and leave me in here alone!"

Saunders whistled and wiped sweat from his glistening face, for
in spite of windows open to the courtyard it was hotter than a
furnace room.

"Mayn't I have you thrown into a den of tigers?" he asked. "Or a
nest of cobras? Or get the fiery furnace ready? You'll find 'em
sore--and dangerous! That man at the end with handcuffs on has
probably been violent! That 'God be with thee' stuff is habit--
they say it with unction before they knife a man!"

"I'll be careful, then," King chuckled; and it is a fact that few
men can argue with him when he laughs quietly in that way. "Send
me in the keys, like a good chap."

So Saunders went, glad enough to get into the outer air. He slammed
the great iron door behind him as if he were glad, too, to disassociate
himself from King and all foolishness. Like many another first-class
man, King sheds friends as a cat sheds fur going under a gate. They
grow again and quit again and don't seem to make much difference.

The instant the door slammed King continued down the line with his
left wrist held high so that the occupant of each cell in turn could
see the bracelet.

"May God be with thee!" came the instant greeting from each cell
until down toward the farther end. The occupants of the last six
cells were silent.