" SHOCKING BAD DREAMS." 197 



was not the man who kept it when we first came here. 

 As the sky looked suspicious, I decided on passing the 

 night in the house. My host was a young man, with 

 no one but a negro boy to attend him ; yet there was 

 society enough in front of the house, for on the spot 

 where Ulil and I had bivouacked, three families were 

 encamped, all bound for Texas. 



As we were about to go to sleep, an old man came 

 in, saying tliat he was not quite well, and could not 

 bear the night air, and requesting permission to sleep 

 in the house. On leave being granted, he spread his 

 blanket before the fire, sat himself on it, and clasping 

 his left knee with both hands, fixed his eyes steadfastly 

 on the blazing logs. The negro boy sat in the chimney 

 .corner, staring at the old man, who at first took no 

 notice of him, but after a time he turned suddenly 

 towards him, saying, " Here, good lad, I am subject 

 to shocking bad dreams ; if I begin to talk, and throw 

 my arms about, will you give me a good shaking ? " The 

 boy nodded, and the old man became a much more 

 important personage in his estimation. * But I sleep 

 very sound, you must shake me well." The boy nodded 

 again. " If you do it well, I will give you sixpence." 

 The boy grinned as well as nodded. The man lay 

 down on his blanket, and the boy watched him as a 

 cat watches a mouse. I could not sleep, and turned 

 and turned in vain ; at length I heard a groan. I 

 thought of the old fellow and his contract with the 

 boy, and looked to see if the latter was awake, lie 

 was on his knees watching his charge; with all his 

 might. The man uttered some broken words, and 

 17* 



