"It is rather tall talkin' that," said he; "I like its
patronisin' tone. There is sunthin' goodish in a colonist
patronisin' a Britisher. It's turnin' the tables on 'em;
it's sarvin' 'em out in their own way. Lord, I think I
see old Bull put his eye-glass up and look at you, with
a dead aim, and hear him say, 'Come, this is cuttin' it
rather fat.' Or, as the feller said to his second wife,
when she tapped him on the shoulder, 'Marm, my first wife
was a _Pursy_, and she never presumed to take that
liberty.' Yes, that's good, Squire. Go it, my shirt-tails!
you'll win if you get in fust, see if you don't.
Patronizin' a Britisher!!! A critter that has Lucifer's
pride, Arkwright's wealth, and Bedlam's sense, ain't it
rich? Oh, wake snakes and walk your chalks, will you!
Give me your figgery-four Squire, I'll go in up to the
handle for you. Hit or miss, rough or tumble, claw or
mud-scraper, any way, you damn please, I'm your man."

But to return to my narrative. I was under the necessity
of devoting the day next after our landing at Liverpool,
to writing letters announcing my safe arrival to my
anxious friends in Nova Scotia, and in different parts
of England; and also some few on matters of business.
Mr. Slick was very urgent in his request, that I should
defer this work till the evening, and accompany him in
a stroll about the town, and at last became quite peevish
at my reiterated refusal.

"You remind me, Squire," said he, "of Rufus Dodge, our