El quatre de juliol s'acostava, pero aviat deixa de recórrer-hi amb el pensament (deixa de pensar-hi abans que hagués usat per quaranta vuit hores les seves cadenes), i fixa les seves esperances en el vell jutge de pau Frazer, que es trobava aparentment en son llit de mort i tindria uns grans funerals públics, ja que fou tan enlairat funcionari.
Fourth of July was coming; but he soon gave that up--gave it up before he had worn his shackles over forty-eight hours--and fixed his hopes upon old Judge Frazer, justice of the peace, who was apparently on his deathbed and would have a big public funeral, since he was so high an official.