"Not for all the gangs that ever ganged!" said he softly.

"Eh?" exclaimed the Spider, staring, "what's yer game?"

"I'm going to try to buck this gang clean out of existence."

"You are, eh?"

"I am."

"Bo," sighed the Spider, shaking his head, "you ain't a ordinary
fool--you're a damned fool!"

"And you're going to help me, Spider!"

"Not me, bo, not me--I'm only just an ordinary fool!"

"Well, we'll let it go at that!" said Ravenslee, and lying back, he
yawned again.

"Don't do that, bo, don't do that!" exclaimed the Spider. "I'm thinkin'
what you'll look like after you've been floatin' around in th' river--a
week, say! You'd best get out o' Hell's Kitchen, bo--don't stop to ask
where to, but--go there."

"My Spider," said Ravenslee, shaking his head, "in Hell's Kitchen I
should have to leave all that makes life worth while, so--I shall stay,
of course, and chance the--er--river and things."