farmers' hen-roosts again, have you?"

We had halted at a corner grocery and produce
store, as I took it, and the smooth-faced, shaven-
headed man in woolen shirt, short vest, and suspenderless
trousers so boisterously addressed by the
Major, was just lifting from the back of his cart
a coop of cackling chickens.

"Arrah! ye blasted Kerryonian!" replied the
handsome fellow, depositing the coop on the curb
and straightening his tall, slender figure; "I were
jist thinkin' of yez and the ducks, and here ye come
quackin' into the prisence of r'yalty, wid yer canvas-
back suit upon ye and the schwim-skins bechuxt yer
toes! How air yez, anyhow--and air we startin' for
the Kankakee by the nixt post?"

"We're to start just as soon as we get the boys
together," said the Major, shaking hands. "The
crowd's to be at Andrews' by four, and it's fully that
now; so come on at once. We'll go 'round by Munson's
and have Hi send a boy to look after your
horse. Come; I want to introduce my friend
here to you, and we'll all want to smoke and jabber
a little in appropriate seclusion. Come on." And
the impatient Major had linked arms with his hesitating
ally and myself, and was turning the corner
of the street.