nce I had him in custody. Just as regular as the clock
strikes he's at the back door. Good habits--why, that darky is a lesson
to most white folks!"

"I don't care a cuss about that nigger, but what's the use of building a
jail if a body ain't goin' to use it?"

"Well, there's some sense in that," agreed the sheriff.

"There's a whole heap of sense in it!"

"I suggest"--the speaker was a young lawyer from the next county--"I
suggest that a committee be appointed to wait on the nigger at
the steamboat landing and acquaint him with the fact that with his
assistance we wish completely to furnish the jail."

"I protest--" cried the judge. "I protest--" he repeated vigorously.
"Pride of race forbids that I should be a party to the degradation of
the best of civilization! Is your jail to be christened to its high
office by a nigger? Is this to be the law's apotheosis? No, sir! No
nigger is worthy the honor of being the first prisoner here!" This was
a new and striking idea. The crowd regarded the judge admiringly.
Certainly here was a man of refined feeling.

"That's just the way I feel about it," said the sheriff. "If I'd
athought there was any call for him I wouldn't have let him go fishing,
I'd have kept him about."

"Oh, let the nigger fish--he has powerful luck. What's he usin',
Sheriff; worms or minnies?"

"Worms," said the sheriff shortly.

Presently the crowd drifted away in the direction of the tavern.
Hannibal meantime had gone down to the river. He haunted its banks as
though he expected to see his Uncle Bob appear any moment. The judge and
Mahaffy had mingled with the others in the hope of free drinks, but in
this hope there lurked the germ of a bitter disappointment. There was
plenty of drinking, but they were not invited to join in this pleasing
rite, and after a period of great mental anguish Mahaffy parted with
the last stray coin in the pocket of his respectable black trousers, and
while his flask was being filled the judge indulged in certain winsome
gallantries with the fat landlady.

"La, Judge Price, how you do run on!" she said with a coquettish toss of
her curls.

"That's the charm of you, ma'am," said the judge. He leaned across
the bar and, sinking his voice to a husky whisper, asked, "Would it be
perfectly convenient for you to extend me a limited credit?"

"Now, Judge Price, you know a heap better than to ask me that!" she
answered, shaking her head.

"No offense, ma'am," said the j