210 A BUSINESS DAY AT CHEE-IIA. 



stripped off my coat, and was preparing for tlie last 

 sacrifice * to the Graces, when Loveleap, who had 

 ridden up during the turmoil, casting a queerish look 

 at me, asked: "Do you mean to swim after it?" 



"I do," said I. 



" You are hot," said Loveleap. 



" Hot ! would it not fever a saint, to have that- 

 fellow fail at this pinch, who never failed before ? 

 ask if the river's deep, as if it mattered a sixpence 

 whether it was one fathom or a hundred! Have I 

 not trained him until he is amphibious, and does 

 not know the difference between land and water?" 



" I mean you are heated too much so to go in 

 until you are cooler. I have not ridden hard, nor 

 scuffled with the deer, as you seem to have' done ; 1 

 am a better swimmer too, and see that eddy has 

 swept the deer further into the stream." 



With this, he began to undress ; and I, thinking 

 it idle that two should .take the plunge, when one 

 would suffice to land the prize, began to replace my 

 clothes as he divested himself of his ; and indeed, 

 the exposure of my person, heated by the struggle, 

 to the cold air from the river, already made me 

 shiver ! When I was completely dressed, Loveleap 



* I differ from Coleman, who uses the expression : " Sacrificing 

 to the Graces by putting on his clothes," etc. 



