"Yes."
"But they tell me it ain't a circumstance to the Injun lands on the far side of the Withlacoochee."
"No?"
"No. Them is said to be the best lands in Floridy. I reckin you're land-hunting. Ain't ye, now?"
"No."
"Must be niggers, then?"
"No sir. I am after neither land nor negroes; I have come merely to see the country."
"Wal, that seems kinder curious," remarked Jeffers, reflectively. "Strange that a man like you should take all this trouble and risk his life—not that I suppose there's a mite of danger—just to look at a country that he don't kalkilate to make nothing out of."
"Yet some people have the poor taste to enjoy travel for travel's sake," replied the other. "But I suppose you have come on business?"
"You bet I have," answered Mr. Jeffers. "I've come after niggers, and I don't care who knows it. Hit's a lawful business, and as good as another, if I do say it. You see, thar's lots of 'em among the Injuns, and they're all described and claimed. Now I've bought a lot of these claims cheap, and the gineral has promised that jest as soon as the Injuns is corralled for emigration, all the claimed niggers shall be sorted out, and restored to their lawful owners. Owing to my claims, I'm the biggest lawful owner there is. So I thought I'd jest come along with the first crowd, and be on hand early to see that I wasn't cheated."