"Wy, it's the caounty jail, ye know, an we're lettin aout the debtors.
Reub's in here, ye know."
"So he is; I'd forgotten," replied Perez, and then after a pause, "Why
don't he come out?"
"Cap'n," said Abner, taking off his cap and looking at it, as he
fingered it. "I've got kinder tough news fer ye. Reub's dead. He died
this mornin. I thort mebbe ye'd like ter see him."
"Is he in there?"
"Yes."
Perez got off his horse, and went in at the door, Abner leading the
way. In the barroom of the tavern there was a crowd of drinking,
carousing men, and among them a number of the white-faced debtors,
already drunk with the bumpers their deliverers were pouring down
their throats. Bement was not visible, but as Abner and Perez entered
the jail, they saw Mrs. Bement in the corridor. She was not making any
fuss or trouble at all over the breaking of the jail this time. With
apparent complaisance she was promptly opening cells, or answering
questions in response to the demands of Meshech Little and some
companions. But there was a vicious glint in her pretty blue eyes, and
she was softly singing the lugubrious hymn, beginning with the
significant words,
Ye living men, come view the ground
Where ye shall shortly lie.
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