Before taking his seat, Yates turned laughingly to Mr. Benedict, shook his hand, and "hoped for a better acquaintance."
Jim was puzzled. The man was no ordinary man; he was good-natured; he was not easily perturbed; he was there with a purpose, and that purpose had nothing to do with sport After Yates had satisfied his appetite with the coarse food before him, and had lighted his cigar, Jim drove directly at business.
"What brung ye here?" said he.
"A pair of horses and a birch canoe."
"Oh! I didn't know but 'twas a mule and a bandanner hankercher," said Jim; "and whar be ye goin' to sleep to-night?"
"In the canoe, I suppose, if some hospitable man doesn't invite me to sleep in his cabin."
"An' if ye sleep in his cabin, what be ye goin' to do to-morrer?"
"Get up."
"An' clear out?"
"Not a bit of it."