemingly I was the
only one prepared to eat, and I sat down alone at a small table,
constructed out of a box, and attempted to do the best I could with the
food provided. I have never eaten a worse meal, or a poorer cooked
one; nor ever felt less inclination to force myself to partake.
Finally the soldiers indulged in a last drink, and disappeared through
the door into the night without. Tim slept soundly, while the other
men remained engrossed in their game of cards. Rale wiped off the bar,
glanced about at these, as though to reassure himself that they were
intent on their play; then, removing his apron, he crossed the room,
and drew up a chair opposite me.

"All right, Sal," he grunted shortly. "Bring on whut yer got."

CHAPTER XXIII

A NEW JOB

He remained silent, staring moodily at the fire, until after the woman
had spread out the dishes on the table before him. Then his eyes fell
upon the fare.

"Nice looking mess that," he growled, surveying the repast with
undisguised disgust. "No wonder we don't do no business with thet kind
ov a cook. I reckon I'd a done better to hav' toted a nigger back with
me. No, yer needn't stay--go an' make up them beds in the other room.
I'll watch things yere."

He munched away almost savagely, his eyes occasionally lifting to
observe me from beneath their shaggy brows, his muscular jaws fairly
crunching the food. I judged the fellow had come over intending to
resume our interrupted conversation, but hardly knew what he had best
venture. I decided to give him a lead.

"I ain't got no money, myself," I began to explain, apologetically,
"but Tim thar sed he'd pay my bill."

"Sure, that's all right; I ain't a worryin' none. Maybe I might put
yer in an easy way o' gittin' hold o' a little coin--thet is if ye
ain't too blame perticular."

"Me!" I laughed. "Well, I reckon I don't aim fer ter be thet. I've
bin ten years knock