The woman turned on him like a flash, and he crept subdued back into
his corner. The incipient rebellion had been ended by a glance.

"Durn ye, Jed Bungay, why, thet's more money thin ye've aimed in six
months, an' ye've got more measly, flea-bit dorgs 'round yere now then
ye kin ever feed. Give me ther four bits, mister, an' I reckon as how
it'll be all right."

The little man balanced himself on one foot, and cocked up his eye in
an abortive attempt to wink.

"Yas, don't ye ever mind me, Mariar," he said humbly. "'Whom ther Lord
hath jined tergether let no man put asunder.' Thet thar ain't Scott,
Cap, but I reckon it's out of another book mighty nigh es good. Hes you
uns got all ther victuals ye want? 'He gave him of his Highland cheer,
the hardened flesh of mountain deer.' This yere is slab bacon, but it
smells purty durn good."

I glanced at Mrs. Brennan, and the amused twinkle in her eyes led me to
say heartily, "We had not entirely completed our meal, but imagined we
saw ghosts."

"Ghosts!" He glanced around apprehensively,--"'On Heaven and on thy
lady call, and enter the enchanted hall!' Wus ther ghosts ye saw over
thar?" And he pointed toward the wall opposite.

I nodded.

"Then I sorter reckon as how Mariar and me wus them ghosts," he