ounts to be
kept, I'll keep them. If you've any other work to be performed, which a
gentleman and a man of honour can perform, I'll undertake it. You would
not ask me, I am sure, to do anything derogatory to my character."

My father, however, did not accept his offer at once, wishing to see
more of the stranger before he confided us to his care.

"I have a spare horse, and shall be happy if you will accompany me to
Uphill," said my father.

"I am not much accustomed to equestrian exercise, but I'll try,"
answered Mr Tidey; "and unless you have five-bar gates to leap, and the
boundless prairie to gallop over, I trust that I shall stick on the back
of the animal. I don't like to be defeated, and I should not like to
abandon the undertaking on account of my want of equestrian skill.
Practice makes perfect; in the course of a few days I may perchance
become an expert horseman."

As dinner was about to be served, my father invited Mr Tidey to join
him, and from the voracious way in which he shovelled the food into his
mouth, it was very evident that he had long been a stranger to a
satisfactory meal.

The horses being rested, my father ordered Peter, who had left my
Uncle's service, to bring out the steed he intended for his new
acquaintance. Mr Tidey showed his ignorance of horsemanship by
attempting, in the first instance, to mount from the wrong side, until a
hint from Peter made him try the other, when, aided by the black, he
scrambled up into the saddle. My father had advised him to let Peter
carry his rifle and his slightly furnished knapsack, a fortunate
circumstance, as was proved by the sequel. As long as the horse
continued walking Mr Tidey kept his seat with becoming dignity,
endeavouring to imitate the way my father held his rein, though he
shoved his feet far into the stirrups. At length, coming to an even
piece of road, my father put his horse into a trot. For some minutes
Mr Tidey bore the jolting to which the movement subjected him with
wonderful patience, until my father heard him shriek out--

"O captain, captain! for the love of heaven stop, or I shall be worn
down to the bones."

My father accordingly drew up, to allow his companion to recover
himself. After a time he again proposed moving forward.

"I'll try, captain, I'll try," was the answer, "_fortes fortuna juvat_;
but I wish that my steed could manage to move forward in a fashion less
calculated to stir up the bile in my system,