“How are ye, strangers?” he said.
“Pretty comfortable,” said Joshua, reassured by his words. “How fare you?”
“You’re a Yank, ain’t you?” said the newcomer, disregarding Joshua’s question.
“I reckon so. Where might you hail from?”
“I’m from Pike County, Missouri,” was the answer. “You’ve heard of Pike, hain’t you?”
“I don’t know as I have,” said Mr. Bickford.
The stranger frowned.
“You must have been born in the woods not to have heard of Pike County,” he said. “The smartest fighters come from Pike. I kin whip my weight in wildcats, am a match for a dozen Indians to onst, and can tackle a lion without flinchin’.”
“Sho!” said Joshua, considerably impressed.
“Won’t you stop and rest with us?” said Joe politely.