e.
Think of that and quit your foolishness. You have made a trade with me.
Till your part of that trade is carried out you ain't a free agent to do
what you want to do in your own affairs."

The worry over his inability to carry out that trade was mingled with
the young man's general bitterness of regret because he had challenged
Fate so boldly.

"There's one thing about it," Mr. Wagg pursued, "the quicker you come
across with me the sooner you can do what you darnation want to on your
own hook. I have worked a thing that could be worked only once. You're
out--and you're out right. Nobody is chasing you. Take another name,
show up in some other part of the country, and you'll live happy ever
after."

He dwelt on that theme whenever the two talked, and he played all the
variations. Furthermore, he complained because Vaniman was not showing
his gratitude in more hearty fashion. "I catch you looking at me like
a youngster would look at a bumblebee crawling across his bare foot.
I don't ask to be taken into your bosom as your main and particular
chum--understand that! But while there's business on between us I expect
pleasant looks, even if you don't feel like handing me conversation."

Mr. Wagg was doing practically all the talking on that trip. He had
emerged from his cocoon of taciturnity. He explained that naturally he
was a great talker, but that prison rules had pretty nigh paralyzed his
tongue and he was trying to get it back into good working order once
more.

He made an especial point of vaunting himself upon the success of his
scheme of deliverance. He tackled the thing from all angles. He played
it up as the greatest achievement that ever had been worked in behalf of
a convict. Mr. Wagg, serving as board of appraisal of his own feat, kept
boosting the value. It was evident that he was suspecting that Vaniman,
out and free, was in the mood that is characteristic of the common run
of humanity: urgent desire is reckless about price; possession proceeds
to haggle and demur.

"And there's one thing about it," insisted Wagg, "we've got to keep on
going ahead. We can't back up. We can't dissolve partnership. And the
trade has got to stand as it was made--fifty-fifty."

"I'm not going back on the trade."

They were sitting close to each other on a tussock behind their little
tent. Mr. Wagg leaned close and bored Vaniman with earnest gaze. "We'll
fetch Egypt on to-morrow's hitch. Of course, you're going to stick