“They'll give us five Napoleons for the job,” said Beppo, entering, and addressing his Chief. “_Per Dio_, that won't support our families if we leave them fatherless,” muttered the other. “Who and what are they that can't wait till morning?” “Who knows?” said Beppo, with a genuine shrug of native indifference. “Princes, belike!” “Princes or beggars, we all have lives to save!” mumbled out an old man, as he reseated himself by the fire. Meanwhile the courier had entered the hut, and was in earnest negotiation with the chief, who, however, showed no disposition to run the hazard of the attempt. “Are you all cowards alike?” said the courier, in all the insolence of his privileged order; “or is it a young fellow of _your_ stamp that shrinks from the risk of a wet jacket?” This speech was addressed to the youth, whom he had mistaken for one of the raftsmen. “Keep your coarse speeches for those who will bear them, my good fellow,” said the other, boldly, “or mayhap the first wet jacket here will be one with gold lace on the collar.” “He's not one of us; he's a traveller,” quickly interposed the chief, who saw that an angry scene was brewing. “He's only waiting to cross the river,” muttered he in a whisper, “when some one comes rich enough to hire the raft.” “_Sacre bleu!_ Then he shan't come with us; that I'll promise him,” said the courier, whose offended dignity roused all his ire. “Now, once for all, my men, will you earn a dozen Napoleons, or not? Here they are for you if you land us safely at the other side; and never were you so well paid in your lives for an hour's labor.” The sight of the gold, as it glistened temptingly in his outstretched hand, appealed to their hearts far more eloquently than all his words, and they gathered in a group together to hold counsel. “And you, are you also a distinguished stranger?” said the courier, addressing Billy, who sat warming his hands by the embers of the fire. “Look you, my man,” cried the youth, “all the gold in your master's leathern bag there can give you no claim to insult those who have offered you no offence. It is enough that you know that we do not belong to the raft to suffer us to escape your notice.” “_Sacristi!_” exclaimed the courier, in a tone of insolent mockery, “I have travelled the road long enough to learn that one does not need an introduction before addressing a vagabond.” [Illustration: 402]