“Brought the report, sir.”
“Give it to me. Humph! No. 40 and 45 refractory at the crank. No. 65 caught getting up to his window; says he wanted to feel the light. 65—that is one of the boys, isn't it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How old is the young varmint?”
“Eleven, sir.”
“No. 14 heard to speak to a prisoner that was leaving the jail, his term being out. What did he say to him?”
“Said 'Good-by! God bless you!'”
“I'll shut his mouth. Confound the beggars! how fond they are of talking. I think they would rather go without their food than without their jaw.
“No. 19 caught writing a story. It is that fellow Robinson, one of the parson's men. I'll write something on his skin. How did he get the things to write with?”
“Chaplain gave them him.”