mind, certain considerations of
policy seemed to indicate to him the necessity of making himself better
acquainted with the business and quality of the individual whom he came
to meet.

After a few moments, Horse Shoe was seen with old Tony at the stable
door, where, notwithstanding the unexpected presence of the man to whom
he had so lately offered his unwelcome advice, and upon whom he now
conferred not the slightest notice, he continued uninterruptedly, and
with deliberate composure, to give his orders upon what, at that moment,
doubtless, he deemed matter of much graver importance than any concern
he might have in the visit of his new acquaintance.

"Do what I tell you, Tony; get a piece of linen, rub it well over with
tallow, and bring it here along with a cup of vinegar. The beast's back
is cut with the saddle, and you must wash the sore first with the
vinegar, and then lay on the patch. Go, old fellow, and Mrs. Dimock, may
be, can give you a strip of woollen cloth to sarve as a pad."

With these instructions the negro retired towards the house.

"I see you understand your business," said the stranger. "You look to
your horse's back at the end of a day's journey, and you know how to
manage a sore spot. Vinegar is the thing! You have had a long ride?"

"How do you know that?" inquired Horse Shoe.

"Know it! any man might guess as much by the way you shovelled down your
supper. I happened by chance to pass your window, and seeing you at it,
faith! for the soul of me I couldn't help taking a few turns more, just
to watch the end of it. Ha! ha! ha! give me the fellow that does honor
to his stomach! And your dolt head must be taking offence at my looking
at you! Why, man, your appetite was a most beautiful rarity; I wouldn't
have lost the sport of it for the pleasure of the best supper I ever ate
myself."

"Indeed!" said Robinson, drily.

"Pease upon the trencher!" exclaimed the other, with the air of a pot
companion; "that's the true music for good fellows of your kidney! But
it isn't every where that you will find such bountiful quarters as you
get here at the Blue Ball in that cursed southern country a man like
you would breed a famine, if you even do not find one ready made to your
hand when you get there."

"Where mought you be from?" asked the sergeant, with great gravity,
without responding to the merriment of his visitor, and purposely
refraining from the answer which he saw it was the other's drift