s seeking for treasures, cracking up rocks
into the size of sugar-lumps, and Macadamizing all the place for yards
round. His shadow stalked with him with colossal strides, according to the
declension of the sun, and the hammer in his shadowy arm fell on the
projection of the shadowy rocks. But not farther off than where his
grotesque head and slanting extremity were measured on the next wall, two
clowns had gee'd their oxen under a tree, and left their basket of
potatoes in the furrow, (w--hoy--gee, there--I tell yer to gee!) for the
sake of giving their undivided attention to the Professor. Geology they
had never heard of, beyond its application to stone fence; so they
considered the conduct of a man very queer indeed, who was muttering to
himself, and filling his pocket full of stones. After a little silence,
they nodded to each other with a knowing look, and said with one consent,
'He's as crazy as a coot.' They approached Mr. Shaw, dubiously. 'See his
eyes!' said they; 'aint they wild? Mister?' said the elder clown.

Shaw made no reply.

'Mister, look a-here; aint you--aint you----?'

'Fel-spar,' said Shaw, cabalistically.

'Oh dear me! that's enough! My dear feller, we've got a duty to perform. I
guess we know where you come from. Mister, aint you----?'

'Are you addressing me?' said Professor Shaw, mildly, looking up. 'Are you
addressing your remarks to me, my friend?

'Wonderful cunnin', but it wont do. 'T wont sarve you; I'm a-feard we
shall have to----'

'Well, Sir, my name is Shaw.'

'What's that you got onto your cane? What you doin' in Queens ceounty? Do
tell, aint you----got loose from somewhar? Honor bright!'

The professor, lost in amazement, answered only by a broad stare. He then
bethought him that two lunatics had escaped from yonder mansion. The idea
satisfied his mind, and surprise gave way at once to a smile, full of
benevolence and pity. 'My poor friends,' said he, 'do go back; you have
surely wandered from home; do go up the hill--do go up the hill.' Then
stamping his foot with an air of authority, he exclaimed, stretching out
the hammer of his cane, 'Go back to the asylum, in-stan-taneously!'

'I guess the one in the loft will be long enough,' whispered the rustic;
'but fetch the longest of the two _ropes_, and make haste. Oh, he's
stark!'

'Ah! how sad!' soliloquized Professor Shaw, as both of his new friends
retreated, and one hurried out of sight, 'how sad a spectacle! the
deluded