“Yes,” said he.
“What’s the price,” said I, “cash down on the nail?” for I knew the critter would see “the point” of coming down with the blunt.
“It’s ten dollars and a half,” said he, “a cord at Halifax, and it don’t cost me nothin’ to carry it there, for I have my own shallop—but I will sell it for ten dollars to oblige you.” That was just seven dollars more than it was worth.
“Well,” sais I, “that’s not high, only cash is scarce. If you will take mackarel in pay, at six dollars a barrel (which was two dollars more than its value), p’raps we might trade. Could you sell me twenty cord?”
“Yes, may be twenty-five.”
“And the mackarel?” said I.
“Oh,” said he, “mackarel is only worth three dollars and a half at Halifax. I can’t sell mine even at that. I have sixty barrels, number one, for sale.”
“If you will promise me to let me have all the wood I want, more or less,” sais I, “even if it is ever so little; or as much as thirty cords, at ten dollars a cord, real rock maple, and yellow birch, then I will take all your mackarel at three and a half dollars, money down.”
“Say four,” said he.
“No,” sais I, “you say you can’t git but three and a half at Halifax, and I won’t beat you down, nor advance one cent myself. But mind, if I oblige you by buying all your mackarel, you must oblige me by letting me have all the wood I want.”