When a man's ben hauled through hell by the har, it takes 'im a few days to git over bein' dizzy an' find his legs ag'in; an' when a man sells himself to old Belcher, he mustn't squawk an' try to git another feller to help 'im out of 'is bargain.

Ye got into't, an' ye must git out on't the best way ye can." "What would you have me do ?" inquired Yates.
"I want to have ye sw'ar, an' sign a Happy David." "A what ?" "A Happy David.

Ye ain't no lawyer if ye don't know what a Happy David is, and can't make one." Yates recognized, with a smile, the nature of the instrument disguised in Jim's pronunciation and conception, and inquired: "What would you have me to swear to ?" "To what I tell ye." "Very well.

I have pen and paper with me, and am ready to write.

Whether I will sign the paper will depend upon its contents." "Be ye ready ?" "Yes." "Here ye have it, then.