it to ye! They most knocked me off my raft, last time
I went to Georgetown. Beware of them; I warn ye in time. Dern
the hussies."

Squire Jim so emphasized the danger that I became somewhat alarmed, for,
more than anything else, I dreaded an outbreak with rough women. And
then, too, my new acquaintance informed me that there were four or five
of these wretches, of the worst kind, located several miles down the
stream. As I was about to inquire into the habits of these ugly old
crones, Mr. Hall, wishing to give Squire James a hint, remarked that Mr.
B---- might at any time retire to the next room, where half the bed was
at his disposal.

"_Half the bed!_" roared the squire; "here are _three_ of us, and
where's _my half_?"

"Why, squire," hesitatingly responded my host, "Mr. B---- is _my guest_,
and having but _one_ bed, he must have _half_ of it--no less."

"Then what's to become of me?" thundered his Majesty of the law.

Having been informed that a shake-down would have been ready had he
given notice of his visit, and that at some future time, when not so
crowded, he could be entertained like a gentleman, he drew himself up,
wrapped in the mantle of dignity, and replied:

"None of that soft talk, my friend. This man is a traveller; let
him take travellers' luck--three in a bed to-night. I'm bound
to sleep with him to-night. Hall, where's the bottle?"

I now retired to the back room, and, without undressing, planted myself
on the side of the bed next the wall. Sleep was, however, an
unattainable luxury, with the squire's voice in the next room, as he
told how the country was going to the dogs, because "niggers and white
folks wouldn't respect the laws. It took half a man's time to _larn_ it
to 'em, and much thanks he ever got by setting everybody to rights." He
wound up by lecturing Hall for being so temperate, his diligent search
in all directions for bottles or jugs being rewarded by finding them
filled with unsatisfactory emptiness.

He then tumbled into the centre of the bed, crowding me close against
the wall. Poor Hall, having the outside left to him, spent the night in
exercising his brain and muscles in vain attempts to keep in his bed;
for when his Majesty of the law put his arms akimbo, the traveller went
to the wall, and the host to the floor. Thus passed my first night in
the great swamps of the Waccamaw River.

The negro cook gave us an early breakfast of bacon, sweet potatoes,