s prisoner wus white? Did she tell him?"

"I should say not. It wus the mulatto cook who told him, although, I
reckon, he hed his doubts afore thet I knew she wusn't no nigger the
furst minute I got eyes on her--they can't fool me none on niggers; I
wus raised 'mong 'em. But so fur's the gurl's concerned, she don't
know yet thet Kirby's found out." He emitted a weak laugh. "It sorter
skeered Joe ter be caught way up yere in this kintry, kidnapin' a white
gurl. He didn't know whut the hell ter do, till I give him a p'inter."

"You were the one who suggested marriage?"

"Wal', I sed she cudn't do nuthin' 'gainst him onct he wus married to
her. I thought o' thet right away. Yer see this wus how it happened:
Kirby sed he'd like fer ter marry her, an' I sez, 'why not then?
Thar's an ol' bum ov a preacher yere at Yellow Banks, a sorter
hanger-on ter one o' them militia companies, what'll do eny damn thing
I tell him too. I got the goods on him, an' he knows it.'

"'But she wouldn't marry me,' he says, 'yer don't know thet gurl.'

"'Don't I,' I asked sarcastic. 'Wal', thar ain't no gurl ever I see
yet thet won't marry a man if the right means are used. How kin she
help herself? Yer leave it ter me.'"

"And he consented?"

"He wus damn glad to, after I told him how it cud be done. But Tim he
wudn't go in with us, an' thet's why we got ter hav' anuther man. Come
on over ter the bar an' hav' a drink, Moffett; them other fellers are
goin' ter eat now."

The diversion gave me opportunity for a moment's thought. The plan was
a diabolical one, cold-blooded and desperate, yet I saw no certain way
of serving her, except by accepting Rale's offer. I had no
satisfactory proof to present against these villains, and, even if I
had, by the time I succeeded in locating headquarters and establishing
my own identity, the foul trick might be executed without my aid, and
the injured girl spirited away beyond reach. I did not even know where
she was concealed, or how I could lay hands on Kirby. The genial Rale
pushed out a black bottle and we drank together.

"Wal'," he said, picking up the conversation where it had ended, quite
satisfied with his diplomacy, and wiping his lips on his sleeve. "What
ye say, Moffett? Thar's a hundred dollars in this job."

"Whar is the gurl?"

"Oh, I reckon she ain't fur away; we kin find her all right. I got ter
know 'bout yer furst. Are yer game?"

"I'm game 'nough, Jack," assu