sual one.

Within half an hour, he had made a pot of coffee, a pan of biscuits and
a savory stew, and we were soon discussing this supper very amiably
together.

After supper he washed out the dishes and utensils in a brook near by,
and lying at full length on the ground, composed himself for a smoke.

All this time I had been regarding him in silence, but with considerable
curiosity, and I had about made up my mind that he was a gipsy, on his
way to join his tribe, when he startled me by saying, abruptly:

"Look 'ere!"

I intimated that I was all attention.

"Who are you?" he asked, bluntly.

"Jack Wood," I answered, promptly, although a trifle nervously.

"My name is Miles Norris," he rejoined, after a long pause. "I'm a
wender of physics and knickknacs."

"A doctor?"

"Not exactly," he replied, rising on his elbow and winking at me
significantly. "I cures people as hasn't got nothink the matter vith 'em
and thinks they has."

This sentence was too deep for me to fathom, and on my intimating as
much, he condescended to explain.

"I go round the country selling my own medicines, which is Norris's
Golden Balsam, wot cures all kinds of pains, cuts and bruises,
whatsomedever they may be; fifty cents a bottle, small bottles
twenty-five. Then there's the Lightning Toothache Drops, wot cures that
hagonizing malady in one second, or money refunded--twenty-five cents a
bottle. And finally, 'ere we 'ave the Great American Tooth Powder, which
makes the blackest teeth vite in less'n no time, and makes the gums
strong and 'elthy--ten cents a box. And each and every purchaser is
presented vith a book containing fifty songs, all new and prime, free
gratis and for nothink! Valk hup, ladies and gentlemen; who'll 'ave
another bottle?"

During this recital, Doctor Norris gradually assumed a professional
demeanor, and near the close he rose to his feet, and gesticulated as if
addressing a large audience.

But at the close he suddenly cooled down, and assuming his recumbent
position, said, listlessly:

"Now you know me."

"Certainly," said I; "but then I do not see--"

"I hunderstand," said he. "You don't see no Balsam, nor Drops, nor
Powder?"

"I do not."

"And you vonder vere they are?"

"Yes."

"Your surprise is werry natural," said Doctor Norris, with great
gravity. "I am out of those inwaluable medicines at present, but ven I
get to my laboratory, I shall roll 'em out wholesale."

"Then you make them?"