"'Hard work, indeed,' says I; 'and now I've lost every thing; not a cent left for a quid of baccy.'
"'If that's all,' says he; 'there's help for that. I don't chew myself, and I ain't a rich man; I've wife and children, and want every cent I've got, but it's one's duty to help a countryman. You shall have money for tobacco and a dram.'
"And so sayin', he took a purse out of his pocket, in which he carried his change. It was plenty full; there may have been some twenty dollars in it; and as he drew the string, it was as if the devil laughed and nodded to me out of the openin' of the purse.
"'Halves!' cried I.
"'No, not that,' says he; 'I've wife and child, and what I have belongs to them; but half a dollar'——
"'Halves!' cried I again; 'or else'——
"'Or else?' repeated he: and, as he spoke, he put the purse back into his pocket, and laid hold of the rifle which was slung on his shoulder.
"'Don't force one to do you a mischief,' said he. 'Don't' says he; 'we might both be sorry for it. What you're thinkin' of brings no blessin'.'
"I was past seein' or hearin'. A thousand devils from hell were possessin' me.
"'Halves!' I yelled out; and, as I said the word, he sprang out of the saddle, and fell back over his horse's crupper to the ground.