BORDER LIFE IN THE WEST. 219 



any apprehensions on our part. I knew that lie had been 

 an incessant traveller like myself, but an older one by double 

 the age, and therefore, in spite of my misgivings, had to fall 

 into his manner of treating things. 



After we were all fairly housed, bag and baggage, I ac- 

 cordingly left the cue to him. I knew that the greater por- 

 tion of the wealth he possessed, which was very considerable, 

 was contained in that rusty-looking, travel-stained trunk, 

 upon which he quietly sat down ; and being aware of all he 

 had at stake, could not help admiring the sang froid with 

 which he faced the conditions in which he found himself. He 

 bantered our rough host in all sorts of droll ways, and seemed 

 to be utterly indifferent as to whether he gave offence or not. 



Our sappy Yankee, in the meantime, commenced making a 

 great clamor about something to eat and drink, and expressed 

 the wildest astonishment when the man assured him that he had 

 no whiskey in the house, and nothing to eat but a little corn 

 meal. 



" Du tell !" shouted the astounded fellow. " Not got nothin' 

 to eat? Why, how du you live out here?" 



" On mud-cats, with soap-stone to butter 'em I" interposed 

 my friend, laughing. "But, Yankee, what do you want with 

 anything more to eat to-night? I saw you eat enough for 

 three men at the supper-table, before you left the boat." 



" AVhy, la ! what has a fellow got to do but to eat and 

 drink, too? I say, old fellow, git eout your Injun flour; 

 you ain't got no pumkins, ain't you ? Wall, let's have your 

 Injun doins though you be's mighty bad off here, not to 

 have pumkins nor whiskey." 



Our host now suddenly became excessively obliging, and 

 immediately paraded his peck of meal, with a spider to cook 

 it in, and even became so prodigal in his desire to gratify the 

 guzzling propensities of our Yankee, as to hint that he might 

 be able to get us some whiskey. 



Yankee was hugely overjoyed at the idea, while I was in- 

 tensely vexed and annoyed. 



