Ten paces huge he back recoiled;
The tenth on bended knee.
But, recovered in some degree from the shock, the friends were both astonished at their own imprudence, and, shaking hands, they separated for the night; the one to go home and ponder his lot, the other to regret his folly.
THEY TAKE COUNSEL TOGETHER.
But the disclosure had been too mutual to rest here—something must be done for their protection. It could only be done by concert, for each had the power to ruin the other, any moment; and, as a result of this necessity, it was the part of wisdom to extend their mutual confidence. If both could not be saved, one of them might. The government was passing into new hands, new interests would arise out of it, new applications would be made for office—perhaps they would both lose theirs. If they did not render their accounts promptly, they would be suspected, and lose their offices of course. They must, therefore, work speedily.
THEY ABSQUATULATE.
But the day of retribution always comes sooner than we expect. The government had changed hands—new interests had arisen—new applications for office had been made. They had become more than suspected, before they could possibly arrange, out of the chaos of their affairs, and the wilderness of their crimes, any such jumbled up accounts of interchanged receipts, costs, &c. &c., as could save even one of them. And, as a consequence upon the unfaithfulness of their [friendship], they were both compelled to fly in disguise and disgrace, from the presence of their countrymen, and from the joys of home.
And now, if I have not given a true account of a default which cost the government more than a million of dollars, solely in consequence of a few thousands wrongfully spent in the first place, for electioneering purposes—if this account does not prove the total unfitness of gambling politicians to hold offices of trust—and if these circumstances will not apply in more quarters than one, public and private—it is because my powers of description are feeble, and not because the truth is wanting to establish these facts.
CHAPTER VI.
SHOWING WHAT A PANIC IS—ITS CAUSES—ITS BEGINNING—ITS ADVANTAGES, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.—WITH THE AUTHOR’S LEAVE-TAKING.