“I'll see that you do, very quick,” rejoined the colonel, impatiently; and taking the little fellow by the arm in a compassionate manner, led him back into the presence of the mayor, followed by the Captain.
“I want to know what you are committing this lad for,” said the colonel, setting his hat upon the table, while his face flushed with indignation.
“Vagrancy, and caught prowling about the streets with a negro at midnight. That is the charge, colonel,” replied the mayor, with particular condescension and suavity.
“Was there any proof adduced to substantiate that fact?”
“None but the policeman's; you know we are bound to take that as prima facie.”
“Then it was entirely ex parte. But you know the character of these policemen, and the many aggravated circumstances that have arisen from their false testimony. I wish to cast no disrespect, your honor; but really they will swear to any thing for a fee, while their unscrupulous bribery has become so glaring, that it is a disgrace to our police system. Have you heard the boy's story?” said the colonel.
“Well, he began to tell a crooked story, so full of admissions, and then made such a blubbering about it, that I couldn't make head or tail of it.”
“Well, here is the Captain of his vessel, a friend of mine, whom I esteem a gentleman-for all captains ought to be gentlemen, not excepting Georgia captains and majors,” said the colonel, jocosely, turning round and introducing the Captain to his honor. “Now, your honor, you will indulge me by listening to the little fellow's story, which will be corroborated in its material points by the statements of the Captain, which, I trust, will be sufficient; if not, we shall recur to the jailer.”
“It will be sufficient. I am only sorry there has been so much trouble about it,” said the mayor.
The boy now commenced to tell his story, which the mayor listened to with all learned attention. No sooner had Tommy finished, and the Captain arose to confirm his statements, than the mayor declared himself satisfied, apologized for the trouble it had caused, and discharged the boy upon paying the costs, the amount of which the colonel took from his pocket and threw upon the table. Thus was Tommy's joy complete; not so the poor negro whose ill luck he shared. This high-sounding mayor's court was like Caesar's court, with the exceptions in Caesar's favor.