zzling words.

"I should judge so, sir, by the specimen I see before me!"

Doctor Chantry was like a fighting-cock, and it was plainly his age
which kept the other from striking him. He was beginning our journey
well, but I felt bound to intercept whatever fell upon him, and stood
between them. The other men at the table rose with General Jackson.

"Gentlemen," I pleaded with the best words I could command in the
language, "do not forget your dignity, and disturb the peace of this
house for a bottle of ink!"

The quarrel was ridiculous, and the Southerners laughed. General
Jackson himself again changed countenance, and gave me, I do not know
why, a smile that must have been reflected from the face of a woman he
adored. But my poor master showed the bull-dog; and taking him by the
arm and the collar I toddled him away from that table to a dark entry,
where I held him without any admonition save a sustained grip. He became
like a child, weeping and trembling, and declaring that everybody was in
league against him. Argument is wasted on people having such infirmity
of temper. When he was well cooled I put him in an arm-chair by a fire
in the ladies' parlor, and he was soon very meek and tractable, watching
the creatures he so admired.

"You must go to bed as soon as you have your supper," I said to him.
"The journey to Saratoga has been a hard one for you. But Skenedonk is
here fortunately, and he can take you home again."

My master looked at me with the shrewishness of an elephant. I had not
at that time seen an elephant. When I did see one, however, the shifting
of its eyes brought back the memory of Doctor Chantry when I had him at
bay by the fire.

"You are not going to get away from me," he responded. "If you are tired
of it, so am I. Otherwise, we proceed."

"If you pick quarrels with soldiers and duelists at every step, what are
we to do?"

"I picked no quarrel. It is my luck. Everyone is against me!" He hung
his head in such a dejected manner that I felt ashamed of bringing his
temperament to account: and told him I was certain no harm would come
of it.

"I am not genial," Doctor Chantry owned; "I wish I were. Now you are
genial, Lazarre. People take to you. You attract them. But whatever I
am, you are obliged to have my company: you cannot get along without me.
You have no experience, and no money. I have experience,--and a few
pounds:--not enough to retire into the country upon, in England; but
enou