When Oscar came up he stopped his hissing long enough to say:
"Hit's a wery fine 'oss you 'ave'ere, sir, an' I shall be glad to drink your 'ealth and his'n, if you so please."
"I will give you half a crown if you will tell me the name of the man who was fooling with my trek-tow just now," answered Oscar.
The hostler resumed his hissing again at once. He evidently wanted to consider the matter before he ventured a reply.
"I'd be glad to earn the 'arf crown, sir," said he at length, "but I can't do it. I aint seen nobody."
"I know better!" exclaimed Oscar. "He stopped and talked with you when he first came into the stable-yard."
"Oh, that man? I don't know 'im, sir. I never see 'im afore to-day."
Oscar said no more. He walked through the gateway, and, looking in the direction of the pound, saw his oxen coming up the street.
"I'll soon be far away from this den of swindlers," said he to himself; "but whether or not I shall be any better off than I am now remains to be seen. Mr. McElroy says that the Dutch farmers are friendly to nobody but Scotchmen, and how they will treat an American I don't know, for I am the first one who has ever been here."