"Why, you're in an uncommon hurry," exclaimed the half-awakened bar-keeper.
"That's more than we can say of you, stranger," retorted the Major. "What was you about that you didn't hear the coach? Maybe it was the rain made such a noise you couldn't?"
"No; does it rain that hard, though?" gaped the matter-of-fact mixer of liquids.
"I guess it does; and if it wasn't that you've got the key of the liquor, it would be only right to put you out into it for an hour; for you are the hardest-hearted white-man I ever come across, this side the mountains, or you'd a' moved quicker to let in a dog on such a night."
A rousing fire and some hot whisky and water soon restored our good-humour: a bed was quickly arranged for me by a good-natured negro, who had, I verily believe, just crawled out of it; a fire was lighted in the little hole it occupied; and in half an hour I was fast asleep on the banks of la belle rivière.
FOOTNOTE:
[10] "Old Hickory" is one of the familiar names by which his lovers delight to designate the venerable President.