other indeed holds mortal possibilities of
offence--so that if the visitor has common
sense, all embarrassment passes at once.
The door was closed, the fire blazed on
uncovered, the smothered talk and laughter
of the two girls ceased, the coon-hunter
came not and the night passed in peace.

It must have been near daybreak that I
was aroused by the old man leaving the
cabin and I heard voices and the sound of
horses' feet outside. When he came back
he was grinning.

``Hit's your mules.''

``Who found them?''

``The Wild Dog had 'em,'' he said.





III

THE AURICULAR TALENT OF THE
HON. SAMUEL BUDD

Behind us came the Hon. Samuel