160 BOONEYILLE TO SARATOGA, 



guide ill the woods. I have seen him and read him your 

 letter. He saj^s he will go with you. His terms, with 

 l)()al. are $;>.00 a day. I can get you a man for $2.50, but 

 John is worth half a dollar a da}' more than any body else 

 I know of. Write me if you want him. 



Yours, B. P. Graves. 



B. P. Graces. Boone dUe. N. Y.:— 



Engage Brinckerhoof. Will reach Booneville, morning 

 train, July Hth. . . 



I kept my telegraphed promise. At the station, in the 

 earl}' morning, a bright-faced, energetic, vigorous and 

 3'oungerly gentleman stepped up to me. as 1 stopped a 



moment on the platform, and said, "Is this Mr. ?" 



I assured liim that was m}^ name. It was Mr. Graves who 

 addressed me. He convoyed \\\y son and myself directly 

 to the hotel, ordered our luggage sent up, and took posses- 

 sion of us as one likes to be possessed liy an honest, go- 

 ahead friend who knows bett(M-*than ^'ourself what is to be 

 d(.nc. 



\\'liil(^ we were waiting for breakfast, several strong, 

 robust y(mng men came into the hotel, who were pointed 

 out to me as guides. I fell into conversation with them, 

 and found them such honest, sensible, good-natured fel- 

 lows, tliat J half repented having already made an engage- 

 ment. "John" came in, soon after, and made himself 

 known to me. He seemed to be a little past fifty j^ears of 



