ADVENTURE ON THE HIGHWAY 219 



of stuffs, barrels, and boxes of groceries appeared to 

 be disposed rather as ornaments than for actual sale. 



From each of the man's trousers -pockets protruded 

 the handle of a derringer, and behind his counter were 

 arranged in convenient position two or three double- 

 barrelled shot-guns. 



I remarked to him that he seemed to have a handily 

 arranged arsenal, at which he regarded me with a 

 cool, quiet stare, polished the handle of one of his 

 derringers upon his trousers, examined the percussion- 

 cap with great deliberation, and then, with a nod of 

 the head, intended to convey great force, said, ' You 

 don't live in these parts ' a fact for which I felt not 

 unthankful. 



The man drank brandy freely and often, and at 

 intervals of about half an hour called to his side a 

 plethoric old cat named Gospel, stroked her with 

 nervous rapidity, swearing at the same time in so dis- 

 trait and unconscious a manner that he seemed 

 mechanically talking to himself. 



Whoever has travelled on the West Coast has not 

 failed to notice the fearful volleys of oaths which the 

 oxen-drivers hurl at their teams, but for ingenious 

 flights of fancy profanity, I have never met the equal 

 of my host. With the most perfect good-nature, and 

 in unmoved countenance, he uttered florid blasphemies 

 which, I think, must have taken hours to invent. I 

 was glad when bedtime came, to be relieved of his 

 presence, and especially pleased when he took me to 

 the little separate building in which was a narrow, 

 single bed. Next this building, on the left, was the 

 cook-house and dining-room, and upon the right lay 

 his own sleeping apartment. Directly across the square, 



