164 WHIP AND SPUR. 



did they 'd just burn the old woman out, an' she 

 don't git along but porely, anyhow, so I did n't. 

 They ccwscripted the old man the year afore, an' 

 he hain't been heern on sence. So I come to the 

 conclushin that I wa' n't agoin' to stan' no such 

 treatmint as that — by King ! an' I jest took to 

 the bresh, an' I reckon I 've pestered them 'uns 

 right smart. I ain't agoin' afoot long as theys 

 hosses in West Tannisy, — you bet ! I was agoin' 

 to jine you Yanks, but thinks sez I : ' Old Pat, 

 you kin do a heap better in the bresh nor what 

 you kin in no army,' and so I stuck to it. 0, 

 now, I 'm squar' ! Frank Moore can tell you all 

 'bout me ; I ain't no gum-game, I ain't. If you 

 want a skeout, I 'm on hand, an' I don't want 

 no pass, I kin git 'roun' in this kentry. 



" Which 1 hoss ? Well, 't ain't much of a nag, 

 but theys more on 'em roun', an' if this 'un tuck- 

 ers out I '11 git somethin' to ride. I ain't goin' 

 afoot. — no, mam ! " 



This was very much the sort of talk " Mr." For- 

 rest's emissaries used in seeking our services for 

 his purposes; so, partly to secure ourselves on 



