ss
with which they sparkled from their deep sockets, and a profusion of
long hair, coal-black, but lank and uncurled as an Indian's, combed
smoothly down with a degree of care entirely out of keeping with the
other details, whether of dress or countenance, on either cheek. Above
these sleek and cherished tresses he wore a thing which might have
passed for either cap or castor, at the wearer's pleasure; for it was
wholly destitute of brim except for a space some three or four inches
wide over the eye-rows; and the crown had been so pertinaciously and
completely eaten in, that the sides sloped inward at the top, as if to
personate a bishop's mitre; a fishing line was wound about this graceful
and, if its appearance belied it not most foully, odoriferous headdress;
and into the fishing line was stuck the bowl and some two inches of the
shank of a well-sooted pipe. An old red handkerchief was twisted
rope-wise about his lean and scraggy neck, but it by no means sufficed
to hide the scar of what had evidently been a most appalling gash,
extending right across his throat, almost from ear to ear, the great
cicatrix clearly visible like a white line through the thick stubble of
some ten days' standing that graced his chin and neck.

An old green coat, the skirts of which had long since been docked by the
encroachment of thorn-bushes and cat-briers, with the mouth-piece of a
powder-horn peeping from its breast pocket, and a full shot-belt
crossing his right shoulder; a pair of fustian trowsers, patched at the
knees with corduroy, and heavy cowhide boots completed his attire. This,
as it seemed, was to be our huntsman; and Booth to say, although he did
not look the character, he played the part, when he got to work, right
handsomely. At a more fitting season, Harry in a few words let me into
this worthy's history and disposition. "He is," he said, "the most
incorrigible rascal I ever met with--an unredeemed and utter vagabond;
he started life as a stallion-leader, a business which he understands--
as in fact he does almost every thing else within his scope--thoroughly
well. He got on prodigiously!--was employed by the first breeders in the
country!--took to drinking, and then, in due rotation, to gambling,
pilfering, lying, every vice, in short, which is compatible with utter
want of any thing like moral sense, deep shrewdness, and uncommon
cowardice.

"He cut his throat once--you may see the scar now--in a fit of delirium
trem