"If you'll ketch the pinter fur me an' promise to say nothin' to nobody, I'll let you off this time." David could not say a word in reply.

He felt as if every drop of blood in his body had been turned into ice.

He wiped the water from his eyes, glanced over his shoulder, to make sure that his father had not followed him into the bayou, and struck out for the opposite bank.

Godfrey coaxed, promised and threatened to no purpose.

David would not come back, and neither would he make any answer.