dope, bein' unloaded from the schooner. But they th'owed hit in the water."
"I ain't intrusted in no dope, Arn. I say what'd they do?"
"The leader of the gang confessed, after he'd been questioned by Rensie, an' when he saw the jig was up, anyhow. They had sot Jonas ter keep folks skeerd off the swamp road at night, by killin' whosomever come there. They was goin' ter git er truck an' haul that stuff off somewhere."
"Well, what'd the boys do?"
Reflectively, Arner stroked his short, heavy beard. He spat into the yard. Then he turned to the deputy:
"Ed," he said slowly, "yo' comin' down here, an', single-handed an' alone, huntin' out the critter what was killin' us off will be remembered an' talked about in generations ter come—when these here swamps is cleared off an' drained an' producin' corn an' taters. But sich er little matter as er schooner lyin' at the bottom of the bayou gatherin' barnacles is soon forgot, an' let's you an' me fergit that part of hit, too."
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