132 In the U^iited States v 



threatens to pitch their riders head-foremost into the 

 grayish green stream which comes sweeping with 

 such graceful curves through the flat country. The 

 toll-keeper, footless from frostbite, the consequence 

 of a night lost on the hill, brightens up at a few 

 words of his own German, and wishes us " Gluck- 

 licher fahrt " — nor refuses a small nip of the Bourbon 

 as the only toll, for we are under the wing of the 

 American Eagle, and on military duty, though that 

 duty be nothing higher than the procuring of venison 

 for the officers' mess, and of mallards' tails for their 

 ladies' hats. 



' On the other side we tap the railroad, and 

 more Americano "ask each other questions" at 

 the bar of the hotel, the said hotel, stuck though it 

 is plump down in the middle of the prairie, being as 

 warm and as snug as if on Broadway. Our host is, 

 of course, an Irishman, and given to making the 

 wildest charges in the coolest possible manner. 

 " Wall, I suppose ten dollars won't spile yer ? " We 

 pay, but we nurse our revenge, and on our next 

 visit patronise the opposition shanty, though it is 

 infinitely mean and ruffianly. This treatment has 

 its effect, and ever afterwards we are well treated and 

 reasonably charged ; Mike, indeed, being rather dis- 

 comfited at finding the men whom he fleeced, and 

 secretly chuckled at, turning up and shaming him 

 before the citizens by the cut direct. The only way 

 to get on out west is " pay up and look happy," if 

 you can, but " pay up." The Americans always do 



