"Not very clearly, I confess." "It's clear as mud to me--one way is--" said Slaughter. "And to me," chimed in Buck. "What way? Tell us?" demanded the store-keeper. "I'm ready for most anything that'll clear us of that tax." "You can get clear, then, by making a _clear_ of the collector." The suggestion was Slaughter's, the last part of it made in a significant whisper. "Them's just my sentiments," said Buck, speaking louder and with more determination. "I'd have put 'em in practice before this, if Alf Brandon had showed the pluck to agree to it. Durned if I wouldn't!" "What!" said the young planter, affecting ignorance of the suggested scheme, "carry the collector off? Is that what you mean?" "Oh! you're very innocent, Alf Brandon, you are, my sucking dove!" It was Slaughter who spoke. "Yes," said Buck, who answered to the interrogatory, "carry him off, and so far that there'll be no danger o' his coming back again. That's what we mean. Have you got anything better to propose? If you have, let's hear it. If not, what's the use of all this palaverin'?" "Well," said Brandon, "I've been thinking we might carry something else off that might answer our purpose as well, and without getting us into any _scrape_ worth talking about." "Carry what off? The girl--Rook's daughter?" "No, no; Brandon don't mean that, and don't need it. He is going to take her to church, and there's no danger about his getting consent." It was Buck who made the remark, and with some bitterness, being himself one of Lena Rook's unsuccessful admirers. Brandon felt the sting all the more keenly from what had that day occurred. Moreover, he knew that Buck was upon the list of his rivals, and saw that the speech was meant for a slur. The lurid light in his eye, and the pallor suddenly overspreading his lips, showed the depth of his chagrin. But he said nothing, fearful of defeating the scheme he had traced out for himself in relation to Lena Rook. "Come, gentlemen," said Randall, for the first time entering into the conversation, "this talk only wastes time, and the subject is too serious for that. Let us hear Brandon out. I'm as anxious as any of you to settle this unpleasant matter, and if there be any safe plan we can all agree about, the sooner it's carried out the better. I needn't remind you the time's close at hand when the old Shylock will call for another pound of flesh. If any one can suggest a way to escape paying it, I think the most of us would be but too willing to stand the best champagne supper Jim Slaughter can get up for us, and a `jury' into the bargain." "Certain we'll all go snacks for that." "Speak out, Brandon!" "The fact is," said Brandon, thus appealed to, "we've been all a lot of fools to stand this thing so long. Supposing we have the old scoundrel, and dare him to do his worst, what evidence has he got against us only his own oath?" "An' the girl's."