_You's stealin yo'sef!_" "H'm!" sniffed Jeems Henry, now that the nature and extent of his crime were fully understood.

"Ef I ain' wuth but a dollar an' a quarter, I suttenly ain' stealin' _much_!" At this smart reply Uncle Billy's disgust overcame him completely and he tossed the rooster on the ground and clutched Jeems Henry by the arm.
"You mighty right, you ain't!" he shouted.

"An' ef I was fo' years younger I'd take it outer yo' hide with a carriage whip.

Hol' on dar," as Jeems Henry eluded his grasp and began to move away.

"Which way you gwine?
You hear me?
Now den!" "I gwine up de river," replied Jeems Henry, badgered at last into revealing his plan.