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Show 262 ROEBUCK. just before the burning of that n1ansion, Baxter took the liberty of 'vithdrawing fr01n the ranks ancl visitinn- the villno·e. lie intended to spend an hour then~, nn~lretnru t~ the regiment. But he fell in 'vith ~ boon companion and good liquor. Ilis habitual ,vcakness detained hitn several hours, and, at last, ho by clo,vn to sleep hi1nsclf sober. lie slept until evening, and then, in atten1pting to pass- out of the vilbcre he ,vas car)tured. \Vhen he fonnu hin1self in b ' the presence of "'\Vesel ancl I>ahncr, his first thought ,vas that the one 'vas a fool, and the other a coward. lie concci vecl the illca of escaping from durance by so1ne stratagcn1, and 'vith that view, he determined to protract the proceedings, 'vhich would keep hin1 about the tavern, ancl to try the cifect of bullying his jndges. lie gave free rein to hi~ insolence, affecting to be drunk, although he 'vas as sober as a man ought ever to Le, according to his theory. "So," saitl Colonel "'\V cscl, sternly, "you bo'st our pri~oncr." "I su 'peetcll as much," answered Baxter. "And 1norcover, bc~idcs, you bc'st a spy." " That's a lie." ".lHoin Gott! That is itnpudencc." "You nrc a fool, and you speak broken Dntch." "Vat you sny? Yon i1npn<lent slavery institution. Donner! That institution is impudent. Vat yon say? lih-h-h ?" ' "Colonel yon are rio·ht in ol>icctino- to the insti- ' b J 0 tution, out } ou uo not urge the right ol>jection." "Vat is das, you ~ecesh puppy." "The only valid objection to our peculiar institution is that the ni o·crcrs sino- at their 'vork, and sing bb 0 slow tune . They 'vork to hy1nns, and dance to jigs. It won't pay." llOEllUCK. 253 "V ell, I vill hang yon. You bees a spy. Now let ns rro on wid the cx[lmination. I vill hancr you lmt '' b ' J I vill cxatnine you first. Yon shall not ay, when yon nre dead, that I docs not tho fair thing." ''I think 've 1night pass over the cxarninntion, since the sentence has been already pronounced. That would save tirne." "No; I vill cxa1ninc you, to hang you according to law." "Then I 'vill lie down on this bench, and take a nap, 'vhilc you are engaged in the examination. \Vhon yon arc ready to hang 1ne, please 'vake me up. I want to see it done." " You dinks I von't hang you ; but I vill, by--." "No, you 'von't." "vVhat for I ,von't hang you~ Eh-h-h !" "Don't put your f:1ce so ncar 1ne, when you speak to Jne. Your breath Sin ells of onions and Sweitzer cheese." "I vill stop yonr breath vid a rope, hnndBfut, Johnny lteb." "Now, clon't. I prefer to be shot. Can't yoa spare 1ne a. bullet? A bullet is the decent dose for a gentlen1an. 'rhcre is Palmer-he can tell you so. By tho w·ay, dicl he ever tell yon about the exchange of hnllcts between hhn ancl tne when he wa" in the rebel service?" "You slander 1ninc frientl. lie is not a rebel nor never vns not." "Not rebel enough to hurt him. lie deserted the first chance he got." "Don't n1ind ,vhat a drunken fellow says," interposed Palmer. , |
