any time, I just
shouted at him: "Do you see yon wicket gate?" I pointed at the
imaginary gate. Jake turned about, shook his head and answered:
"No." I cut in before he could get further: "Do you see yon
shining light? Keep that light in thy eye and go up directly
thereto, so shalt thou see the gate at which, when thou
knockest, it shall be told thee what thou shalt do."

[Illustration: "Hold Her Down, Tom"]

Jake was lost. He walked he knew not whither, Palmer pleading
and swearing to guide him. The gate and shining light to which I
referred were imaginary. I pointed off stage. Jake, in his
excitement was trying to get away from the audience. He walked
up stage; he pressed against the canvas, trying to force his way
further. Palmer and Bedford Tom had all their weight against the
frame of the panorama. When Jake felt resistance he put his
powerful muscles to work. "Hold on! Hold on! Stop! You can't go
further," cried Palmer. Jake kept on pushing. "Hold her down,
Tom; hold her down." Then came a crash, the lights went out and
over went Palmer, Tom and the panorama.

Jake's breathing and his efforts to release himself from the
heavy canvas covering him could be heard above the din and
confusion. Palmer was here, there, everywhere, assuring the
audience that a slight accident had befallen the mechanical part
of the panorama. "Just remain seated, we'll give you a good
show." He forgot himself and called it a show after all his
orders to us not to speak the word "show." The strong arms of
Bedford Tom, and Jake soon righted the panorama. Mrs. Palmer
played the organ, and right there is where one of my songs would
come in right. I sung for Jake and Tom last night and Jake
declared: "The people in Bedford would like one of dem nigger
songs better dan Palmer's hull tarn pictur show. De hull tam
ting is a fraudt; no such a man as Bunjun was ever in Bedford
yail. I and Tom knows every man dot's been in dot yail and dey
don't put 'em in yail fur what he sedt." Jake's mixed up; he
imagines Palmer refers to Bedford, Pa.

The panorama worked along smoothly until Pliable and Christian,
(I and Jake), fell into the Slough of Despond. You know, in the
book, Pliable and Christian are traveling together; they fall in
the Slough of Despond; Pliable struggles and gets out.
Christian