, to see the
mysteries of the town. An agreement, which I overheard, was quickly
made, that they should remain together, and pursue, in company, their
investigations.

They proceeded harmoniously on their journey, singing "Vilikins" between
meals every day; and when Overdale couldn't stop in the chorus at the
the proper time, Wagstaff corked him up with a corn-cob, which he
carried in his pocket for that purpose.

It so happened that I continued on the same trains of cars with this
interesting trio of eccentricities, until we took the steamboat at the
Dutch village, where the State Legislature meets. After the last verse
of their customary evening hymn had been sung, with a strong chorus, as
they were about to shelve themselves in their state-rooms for the night,
I heard Overdale remark to his companions:

"When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or--well, no
matter where. Dennis, you see this black eye; I have to make this
particular request, that if this steamboat blows up in the night, and
you take a fancy to black anybody's eye, you'll pick out somebody's
else."

"I didn't black your eye; what do you mean?"

Overdale explained thus: "I could a tale unfold, which would--but I
won't--I'll tell you how it happened, nothing extenuate or set down
aught in malice. When that locomotive ran off the track, the shock threw
us both, as you are aware, about fifteen feet straight up in the air--as
I was going up, you were coming down, and you were practising some kind
of an original pigeon-wing with your wooden leg, and, in one of its
fantastic gyrations, it came in contact with my visual apparatus, and
damaged my personal beauty to the extent you see;--don't do it any more,
that's all, my friend, don't do it any more."

Dennis expressed himself exceedingly sorry--"Overdale, my hairy friend,"
said he, "at the particular time you speak of, that leg was not under my
control, and I am not accountable for the misbehavior of that leg; but I
solemnly promise that, if we _are_ blown up before morning, if I see
which way you go, I will do my best to travel in a different
direction."

Each of us, myself included, then went to his state-room, achieved his
allotted shelf, rolled himself into so small a ball that the narrow
blankets would cover him, and laid in feverish restlessness, awaiting
that morning bell which should summon him to disperse himself into his
pantaloons, go on deck, and catch the first glimpse of