me to pay up--found that I had bought three quarters of his
stock, and hadn't money enough to settle the bill. I know I gave him all
I had, and also my coat and neckerchief to make up the balance. I also
have a distinct recollection of calling him a Hebrew robber, upon which
he knocked me in the eye with his hammer, and followed up this
declaration of hostilities by splitting my nose with a yard-stick. We
got out of doors, and proceeded down town. On the corner of Chambers
street the Third Avenue Railroad squared off, and knocked me down. Peter
held me steady, while I rebuked the offender in proper terms. The Third
Avenue Railroad took off its hat and apologized. I forgave it.

"We went into a cellar; got in by a complicated dive. I sat down at
first on the piano, next on a pile of oyster-shells, and, finally, by
the aid of a huge pair of whiskers, with a little Dutchman behind them,
deposited myself in a chair--on top of Peter. Peter got out after a
prolonged struggle; place very hirsute; big beards on everybody; ten
parts of hair to one part Dutchman. My vision may have been slightly
deranged, but I am certain that one diminutive German had two pairs of
whiskers--a moustache just over his eyes, and a four-foot yellow beard
which sprung from his teeth. We drank lager bier.

"Peter quoted Shakspeare when the man said "pay up," and insisted on
singing an English chorus to a Dutch song; company indignant, Peter
very valiant, but too few in number. Peter fought, Peter kicked, Peter
swore, Peter was overpowered, Peter was elevated in the arms of four
stout Dutchmen above the heads of the company. Exit Peter, through the
window. In leaving the room myself, I, too, received some uncalled-for
aid, but finally rejoined Peter on the sidewalk above.

"I spied the mystic light which told me the Elephantine resort was close
at hand--couldn't fetch it--asked M.P.--he said if we'd tell him the
address he'd show us--tried to recollect it--couldn't exactly make it
out, but said at a venture, corner of Maiden Lane and Canal
street--officer indignant--we finally found the place, tried to come up
still so as to surprise you, but I am willing to admit that attempt to
be a partial failure; we reached the door at last; it wouldn't
open--Peter called it Sebastopol, and proposed that we should storm
it--we resolved ourselves into an attacking party of two, called to our
aid a twelve-feet plank as a battering-ram, and by hard blows persuaded