Falling on his knees, he cried in despairing tones:
"Oh, massa officer, hab mercy on me!"
"We are inclined to pity you, as you were merely an ignorant tool in the hands of a very wicked man. But of course you can't expect us to be lenient unless you aid us to capture Ronald Mason, and recover Mr. Dalton, either dead or alive."
"What yo' want me ter do, boss?" eagerly asked the miserable coon.
"Tell us where to find Mason."
"He lib in dat hut in de swamp."
"Why does he live there?"
"So's he kin watch his prisoner."
"Who is that—Mr. Dalton?"
"Yassah."