“Oh! what sir? That would never do. You mistake a nigger's feelings entirely. Privileges never create respect with them. Just make a law to leave 'em upon the wharf, and five hundred policemen wouldn't keep 'em from spoiling every nigger in town, just destroying the sovereignty of the law, and yielding a supreme right that we have always contended for. It's 'contrary to law,' and we must carry out the law,” replied Grimshaw. “Pshaw! Talk such stuff to me! Just take away the sixteen hundred or two thousand dollars that you make by the law; and you'd curse it for a nuisance. It would become obsolete, and the poor devils of stewards would do what they pleased; you'd never trouble your head about them. Now, Grimshaw, be honest for once; tell us what you would do if circumstances compelled the Captain to leave that nigger boy here?” “Carry out the letter of the law; there's no alternative. But the Captain swears he's a white man, and that would give him an opportunity to prove it.” “How is he to prove it, Grimshaw? We take away the power, and then ask him to do what we make impossible. Then, of course, you would carry out the letter of the law and sell him for a slave. * * * Well, I should like to see the issue upon a question of that kind carried out upon an English nigger. It would be more of a curse upon our slave institution than every thing else that could be raised,” said the factor. “Gentlemen, you might as well preach abolition at once, and then the public would know what your sentiments were, and how to guard against you. I must bid you good-by.” So saying, Mr. Grimshaw twisted his whip, took a large quid of tobacco, and left the company to discuss the question among themselves. CHAPTER XVIII. LITTLE TOMMY AND THE POLICE. WE must take the reader back to the old jail, and continue our scene from where we left little Tommy spreading the Captain's present before the imprisoned stewards, whose grateful thanks were showered upon the head of the bestower. Kindness, be it ever so small, to a man in prison, is like the golden rays of the rising sun lighting up the opening day. They all partook of the refreshments provided for them with grateful spirits. It was near ten o'clock when Daley came to announce that it was time to close the prison, and all strangers must withdraw. Tommy had insisted upon stopping with Manuel during the night.