but evidently did not like the looks
of his antagonist, when he caught a fair glance of his proportions, and
solaced himself with a few more muttered oaths as he dodged across to
the other side of Broadway and disappeared in the crowd.

The second and prudential resolve of this person seemed fully justified
by even a hasty survey of his assailant, who happened to be thrown under
the light of the lamp at the corner, and in full view of our companions.
He was perhaps six feet and an inch in height, cast in a most powerful
model, and evidently possessing herculean strength--with a dark
complexion, high cheek bones, showing almost as if he had a cross of the
old Indian blood in his descent, fiery dark eyes set under brows of the
pent-house or Webster mould, heavy massed black curly hair worn a little
long, and a very heavy black moustache entirely concealing the mouth,
while the beard shorn away from the lower portions of the face left the
square, strong chin in full prominence. He was dressed in dark frock
coat with white vest and pants, and wore a dark wide-brimmed slouched
hat almost the counterpart of Leslie's, except in color, which
harmonized well with his personal appearance in other regards, and
while it left him looking the gentleman, made him the gentleman of some
other locality than the city of New York.

The new-comer, the moment he had sent the other whirling into the
street, approached the girl, who still remained standing on the corner,
her ungathered dress sweeping the pavement, and said:

"Madame, your dress is badly torn. Allow me to offer you a few pins." He
drew a large pin-cushion from his large vest pocket, (every thing seemed
to be of a large pattern about this man,) and was handing it to the
girl, who stretched out her left hand to receive it, when he suddenly
seemed to recognize her.

"Why, Kate!" He spoke in tones of the most unfeigned surprise--"Kate,
what the deuce! I thought you were in--"

"Yes, Deck!" answered the girl, with a coarse familiarity, "but you see
I am here! And you? I thought _you_ were in--"

"Hush-h-h!" said the man, in a quick, sharp, decided tone, prolonged
almost to be a hiss. "That will do! Now use some of these pins--quick,
fasten up your skirt, and then go with _me_!"

He spoke as if he was in the habit of being obeyed, or as if he had some
peculiar claim that he should be obeyed in this instance. And the girl
seemed fully to understand him, for only a moment served