drift: so long as the last man remained he could
stay. When he left, if there was enough in the larder to last over, the
major always made another day of it.

II

The major was standing on the steamboat wharf in Baltimore, nervously
consulting his watch, when Jack and I stepped from a cab next day.

"Well, by gravy! is this all? Where are the other gentlemen?"

"They'll be down in the morning, major," said Jack. "Where shall we send
this baggage?"

"Here, just give it to me! Po'ter, _po'ter_!" in a stentorian voice. "Take
these bags and guns, and put 'em on the upper deck alongside of my
luggage. Now, gentlemen, just a sip of somethin' befo' they haul the
gang-plank,--we've six minutes yet."

The bar was across the street. On the way over, the major confided to Jack
full information regarding the state-rooms, remarking that he had selected
the "fo' best on the upper deck," and adding that he would have paid for
them himself only a friend had disappointed him.

It was evident that the barkeeper knew his peculiarities, for a tall,
black bottle with a wabbly cork--consisting of a porcelain marble confined
in a miniature bird-cage--was passed to the major before he had opened his
mouth. When he did open it--the mouth--there was no audible protest as
regards the selection. When he closed it again the flow line had fallen
some three fingers. It is, however, fair to the major to say that only one
third of this amount was tucked away under his own waistcoat.

The trip down the bay was particularly enjoyable, brightened outside on
the water by the most brilliant of sunsets, the afternoon sky a glory of
purple and gold, and made gay and delightful inside the after-cabin by
the charm of the major's talk,--the whole passenger-list entranced as he
skipped from politics and the fine arts to literature, tarrying a moment
in his flight to discuss a yellow-backed book that had just been
published, and coming to a full stop with the remark:--

"And you haven't read that book, Jack,--that scurrilous attack on the
industries of the South? My dear fellow! I'm astounded that a man of yo'
gifts should not--Here--just do me the favor to look through my baggage on
the upper deck, and bring me a couple of books lyin' on top of my
dressin'-case."

"Which trunk, major?" asked Jack, a slight smile playing around his mouth.

"Why, my sole-leather trunk, of co'se; or perhaps that English
hat-box--no, stop, Jack, come to think, it is in