Doright was
called from his labor to join the meeting.
"Doright," Jack began in a kindly tone. "We have had reason to believe
that you were opposed to us in times past. We knew that you were working
against us and that you helped make prisoners of these lads here. Now
what we want to know is, why should you turn about and tell us when they
were just being put out of the way?"
Breathlessly the boys all leaned forward to catch the story.
"Well, sir, Boss, hit's jess like this here," began Doright. "Mah name's
Doright Abraham Jefferson Davis Canaan. Ah fergit the rest. Ever sense
Ah was little Ah been told by mah mammy to do right--Doright! Dat's mah
name and Ah tries to do right."
"Thanks," smiled Jack. "Now tell me why you changed so."
"Well, sir, Boss, Ah jest seen that these yere boys wuzn't no men. Ah
wuz willin' to let Lopez take the boys and shet 'em up an' all that. But
when hit come to puttin' of 'em aboard a bucko schooner, Ah says to
mahse'f, Ah says: 'Doright, dat haint right.'"
"Yes, and what then? Why didn't you take them off the ship?"
"She done gone. So Ah jest says to Mister Pete--dat's Lopez--Ah says,
'Mr. Pete,' Ah says, 'youall better git them boys back,' an' Mr. Pete he
done fotch me a clip over the haid with his'n gun an' Ah specs Ah got a
bump right there now. 'Course Ah done hit Mr. Pete then and so Ah come
on down to see youall. Mr. Pete he won't come to for a long time. Don't
no-body come to for for a long time when Ah hits 'em.
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