"Well, darn it, I know it," said Joshua; "but I rather estimate they'll give half price for you; and that will pay us right smart for the venture. For, you see, what they want is an abolitionist, and I rather estimate they're not over and above partickilar as to who he may be. Now I have heern tell of a heap of incendiary papers you sent down south to free the niggurs--" "I never did any such thing!" "Oh, well," said Joshua, "it's all one; them there sugar-growing fellers will think so; and so it's all right. And there's them runaway niggurs you Phil'delphy Quakers are always hiding away from their masters. I rather estimate we'll make a good venture out of you." "What!" said I, "will you sell my life for money?" "No," said the vile Joshua, "it's a mere trade in flesh and blood--wouldn't take a man's life on no consideration." "Friend, thee shall have money if thee will permit me to escape." "Well," said Joshua, with an indifferent drawl, "I estimate not. Abel Snipe told me you was cleaned out as clear as a gourd-shell." "Abel Snipe!" said I; "is thee a friend of that villain, Abel Snipe?" "A sorter," said Joshua; "or rather Sam is. Him and Abel was friends together at Sing--" "Oh, blast your jaw," said Sam, speaking for almost the first time on the whole journey, for he had been, until then, uncommonly glum and taciturn; "where's the difference where it was? Says Abel Snipe to me, says he, 'If you want's an abolitionist, there's my old friend Zachariah; he's your true go.' And so, d'ye see, that's what made us snap you; for we was thinking of snapping another." "Oh, the wretch! the base, ungrateful, hypocritical wretch!" "Come, blast it," said Sam, "don't abuse a man's friends." "Fellow," said I, "hast thou no human feeling in that breast of thine? Wilt thou sell me to violent men and madmen, who will wrongfully take my life? "Think what thou doest! Hast thou no conscience? Thou art selling a fellow-being! Hast thou no fear of death and judgment? of the devil and the world of torment?"