Yates recognized, with a smile, the nature of the instrument disguised in Jim's pronunciation and conception, and inquired:
"What would you have me to swear to?"
"To what I tell ye."
"Very well. I have pen and paper with me, and am ready to write. Whether I will sign the paper will depend upon its contents."
"Be ye ready?"
"Yes."
"Here ye have it, then. 'I solem-ny sw'ar, s'welp me! that I hain't seen no pauper, in no woods, with his name as Benedict.'"
Jim paused, and Yates, having completed the sentence, waited. Then Jim muttered to himself:
"With his name as Benedict—with his name is Benedict—with his name was Benedict."
Then with a puzzled look, he said: