“`Thefellowstartedatthis，“saidBrown，relatingtometheopeningofthisstrangeconversationbetweenthosetwomen，separatedonlybythemuddybedofacreek，butstandingontheoppositepolesofthatconceptionoflifewhichincludesallmankind——“Thefellowstartedatthisandgotveryredintheface。Toobigtobequestioned，Isuppose。Itoldhimthatifhelookeduponmeasadeadmanwithwhomyoumaytakeliberties，hehimselfwasnotawhitbetteroffreally。Ihadafellowuptherewhohadabeaddrawnonhimallthetime，andonlywaitedforasignfromme。Therewasnothingtobeshockedatinthis。Hehadcomedownofhisownfreewill。`Letusagree，’saidI，`thatwearebothdeadmen，andletustalkonthatbasis，asequals。Weareallequalbeforedeath，’Isaid。IadmittedIwastherelikearatinatrap，butwehadbeendriventoit，andevenatrappedratcangiveabite。Hecaughtmeupinamoment。`Notifyoudon’tgonearthetraptilltheratisdead。’Itoldhimthatsortofgamewasgoodenoughforthesenativefriendsofhis，butIwouldhavethoughthimtoowhitetoserveevenaratso。Yes，Ihadwantedtotalkwithhim。
Nottobegformylife，though。Myfellowswere——well——whattheywere——menlikehimself，anyhow。Allwewantedfromhimwastocomeoninthedevil’snameandhaveitout。`Godd——nit，’saidI，whilehestoodthereasstillasawoodenpost，`youdon’twanttocomeouthereeverydaywithyourglassestocounthowmanyofusareleftonourfeet。Come。Eitherbringyourinfernalcrowdalongorletusgooutandstarveintheopensea，byGod!Youhavebeenwhiteonce，forallyourtalltalkofthisbeingyourownpeopleandyoubeingonewiththem。Areyou？Andwhatthedevildoyougetforit；whatisityou’vefoundherethatissod——dprecious？
Hey？Youdon’twantustocomedownhereperhaps——doyou？Youaretwohundredtoone。Youdon’twantustocomedownintotheopen。Ah!Ipromiseyouweshallgiveyousomesportbeforeyou’vedone。Youtalkaboutmemakingacowardlysetuponunoffendingpeople。What’sthattomethattheyareunoffendingwhenIamstarvingfornexttonooffence？ButIamnotacoward。
Don’tyoubeone。Bringthemalongor，byallthefiends，weshallyetmanagetosendhalfyourunoffendingtowntoheavenwithusinsmoke!“’
`Hewasterrible——relatingthistome——thistorturedskeletonofamandrawnuptogetherwithhisfaceoverhisknees，uponamiserablebedinthatwretchedhovel，andliftinghisheadtolookatmewithmalignanttriumph。