262 MULE-HUNTING EXPEDITION. 
‘ Say—Cap’en—here—hold on !’ 
I turned, and saw a man in a one-horse dray, 
whipping up his horse, and violently gesticu- 
lating for me to stop. He soon came up, and 
jumping out of the dray, seized my hand, and 
shook it with a grip that made my very eyes 
water. 
‘Guess you ain’t acquainted with this child?’ 
I said no; I had not the pleasure of knowing 
him. 
‘I spotted you, Cap’en, just as soon as ever | 
seed you making tracks down the street. My 
gal Car’line told me how she put you through all 
the dance last night.’ 
It suddenly flashed upon me that the dray- 
man was my partner’s papa. Here’s a lively 
affair! If he does not ask me my intentions, and 
riddle me with a six-shooter if I refuse to marry 
his ‘ gal’ at once, I shall deem myself the most 
fortunate of men. I civilly said, in reply, that I 
found his daughter a most admirable partner. 
‘I rather guess you did, Cap’en; she’s all 
watch-spring and whalebone, she is; can’t skeer 
up a smarter gal than “ Car” in these parts, if 
you was to do your darndest. She! why, she’s 
worth her weight in nuggets to the man as gets 
her.’ 
