"After some sparring, we laid a bet as to how the people of the first house we came to, would decide the question of our comparative beauty, 'I have it!' said he, 'We are foreigners; talk the most villainous jargon you can invent, and trust me for the rest. We shall hear criticisms enough, I'll warrant.'
"We were ripe for fun; and reaching a small farm-house, Fitz. opened the gate. 'Recollect we know no Inglese!' We were grotesque figures, wearing bell-crowned hats of white felt, drab wrappers, coated with mud, and green-hunting shirts. Add a beard of three days' growth, and brigandish mustachios, and you have our 'picters.' The men were off at work, but the women peeped at us from all quarters. Fitz. walked meekly up to a girl who was washing in the yard.
"'Avezyouvuspaimum?'
"'What!' said she, wringing the suds from her hands.
"'Wevusivusfaimetsoif,' winking at me for confirmation.
"'Yaw! pax vobiscum!' returned I, in imitation of poor Wamba; and pointing into my throat.
"'Two forrinners,' said an older woman. 'Come, see 'em, chillen.'
'You are hungry, ain't you?' said the girl.
"'Novuscomprendum.'
"'And thirsty, too?' to me.