Part 22 (1/2)
”Why?”
”Because there is one region up among those hills which is exactly fitted for them; and from which you couldn't drive them out with a thousand men. That's why!”
”Good. That sounds as if it might be the place they would select. How far is it from here, as you would travel afoot.”
”A matter of thirty miles.”
”Now, can you draw me a plan of that region?”
”I kin.”
”And how to get there?”
”I kin.”
”And are there caverns there? Do you suppose those people are hiding and making their headquarters in caves?”
”Yes, to both questions. The hills round that 'ere region are honeycombed with caves. Some of 'em is big, and some of 'em is little; but there's a lot of 'em there.”
”Good; and you know them well enough to give me a working plan of them?
What a sailor would call a chart?”
”You bet I do.”
”Now, another subject: Have you ever traveled away from here? Have you ever been to New York, for instance?”
”Never in my life. I've always lived right around here. I don't suppose I have been ten miles away from here, except in the woods, in forty years. But in the woods I sometimes used to go a good ways.”
”I've no doubt of that. How would you like to make a visit to New York?”
”I should like it very much--only it would cost such a lot, you know.”
”Suppose your expenses were paid?”
”Well, that would be different.”
”How much, in cash, will you take for your whiskers, Mr. Turner?”
”Now what the devil do you mean by that? Are you making fun of me?”
”Not at all. I was wondering if fifty dollars more, down, would induce you to shave off your whiskers.”
”Humph! Jest tell me what you are getting at and I'll answer you.”
”This: I want to disguise myself so that I look like you. I want to go out in the mountains as you would go out. While I am making believe that I am Bill Turner, I want you to take a trip to New York, and to live there, at my house, and take it easy, see all the sights, go to the theatres and the museums, and all that, until I return, and I want you to shave off your whiskers, and let me blacken your brows and otherwise make some changes in your appearance, so that if any of the people from Calamont should happen to meet you in the street down there they wouldn't say, 'Why, there is Bill Turner!' Would you consent to do that?”
”For another fifty dollars down?”
”Yes.”
”I would. When do you want me to shave?”