the river, or blow yer brains out. Any man that plays
traitor with Jim Fenton, gits traitor's fare."

Yates saw that he had made a fatal mistake, and that it was too late to
correct it. He saw that Jim was dangerously excited, and that it would
not do to excite him further. He therefore rose, and with feigned
pleasantry, said he should be very glad to row to the landing.

Jim passed him and took a seat in the stern of the boat. Then, as Yates
took up the oars, Jim raised his rifle, and, pointing it directly at the
lawyer's breast, said:

"Now, Sam Yates, turn this boat round."

Yates was surprised in turn, bit his lips, and hesitated.

"Turn this boat round, or I'll fix ye so't I can see through ye plainer
nor I do now."

"Surely, Jim, you don't mean to have me row back. I haven't harmed you."

"Turn this boat round, quicker nor lightnin'."

"There, it's turned," said Yates, assuming a smile.

"Now row back to Number Nine."

"Come, Jim," said Yates, growing pale with vexation and apprehension,
"this fooling has gone far enough."

"Not by ten mile," said Jim.

"You surely don't mean to take me back. You have no right to do it. I
can prosecute you for this."

"Not if I put a bullet through ye, or drown ye."

"Do you mean to have me row back to Number Nine?"

"I mean to have you row back to Number Nine, or go to the bottom
leakin'," responded Jim.

Yates thought a moment, looked angrily at the determined man before him,
as if he were meditating some rash experiment, and then dipped his oars
and rowed up-stream.

Great was the surprise of Mr. Benedict late in the afternoon to see
Yates slowly rowing toward the cabin, and landing under cover of Jim's
rifle, and the blackest face that he had ever seen above his good
friend's shoulders.

CHAPTER XVII.

IN WHICH JIM CONSTRUCTS TWO HAPPY DAVIDS, RAISES HIS HOTEL, AND
DISMISSES SAM YATES.

When the boat touched the bank, Jim, still with his rifle pointed at the
breast of Sam Yates, said:

"Now git out, an' take a bee line for the shanty, an' see how many paces
ye make on't."

Yates was badly blown by his row of ten miles on the river, and could
hardly stir from his seat; but Mr. Benedict helped him up the bank, and
then Jim followed him on shore.

Benedict looked from one to the other with mingled surprise and
consternation, and then said:

"Jim, what does this mean?"

"It means," replied Jim, "that Number 'leven, an' his name is Williams