"Oh, no! I didn't," said Sam, whose patience had been sorely taxed already by Jake's persistent disposition to find fault.
"What did you say, then?" asked that worthy.
"Merely that we're not going to try to run in the dark to-night."
"Well, you're a goin' to stop then?"
"No, I am not."
"I see how dat is," said Joe, suddenly catching an idea.
"Well, explain it to Jake, then," said Sam laughing.
"W'y, Mas' Jake, don't you see de moon's gwine to shine bright as day, an' so dey ain't a gwine to be no dark to-night."
"That's it, Joe," replied Sam, "but if there was no moon I'd still go on. The drift isn't in the least dangerous."
"Why not, Sam?" asked Tom.