His head felt heavy and his lungs
choked. Jim felt likewise and made audible complaint, but the door was
soon opened, and again it was Luiz and a comrade with food.
"Luiz, you ain't no beauty an' you can't talk a real decent language,"
said Long Jim, "but I'm pow'ful glad to see you."
The words were foreign to Luiz, but he understood Long Jim's tone. He
smiled and showed his white teeth, but when his glance fell upon Paul he
became sad. Then he looked quickly away. He did not wish either Paul or
his comrade to read anything in that glance. Luiz did not have a bad heart
and he was troubled.
When they had eaten their breakfast, Luiz put his hand on Paul's shoulder,
and pointed to the door, beckoning also to Long Jim. His manner indicated
plainly that they were to leave the prison.
"All right, pardner," said Long Jim. "You won't have to git no pole to
pry me out uv this place."
Luiz led the way and the two followed gladly. The air was crisper and
fresher than usual, and to both of them it felt divine. They inhaled deep
breaths, and thought that the world had never looked so beautiful. What a
golden sunrise! What a blue sky! What magnificent green woods off there
under the horizon! They felt strength and courage rushing back in a flood.
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