NIGHT VISITORS 171 



breed. They've longer teeth, and a heavier tread than 

 is common ; and they love to travel about, more'n 

 any things of the kind, I ever happened to meet with." 



" Then," said I, " you are no true man, Tucker, 

 and have not taken the care of me, that you promised 

 you would, when we started. Why, in the name of 

 mercy, didn't you tell me of this last night, and save 

 me from such an infernal crucifixion, as I have under- 

 gone ?" 



" I did think," he replied, " at one time, of tellin' 

 you to take a club to bed with you, or to put your 

 huntin' knife under your pillow ; but you seemeu to 

 take to the idea of sleepin' in a bed so, that I thought 

 may be you'd like it." 



" Look here," said I, " Tucker, when you told me 

 about kicking that half-breed, over at Indian Lake, I 

 doubted the justice of the thing ; but I am satisfied 

 you did right. A man who can stand such an array 

 of vermin, it won't Kurt to be kicked. It would be a 

 pleasant change, from the agony of being devoured 

 by them, to the luxury of a booting. _ Confound the 

 half-breeds and their cabins. They cultivate a bad 

 breed of bed-bugs and fleas." 



