"Ye don't think I did business with you, down in Natchez, for nothing, Haley; I've learned to hold an eel, when I catch him.

You've got to fork over fifty dollars, flat down, or this child don't start a peg.

I know yer." "Why, when you have a job in hand that may bring a clean profit of somewhere about a thousand or sixteen hundred, why, Tom, you're onreasonable," said Haley.
"Yes, and hasn't we business booked for five weeks to come,--all we can do?
And suppose we leaves all, and goes to bush-whacking round arter yer young uns, and finally doesn't catch the gal,--and gals allers is the devil _to_ catch,--what's then?
would you pay us a cent--would you?
I think I see you a doin' it--ugh! No, no; flap down your fifty.

If we get the job, and it pays, I'll hand it back; if we don't, it's for our trouble,--that's _far_, an't it, Marks ?" "Certainly, certainly," said Marks, with a conciliatory tone; "it's only a retaining fee, you see,--he! he! he!--we lawyers, you know.

Wal, we must all keep good-natured,--keep easy, yer know.