"That," he said, "is easy. Still, have you figured how he is to be gotten into the canoe? You are hardly going to make him understand what he is to do."
"There's only one way. He must be put into it. Under the circumstances, it's only fitting that I should undertake the thing."
"No!" and Jefferson's voice rang sharply. "Not you! Offer any of the rest of them fifty dollars!"
Austin smiled. "To take a risk I'm responsible for? I think not. I went sufficiently far when I brought some of them here. Besides, it's comforting to remember you mayn't be right about the thing being contagious, after all."
Jefferson looked at him hard a moment, with the fingers of one hand closed, and then made a little sign.
"Well," he said, "if you feel it that way, there's probably nothing to be gained by protesting. There are disadvantages in being leader."
Austin turned and touched the negro with his foot, while he pointed to the ladder.
"Get up! You lib for canoe one time!" he said.
The negro mowed and gibbered meaninglessly, and Austin, stooping, grasped his shoulder, which was clean. With an effort he dragged him to his feet, and, while the rest fell back from them, drove the man towards the head of the ladder. Then one of them slipped, and there was a cry of horror from the rest as the negro clutched the white man, and they rolled down the ladder into the darkness below together. Tom ran towards the rail with his lamp, and as Jefferson leaned out from them he saw Austin shake off the negro's engirdling grasp.
"Get up!" he said hoarsely, and stirred him with his foot again.