“Go to” was their way of saying “I should smile!” or “I like that!” Queer talkers, those people.
Well, there was a sort of bastard justice in his view of the case, and so I dropped the matter. When you can’t cure a disaster by argument, what is the use to argue? It isn’t my way. So I only said:
“You’re not going to be hanged. None of us are.”
Both men laughed, and the slave said:
“Ye have not ranked as a fool—before. You might better keep your reputation, seeing the strain would not be for long.”
“It will stand it, I reckon. Before tomorrow we shall be out of prison, and free to go where we will, besides.”
The witty officer lifted at his left ear with his thumb, made a rasping noise in his throat, and said:
“Out of prison—yes—ye say true. And free likewise to go where ye will, so ye wander not out of his grace the Devil’s sultry realm.”
I kept my temper, and said, indifferently:
“Now I suppose you really think we are going to hang within a day or two.”
“I thought it not many minutes ago, for so the thing was decided and proclaimed.”
“Ah, then you’ve changed your mind, is that it?”
“Even that. I only thought , then; I know , now.”
I felt sarcastical, so I said: