ien
that got loose from the carload that landed here three days ago."

"How about holdin' this fellow for a witness?" The officer nodded his
head towards the Wildcat. The Sergeant debated for a moment, during
which the Wildcat's freedom wavered in an unstable balance.

Finally the Sergeant spoke, and with his words the Wildcat's liberty
was assured. "We don't need him. We've got enough to hold this rag-head
with--and the bull pen is crowded anyhow."

The Wildcat got the drift of the crisis which had passed. "Cap'n, suh,
I sho' is obliged to you. Me an' ol' Mud Turtle here aims to take our
midnight run to San F'mcisco."

The Mud Turtle, who was busy dealing out free fried smelt, paused long
enough to crack a few segments of dried mud from his uniform. He hit
himself on the chest, and another nickel-plated button in an area of
blue cloth was revealed in the light of the street lamp.

"Us sho' do," he confirmed. "Me an' dis Wilecat boy's Pullman men."

A few minutes later the Wildcat augmented the disappearing supply of
free fish with a little sound advice to his patrons.

"Neveh seed such fool niggers. Was ol' Cap'n Jack here he sho' would
ca'm you down wid a club. You gits yo' haids full ob crazy notions, an'
after de ruckus dey hauls you out feet fust. Think like white folks
does if you craves to, but unless you aims to festoon yo' health an'
strength wid a funeral box an' lead a graveyard procession, stop wid de
thinkin'. Think like white folks does, but don't act dat way. Next
time, befo' you 'filiates wid any wild men, say howdy to a mess o'
vittles. De river's full o' free fish, an' de jail's full o' crazy
folks like dat rag-head Hindoo boy. Next time anybody tells you you's
de same as white folks, bust him in de nose an' walk away fast. 'At's
all."

The Wildcat ended his preaching and turned to his associate.

"Come on heah, ol' Mud Turtle. Le's take dis mule an' wagon back to dat
liv'ry stable boy befo' us gits 'rested fo' lendin' him permanent."

CHAPTER XIII

The Wildcat drove to the livery stable. The Mud Turtle, seated beside
him, spent the time en route to the place in scraping the mud from his
southern hemisphere.

At the livery stable he removed his ponderous rubber boots and sloshed
his feet with a hose. He paid the rent for the mule and wagon. "Heah's
fo' bits mo'. Take dat oil stove back to dat sto' by de riveh," he
directed.

Carrying the boots in his hand, he walked beside the W