He nodded.
“What a piece of business!” sighed I; “and how far have I come astray?”
“A good bit.”
“A mile or two?”
“Twenty.”
“Will you be kind enough to be a little more communicative, and just say where this road leads to; if I can join the Austin road without turning back again; and where?”
Had I propounded any one of these queries, it is just possible I might have had an answer; but, in my zeal, I outwitted myself. I drew my check for too large an amount, and consequently was refused payment altogether.
“Well,” said I, after a long and vain wait for an answer, “what am I to do with my horse? There is a stable, I hope?”
“There an't,” said he, with a grunt.
“So that I can't bait my beast?”