270 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



" And, 'Squire, am I to understand that thar ain't 

 no laws in Louisiana on cock-fighting ? " 



" You are." 



" And am I to understand that you call yourself a 

 'Squire, and that you don't know any thing about cock- 

 fighting?" 



" You are." 



The astonishment of the boatman at this reply for a 

 moment was unbounded, and then suddenly ceased ; the 

 awe with which he looked upon " the 'Squire " also 

 ceased, and resuming his natural awkward and familiar 

 carriage, he took up his hat, and walking to the door, 

 with a broad grin of supreme contempt in his face, he 

 observed, — 



" That a 'Squire that did not know the laws of cock- 

 fighting, in his opinion, was distinctly an infernal old 

 chuckel-headed fool ! " 



