figering, I guess it won't be hard to bring it up to that. This
don't count the vally of the cart, for, as I made it myself, it
didn't cost me much; but, if you put it in the bill, which I guess
you ought to, put it down for twenty dollars more--seeing that, if I
can't trade for one somehow, I shall have to give something like
that for another.

"And now, lawyer, there's one thing--I don't like to be in the reach
of them 'ere regilators, and guess 'twouldn't be altogether the
wisest to stop short of fifteen miles to-night: so, therefore, you
see, it won't be in my way, no how, to let you have your nag, which
is a main fine one, and goes slick as a whistle--pretty much as if
he and the wagon was made for one another; but this, I guess, will
be no difference to you, seeing that you can pay yourself his vally
out of the damages. I'm willing to allow you one hundred dollars for
him, though he a'n't worth so much, no how; and the balance of the
money you can send to me, or my brother, in the town of Meriden, in
the state of Connecticut. So no more, dear lawyer, at this writing,
from

"Your very humble sarvant
"to command, &c."

The dismay of the attorney was only exceeded by the chagrin with which
he perceived his exposure, and anticipated the odium in consequence. He
leaped about the hall, among the company, in a restless paroxysm--now
denouncing the pedler, now deprecating their dissatisfaction at finding
out the double game which he had been playing. The trick of the runaway
almost gave him a degree of favor in their eyes, which did not find much
diminution when Pippin, rushing forth from the apartment, encountered a
new trial in the horse left him by the pedler; the miserable beast being
completely ruined, unable to move a step, and more dead than alive.

CHAPTER VIII.

NEW FRIENDS IN STRANGE PLACES.

Ralph opened his eyes at a moderately late hour on the ensuing morning,
and found Forrester in close attendance. He felt himself somewhat sore
from his bruises in falling, but the wound gave him little concern.
Indeed, he was scarcely conscious of it. He had slept well, and was not
unwilling to enter into the explanatory conversation which the woodman
began. From him he learned the manner and situation in which he had been
found, and was furnished with a partial history of his present
whereabouts. In return, he gave a particular