n churches. It did not occur
to him that these men knew they were wicked, and that they were
suffering from his unintentional but overwhelming rebuke.

They turned away impatiently, and went in their boats to the village
landing across the river; a night's sport spoiled for them by the coming
of a luck-breaking parson. Others waited to hear more of what they knew
they needed, partly in amusement, partly in curiosity, and partly
because they liked the whiskery fellow who was so interesting. At the
same time, what he said was stinging however inoffensive.

"Game's closed for the night!" Buck announced, and the gamesters took
their departure. They made no protest, for it was not feasible to
continue gambling when everyone knows a parson brings bad luck to a
player.

The outside lights were extinguished, and Buck brought Slip from the
kitchen inside to Rasba.

"This is Slip," Buck explained, and the two shook hands, the fugitive
staring anxiously at the other's face, expecting recognition.

"Don't yo' know me, Parson?" Slip exclaimed. "Jock Drones. Don't yo'
know me?"

"Jock Drones?" Rasba cried, staring. "Why, Sho! Hit is! Lawse--an' I
found yo' right yeah--thisaway!"

"Yassuh," Jock turned away under that bright gaze, "but I'm goin' back,
Parson! I'm goin' back to stand trial, suh! I neveh knowed any man, not
a blood relation would think so much of me, as to come way down yeah to
tell me my mammy, my good ole mammy, wanted me to be safe----"

"An' good, Jock!" Rasba cried.

"An' good, suh," the young man added, obediently.

"I'd better go over and see our sick man," Buck turned to Slip.

"A sick man?" Rasba asked. "Where mout he be?"

"In that other shanty-boat, that little boat," Slip exclaimed. "We'll
all go!"

When they entered the little boat, which sagged under their combined
weights, Slip held the light so it would shine on the cot.

"Sho!" Rasba exclaimed. "Hyar's my friend who got shot by a lady!"

"Yes, suh, Parson!" Prebol grinned, feebly. "Seems like I cayn't get
shut of yo' nohow, but I'm shore glad to see yo'. These yeah boys have
took cyar of me great. Same's you done, Parson, but I wa'nt your kind,
swearin' around, so I pulled out. Yo' cayn't he'p me much, but
likely--likely theh's some yo' kin."

"I'd shore like to find them," Rasba declared, smoothing the man's
pillow. "But there's not so many I can he'p. Yo' boys are tired; I'll
give him his medicine till to'd mornin'. Yo'd jes' soon,