slept; and early the next
morning they resumed their rumbling journey.

As they were now out of the neighborhood range of the two boys,
everything began to possess a keen interest for them, the houses, cattle
and even the dogs that ran along the yard fences to bark at the wagon.
Just before sunset they saw from afar the capitol dome, the mausoleum of
Stricklin, who built many state houses, constructing in each one a tomb
for himself. Years had passed since Jasper, a battle-smoked and bleeding
soldier, had trod up to that lofty pile of rock to receive his discharge
from the ranks; and desolate, with no drum and no fife to march back to
his wretched home. To him the scene was heart-heavy with memories, but
to the boys it was the first glimpse of that great and mysterious life
lying far beyond their native hills.

"I reckon the man that lives in thar could go to a sale up whar we live
an' buy every wagin an' team on the place," said Laz, pointing toward
the fading state-house, and Mose replied:

"Reckon h--h--h--he could t--t--t--talk all day without a h--h--hitch."

"Whar do we sleep to-night, with some of the neighbors?" Laz inquired,
and Foster laughed.

"You sleep," said he, with an old joke, "in a house that will keep the
dogs from coming in and biting you."

"You mean the jail?"

"Yes, that's what I mean. We'll have to keep you close till we get
through with you."

"Is that the law?"

"Yes, as we understand it."

"Wall, then, I may not have to shoot you the fust time I meet you in the
big road. Got a good artickle of pie thar in the kitchin?"

"You shall have all the pie you want."

Then Mose began: "Ef t--t--t--that's the case you m--m--m--mout drive a
l--l--little faster. An' p--p--p--pound cake?"

"Yes, you may have some of that, too."

"Then I'm g--g--g--glad I c--c--come. Never had as m--m--much
p--p--pound cake as I co--could eat b--b--but once, an' then I staid all
night with a feller w--w--w--when his mammy w--w--wan't at home."

"Am I to be locked up?" the old man asked.

"Yes, Mr. Starbuck."

The old fellow groaned and in the dusk shrank down, little in his
humiliation.

"Sometimes," he said, "folks have to stay in there a good while before
they air fotch to trial. Do you think you kin fix it so they kin have it
over with my case as soon as possible?"

"Yes, we'll try to rush you through."

"Through to where--to where?" the old man muttered to himself.

They passed a theatre as