human
It doesn't, I said aloud to my busy image in the mirror,
gpt
I faced round:
human
Why, gentlemen, if this isn't the most astonishing----
gpt
Ho-old on. Ho-old on! Finish your dressing. We're told it does describe two of them and we thought we'd just come and see for ourselves.
human
And you followed the unprotected lady?
gpt
We followed four runaway niggers, sir! Else why did they take to the woods inside of a mile from that house where you left the coach? Oh, you're dressed; come along; time's flying!
human
Wait, I said, strapping on my pistol.
gpt
Now, gentlemen, we'll follow this matter to the end, beginning now, instantly. But it must be done as----
human
Oh, as privately as possible! Certainly!
gpt
Certainly. You want the reward and you want it all. But understand, I know you're in error, and I go with you solely to prove you are. Now, by your theory----
human
Oh, come along! We went. I killed time over my coffee, and in getting a saddle for one of my hired span.
gpt
You must excuse us if we're not polite, my friends apologized after another flash of impatience.
human
Of course those niggers are not on the run in broad day, but their trail's getting cold!
gpt
You're not as bad-mannered as I am,
human
What were you going to say, one asked me,
gpt
Oh! I see you think Mrs. Southmayd must have met up with company and left her servants to follow on to the next station alone.
human
Exactly. We tracked the darkies along the edge of the road; but her horse tracks--we could only see that no horse tracks left the road where any of their man tracks left it.
gpt
I'll rejoin you, 'cross fields, where you turned back last night. I'm going for the dogs.
human
Stop! Gentlemen, this is too high-handed. Do you reckon I'll let you run down those four innocent creatures with hounds? I _swear_ you shan't do it, sirs.
gpt
See here, said the one still with me,
human
Not by a long chalk! I retorted as I moved with him up the pike.
gpt
Those poor simpletons--alone in a strange land, maybe without a pass, at any moment liable to meet a patrol--how easy for them to make the fatal mistake of leaving the road and hiding their tracks!
human
All right, come ahead, you'll see fair play.