"Now, when we got there, the house was chock full of
company, and considerin' it warn't an overly large one,
and that Britishers won't stay in a house, unless every
feller gets a separate bed, it's a wonder to me, how he
stowed away as many as he did. Says he, 'Excuse your
quarters, Mr. Slick, but I find more company nor I expected
here. In a day or two, some on 'em will be off, and then
you shall be better provided.'

"With that I was showed up a great staircase, and out o'
that by a door-way into a narrer entry and from that into
an old T like looking building, that stuck out behind
the house. It warn't the common company sleepin' room,
I expect, but kinder make shifts, tho' they was good
enough too for the matter o' that; at all events I don't
want no better.

"Well, I had hardly got well housed a'most, afore it came
on to rain, as if it was in rael right down airnest. It
warn't just a roarin', racin', sneezin' rain like a
thunder shower, but it kept a steady travellin' gait, up
hill and down dale, and no breathin' time nor batin'
spell. It didn't look as if it would stop till it was
done, that's a fact. But still as it was too late to go
out agin that arternoon, I didn't think much about it
then. I hadn't no notion what was in store for me next
day, no more nor a child; if I had, I'd a double deal
sooner hanged myself, than gone brousing in such place
as that, in sticky weather.