away from his service to
her, taught him to avoid all other persons, and even those who had
treated her with kindness were thus described to this poor dependant. To
him the sympathies of others would have been the greatest blessing; yet
she so tutored him, that, at her death, he was left desolate. You hear
his account of me, gathered, as he says, and as I doubt not, from her
own lips. That account is true, so far as my other relationships with
mankind are concerned; but not true as regards my connection with her. I
furnished that old creature with food when she was starving, and when
this boy, sick and impotent, could do little for her service. I never
uttered a harsh word in her ears, or treated her unkindly; yet this is
the character she gives of me--and this, indeed, the character which she
has given of all others. A feeling of the narrowest selfishness has led
her deliberately to misrepresent all mankind, and has been productive of
a more ungracious result, in driving one from his species, who, more
than any other, stands in need of their sympathy and association."

While Rivers spoke thus, the idiot listened with an air of the most
stupid attention. His head fell on one shoulder, and one hand partially
sustained it. As the former concluded his remarks, Chub recovered a
posture as nearly erect as possible, and remarked, with as much
significance as could comport with his general expression--

"Chub's mother was good to Chub, and Mr. Guy mustn't say nothing agin
her."

"But, Chub, will you not come and live with me? I will give you a good
rifle--one like this, and you shall travel everywhere with me."

"You will beat Chub when you are angry, and make him shoot people with
the rifle. I don't want it. If folks say harm to Chub, he can lick 'em
with his fists. Chub don't want to live with you."

"Well, as you please. But come in and look at my house and see where I
live."

"And shall I see the strannger agin? I can lick _him_, and I told him
so. But he called me Chub, and I made friends with him."

"Yes, you shall see him, and--"

"And Miss Lucy, too--I want to see Miss Lucy--Chub saw her, and she
spoke to Chub yesterday."

The outlaw promised him all, and after this there was no further
difficulty. The unconscious idiot scrupled no longer, and followed his
conductors into--prison. It was necessary, for the further safety of the
outlaws in their present abode, that such should be the case. The secret
of their