ens, and Tom Draw, who, though he is perpetually cursing him for the
most lying critter under heaven, has, I believe, a sort of fellow
feeling for him--nursed him and got him well; and ever since he has hung
about here, getting at times a country stallion to look after, at others
hunting, or fishing, or doing little jobs about the stable, for which
Tom gives him plenty of abuse, plenty to eat, and as little rum as
possible, for if he gets a second glass it is all up with Jem Lyn for a
week at least.

"He came to see me once in New York, when I was down upon my back with a
broken leg--I was lying in the parlor, about three weeks after the
accident had happened. Tim Matlock had gone out for something, and the
cook let him in; and, after he had sat there about half an hour, telling
me all the news of the races, and making me laugh more than was good for
my broken leg, he gave me such a hint, that I was compelled to direct
him to the cupboard, wherein I kept the liquor-stand; and unluckily
enough, as I had not for some time been in drinking tune, all three of
the bottles were brimful; and, as I am a Christian man, he drank in
spite of all I could say--I could not leave the couch to get at him--two
of them to the dregs; and, after frightening me almost to death, fell
flat upon the floor, and lay there fast asleep when Tim came in again.
He dragged him instantly, by my directions, under the pump in the
garden, and soused him for about two hours, but without producing the
least effect, except eliciting a grunt or two from this most seasoned
cask.

"Such is Jem Lyn, and yet, absurd to say, I have tried the fellow, and
believe him perfectly trustworthy--at least to me!

"He is a coward, yet I have seen him fight like a hero more than once,
and against heavy odds, to save me from a threshing, which I got after
all, though not without some damage to our foes, whose name might have
been legion.

"He is the greatest liar I ever met with; and yet I never caught him in
a falsehood, for he believes it is no use to tell me one.

"He is most utterly dishonest, yet I have trusted him with sums that
would, in his opinion, have made him a rich man for life, and he
accounted to the utmost shilling; but I advise you not try the same, for
if you do he most assuredly will cheat you!"

Among the heavy looking hounds, which clustered round this hopeful
gentleman, I quickly singled out two couple of widely different breed
and character from