"O, tain't that. I mean 'bout making the fellers believe all I told um." "Why, I must say that I think you disregarded the truth slightly, in your account of the adventures."
"O, I know that I did; but don't you see that it was all 'cos I wanted to make ye popular with the masses, and one of these days you'll get elevated to pay for it. I knew that you fellers was frightened to death when you seed the snake, but of course I wasn't going to say so, 'cos if I had, it would have sp'ilt all. O, no; I know'd better than all that, by a long chalk. Putty good coffee this, ain't it?"
We were silent with astonishment and admiration at his matchless impudence.
"Perhaps you will be good enough to let us know how you knew we were frightened?" Fred asked, coolly.
"Certainly—'cos I met one of the same darned things, and I run like the devil. Fact, although you may not believe it. I don't fight snakes, if I can get clear of um."
The man's answer was so characteristic of human nature, that we could but smile at the honest expression, and were not disposed to quarrel with him for giving vent to the same feeling that would have actuated us in another encounter.
"I s'pose you won't mind coming down an ounce for the service I've rendered you to-day," Charley said, after a pause.
"For what service?" I demanded, in astonishment.
"O, for making you popular, that's all," he repeated.
"Look here, my friend," Fred said; "it seems to me that you think we are two log-rolling politicians, anxious to turn every thing of an exciting nature to an advantage. In this you are disappointed. We are here to get money, and not to get office."