tell you a word more, nor a word less than I know of my own
knowledge to be true."

"Proceed then without further delay, or I may repent, and order you to
be deprived of all your gains; the silver as well as the notes."

"Honour, if you die for it!" returned the miscreant, holding up a hand
in affected horror at so treacherous a threat. "Well, captain, you must
know that gentlemen don't all live by the same calling; some keep what
they've got, and some get what they can."

"You have been a thief."

"I scorn the word. I have been a humanity hunter. Do you know what
that means? Ay, it has many interpretations. Some people think the
woolly-heads are miserable, working on hot plantations under a broiling
sun--and all such sorts of inconveniences. Well, captain, I have been,
in my time, a man who has been willing to give them the pleasures of
variety, at least, by changing the scene for them. You understand me?"

"You are, in plain language, a kidnapper."

"Have been, my worthy captain--have been; but just now a little reduced,
like a merchant who leaves off selling tobacco by the hogshead, to deal
in it by the yard. I have been a soldier, too, in my day. What is said
to be the great secret of our trade, can you tell me that?"

"I know not," said Middleton, beginning to tire of the fellow's
trifling: "courage?"

"No, legs--legs to fight with, and legs to run away with--and therein
you see my two callings agreed. My legs are none of the best just now,
and without legs a kidnapper would carry on a losing trade; but then
there are men enough left, better provided than I am."

"Stolen!" groaned the horror-struck husband.

"On her travels, as sure as you are standing still!"

"Villain, what reason have you for believing a thing so shocking?"

"Hands off--hands off--do you think my tongue can do its work the
better, for a little squeezing of the throat! Have patience, and you
shall know it all; but if you treat me so ungenteelly again, I shall be
obliged to call in the assistance of the lawyers."

"Say on; but if you utter a single word more or less than the truth,
expect instant vengeance!"

"Are you fool enough to believe what such a scoundrel as I am tells
you, captain, unless it has probability to back it? I know you are not:
therefore I will give my facts and my opinions, and then leave you to
chew on them, while I go and drink of your generosity. I know a man who
is called Abiram White.--I believe the knave t