"An't it enough we catch the boy for ye?" said Loker. "What do ye want?"

"Wal," said Haley, "if I gives you the job, it's worth something,--say
ten per cent. on the profits, expenses paid."

"Now," said Loker, with a tremendous oath, and striking the table with
his heavy fist, "don't I know _you_, Dan Haley? Don't you think to come
it over me! Suppose Marks and I have taken up the catchin' trade, jest
to 'commodate gentlemen like you, and get nothin' for ourselves?--Not by
a long chalk! we'll have the gal out and out, and you keep quiet, or, ye
see, we'll have both,--what's to hinder? Han't you show'd us the game?
It's as free to us as you, I hope. If you or Shelby wants to chase us,
look where the partridges was last year; if you find them or us, you're
quite welcome."

"O, wal, certainly, jest let it go at that," said Haley, alarmed; "you
catch the boy for the job;--you allers did trade _far_ with me, Tom, and
was up to yer word."

"Ye know that," said Tom; "I don't pretend none of your snivelling ways,
but I won't lie in my 'counts with the devil himself. What I ses I'll
do, I will do,--you know _that_, Dan Haley."

"Jes so, jes so,--I said so, Tom," said Haley; "and if you'd only
promise to have the boy for me in a week, at any point you'll name,
that's all I want."

"But it an't all I want, by a long jump," said Tom. "Ye don't think I
did business with you, down in Natchez, for nothing, Haley; I've learned