THIRD AMERICAN TOUR 161 



which they had played many wanton and atrocious freaks. 



We now, however, had entered the house. Candles were 

 lighted, and we at once came face to face, as it were. It curi- 

 ously happened that our captain was without his uniform, and 

 fully as rough looking otherwise as any of us. I was, however, 

 much pleased to see that the major himself was not much supe- 

 rior to us in respect of apparel; nor had his razor been em- 

 ployed for many days. I happened to have about me some 

 unequivocal credentials, from the head departments of the 

 United States, which, on my observing that some degree of 

 suspicion still remained, I placed in his hands. He read them, 

 spoke kindly to us, promised to forward our letters to the near- 

 est post-town, and invited us to consider his dwelling as our 

 own. From that moment until we returned to our vessel, we 

 were all as comfortable and merry as men can be when distant 

 from their own dear homes. 



Next morning we received from Major Gordy a barrel of 

 sugar, another of corn meal, some pails of milk, and a quantity 

 of newly made butter, together with potatoes and other needful 

 articles and all this without being allowed so much as to offer 

 him the least recompense. The day after, we returned to break- 

 fast by invitation, and found in the house several strangers 

 armed with rifles and double-barrelled guns. After we had 

 been introduced to all around, we seated ourselves, and made a 

 vigorous attack upon our host's eggs and bacon, coffee, tea, and 

 milk. As this important business was proceeding, I was de- 

 lighted to hear the following anecdotes, which I hope you, my 

 dear friend, will relish as much as I did. 



"Gentlemen," said our host, straightening himself up in his 

 chair, "I am considerably suspicious as regards the strangers 

 who happen to anchor within the range of my dominions. In- 

 deed, gentlemen, I must acknowledge that even after you re- 

 turned on board last night, I sent off some of my men in various 

 directions, to let my neighbours know that a strange craft had 

 anchored near the landing-place ; and here, gentlemen, are those 

 neighbours of mine ; but as it happens that the name of the 

 gentleman who calls himself a 'Naturalist' is well known to some 



