“What’s that shouting?” said Sellick, glancing up the street. “Hello! if there ain’t the deacon and the squire coming arter us, lickety-split! Wait a minute! Le’s see what they want.”
What they wanted was soon made manifest. “Judge Garty recalls his jail warrant, or he will do it; new developments in the case!” cried the deacon, breathlessly, driving up.
“Pervided the boy consents to the arrangement,” added Peternot. “The money is in our hands: he agrees to abandon all claim on ’t.—What do you say, before these witnesses?”
“I’ve already said I was willing to do that,” said the astonished Jack. “But how—where did you find it—the coin, I mean?”
“The Huswick boys sent it over to my house. You abandon your claim to it, as the squire says, and throw yourself on his liberality, on his well-known generosity,” added the deacon, with a sly twinkle. “He has promised to do the handsome thing by you, the fair and liberal thing; and I’ve no doubt it will be all you can ask, under the circumstances.”
“If he’ll get me out of this fix, I shall be satisfied,” said Jack; “I’ll trust the rest to his—liberality, as you say.” And his heart gave such a leap of joy at the thought of getting off so easily, that he came near betraying his knowledge of the spurious character of the coin, by some mirthful demonstration.
“Now you’re reasonable; now you talk as a boy should!” cried Peternot, approvingly. “Turn about; le’s hurry back to the judge’s office, and have the matter arranged.” For the old man was as anxious to secure the treasure, as Jack was eager to regain his freedom.
“You spoke jest in time,” said Sellick. “A minute more, and the prisoner and the paper would have gone out of my hands.—No, thank you!” to the jailer; “you’re very kind, but I don’t think I shall need to trouble you this morning,—unless the boy insists on ’t?” turning to Jack.
As Jack did not insist, the two buggies were turned about and started for home; Sellick, with his fresher horse, taking the lead.
“Old Maje is perty well used up; guess the deacon never drove him quite so hard before. One thing,” added the constable, “surprises me, that both him and you should have been so willing to give up all the money, to buy off the squire. Between ourselves, he’d ’ave been glad to take one half.”