rather think. But what are you up to now?"

Basset, who, though no Solomon, had too much wit to admit every one
into his confidence, answered:

"O, nothing; I was only looking for Squire Miller."

"Why," said Gladding, "he only left the store a minute ago. I say
Basset, you got a warrant agin old Holden?"

"Why," said Basset, "what makes you ask?"

"Because," replied Gladding, mischievously, who strongly suspecting an
intention to arrest Holden, and knowing the constable's cowardice,
was determined to play upon his fears, "I shouldn't like to be in your
skin when you go for to take him."

"I'd like to see the man what would dare to resist when I showed him
my authority," said the constable. "I guess I'd make him cry copeevy
in less than no time."

"Well," said Gladding, who all this while had been leisurely whittling
a bit of white pine, "well, Basset, you know your own business best,
and I'm not a man to interfere. My principle is, let every man skin
his own skunks. You haint no wife nor children, have you?"

"No," said Basset. "What makes you ask?"

"Well, I'm glad to hear it. I always think it judgmatical, you see,
to choose a man for constable who haint got no family; 'cause, if any
accident should happen, 'twouldn't be of so much consequence."

"I don't catch your meaning clear," said Basset.

"You'll catch it clear enough, I guess," answered Gladding, "if Holden
gits hold o' ye."

"Now, Tom Gladding, you needn't think you're going to frighten _me_,"
cried Basset, on whom the charm was beginning to work.

"I never had sich an idea," said Tom. "But folks does say he's a
desperate fighting character. Did you never hear tell of Kidd the
pirate, and his treasures, ever so much gold and silver, and rings and
watches, and all sorts o' trinkets and notions, buried somewhere along
shore, or perhaps on the old fellow's island? Folks does say that
when it was kivered, two men was murdered on the spot, so that their
sperits should watch it, and hender other folks from gitting on't.
But them may be all lies. I heard tell, too," he added, bending down
towards the constable, and speaking in a low, confidential tone, as if
he wished to be overheard by no one, "that Holden's Kidd himself; but
I don't believe a word on't. I tell you this as a friend of your'n,
and I advise you to be prudent."

Poor Basset left the shop, with a much less confident air than that
with which he had entered it. The truth is, he had in