BORDER LIFE IN THE WEST. 
219 
any apprehensions on our part. I knew that lie had been 
an incessant traveller like myself, but an older one by double 
the age, and therefore, in spite of my misgivings, had to fall 
into his manner of treating things. 
After we were all fairly housed, bag and baggage, I ac- 
cordingly left the cue to him. I knew that the greater por- 
tion of the wealth he possessed, which was very considerable, 
was contained in that rusty-looking, travel-stained trunk, 
upon which he quietly sat down ; and being aware of all he 
had at stake, could not help admiring the sang froid with 
which he faced the conditions in which he found himself. He 
bantered our rough host in all sorts of droll ways, and seemed 
to be utterly indifferent as to whether he gave offence or not. 
Our sappy Yankee, in the meantime, commenced making a 
great clamor about something to eat and drink, and expressed 
the wildest astonishment when the man assured him that he had 
no whiskey in the house, and nothing to eat but a little corn 
meal. 
' ' Du tell ! " shouted the astounded fellow. ' ' Not got nothin' 
to eat? Why, how du you live out here?" 
" On mud-cats, with soap-stone to butter 'em !" interposed 
my friend, laughing. But, Yankee, what do you want with 
anything more to eat to-night? I saw you eat enough for 
three men at the supper-table, before you left the boat." 
" Why, la ! what has a fellow got to do but to eat and 
drink, too ? I say, old fellow, git eout your Injun flour ; 
you ain't got no pumkins, ain't you ? Wall, let's have your 
Injun doins — though you be's mighty bad off here, not to 
have pumkins nor whiskey." 
Our host now suddenly became excessively obliging, and 
immediately paraded his peck of meal, with a spider to cook 
it in, and even became so prodigal in his desire to gratify the 
guzzling propensities of our Yankee, as to hint that he might 
be able to get us some whiskey. 
Yankee was hugely overjoyed at the idea, while I was in- 
tensely vexed and annoyed. 
