212 A BUSINESS DAY AT CHKE-HA. 



for thou hast needlessly kicked and thrust thyself 

 beyond the reach of a Messing /" and with this gro- 

 tesque comparison and forced pun, which, strange to 

 say, seemed to blunt the edge of my vexation, I set 

 spurs to my horse, and soon left behind me the 

 scene of so many unpleasant memories. 



Loveleap overtook me, when, my disappointment 

 having expended itself a little, my pace had propor- 

 tionably slackened. 



" I had two chances to have blown off his head," 

 said I, " before he gained the river, and I stupidly 

 let them slip : and why ? because I have a foolish 

 pride in letting each barrel tell for a deer ! I am 

 vexed that he is lost ; I had sooner have lost the 

 finest bullock in my herd.' 5 



" Console yourself," said Loveleap, " we'll talk 

 about it over a venison steak ! Did you hear a gun V J 



"I think I did," said I. 



" A fine doe is waiting for us a mile ahead," said 

 Loveleap. 



" And that made you so confoundedly cool at the 

 river side," said I. 



" There were two started," said he, " the doe I 

 shot, and the peg horned buck " 



" Is now floating up Ashepoo River," interrupted 

 I, " his horn in the throat of the ravenous alligator 

 that makes his supper of him ! 



