Madam; I assure you I am not a land-hunter, and have not the slightest intention of buying a foot of ground in the country."
No one but a married man can appreciate the sunny smile of triumph which this good woman could not conceal as she thought of the pleasure she had in store for the old man. Just as he returned with the tea, in stalked another stranger, who seated himself con amore. The old man and I did not resume our game of attack and defense. It was easy to see that his wife had whispered something in his ear, and that his suspicions were transferred from me to the new-comer. The stranger was "the observed of all observers." I acknowledge to some slight curiosity to see who was to be my companion for the night, not doubting that if any number short of a dozen were to arrive, they would all be bundled together in the same bed. The good wife had a very proper curiosity to scan his dimensions with a view to ascertain how much additional provender to prepare; and the old man, ever ready to discover his mortal foe—a land-hunter—in every traveller, came down upon him with a fixed stare that would have disconcerted any body but an Irishman or a Yankee pedlar.
The object of our scrutiny was a tall, round-shouldered, hatchet-faced individual, with that lignum-vitæ complexion which would keep one guessing till doomsday, whether he was just thirty-five years old last thanksgiving day, or would be fifty the next. At a glance you would feel in doubt whether he was a rough son of West-Tennessee, or a 'cute one in disguise from the land of pumpkin-pies and steady habits; but one word uttered, and the doubt was at once dispelled. However, let him speak for himself.
"Wall, I reckon as how I'm just in the nick of time, and no mistake. Them are pork stakes a-fryin' out there wake up one's innards at such a 'tarnal rate that I'm almighty skeared least the old woman should do up a short allowance. I say, landlord, I've a notion this is a-growin' up to be a smart sort of a town. How would a lot of notions take among ye? I'm not partic'lar. I'll swap for any thing. Would n't mind locatin' somewhere in these parts."
And so he might have run on until his mouth was filled with a piece of the fat pork which he had scented out so sagaciously, if the old man had not given him very strong indications of displeasure and
