"Yes. No one knows it but you, and I wouldn't ha' telled you only the old mother will be in a rare taking when she finds me gone, and I want you to tell her as I've come to no harm."
"But why, Joe?"
"Vetch--that's why. 'Tis no place for me now, lad. He bin cursing and swearing he'll send me to the plantations for that business with the barrel, and he'll keep his word. And so I be going to run for it."
"But where, Joe? And what about your 'dentures?"
"That's where it is: my 'dentures must go too. If I be catched, there's a flogging and prison for that. But I don't mean to be catched. Before the sun's up I'll be on my way to Bristowe."
"That's ever so far."
"So 'tis, but not further than a pair of legs can walk."
"And will you get a place with a cooper there?"
"No, no; no more coopering for me; I be done with barrels for good and all. I be going to sea."
"To sea! What ever made you think of such a thing?"