A DOUBLE BRIBE.
The pursuing and searching party wound swiftly into Dead-Man’s Forest, with Cato the Creeper in advance. He strode boldly along, whistling and singing jovially, though keeping a sharp eye upon every thicket and matted copse. In addition to his razor, he carried a huge knotted bludgeon which he trailed along the ground. When fairly in the shades of the forest, he commenced a favorite melody, with great gusto:
“Jawbone walkin’, Jawbone talkin’,
Jawbone eat with a knife an’ fork:
Jawbone broke an’ de marrow—”
“Dry up!” sternly ordered Sol, the leader. “Don’t yer know thar’s Injuns skulkin’ round? let alone the gang of rascals I know hide in these yer thickets. Ef yer don’t yer’d oughter.”
“Golly, Mars’r Jacobs, I’ve done prowled ’round these yer woods fur dis long time an’ I done never see’d any gang. Ef thar was one, ole Cato’d know it, shore.”
“Curse me ef I don’t believe you do,” mentally declared Jacobs. “I guess I’ll keep an eye on the nigger.”
They were in a small glade. Stopping short, Jacobs turned and faced the men, who halted and gathered about him. After thinking a moment, he said:
“Now, boys, yer’ve pretty much made up yer minds how little Katie got lost, ain’t yer?”