y friend as stands thur; an' who's a
just man, an's been some'at o' a lawyer too. He'll say what's fair
atween us. Won't ye, Josh?"

I thought this rather a familiar style of address, on the part of the
squatter, towards his clerical and saint-like friend; but I refrained
from showing my astonishment.

"Oh, yes," replied the other, "I'll value the property with pleasure--
that is, if the gentleman desires me to do so."

"How much do you think it worth?" I inquired with nervous anxiety.
"Well, I should say that, for the improvements Mr Holt has made, a
hundred dollars would be a fair compensation."

"A hundred dollars?"

"Yes--in cash, of course, I mean."

"Will you be satisfied with that sum?" said I, turning to Holt for the
answer.

"Parfitly satisfied--so long's it's in cash."

"I agree to give it then."

"All right, strenger! a bargain's a bargain. You kin shell out the
dollars; and I'll gie ye pursession afore this gentleman--who'll witness
it in writin', ef you like."

"I want no writing. I can trust to your word."

It was no flattery: I felt at the moment that the squatter--rudely as he
had acted--was still possessed of an honourable principle; and I knew
that, under the circumstances, his word would not only be as good as his
bond, but _better_! I made no hesitation, therefore; but, counting out
the money, placed it upon the stump--alongside that curious document,
impaled there by the blade of the squatter's knife.

"When 'ud ye like to take pursession?" asked the outgoing tenant.

"At your convenience," I replied, wishing to behave as courteously as
possible.

"It won't take _me_ long to move. My furniter ain't very cumbersome;
an' I kud let ye in to-morrow, ef 't wan't that I hev some unexpected
bizness with my friend hyur. Say day arter the morrow? Ef ye'll kum
then, ye'll find me ready to deliver up. Will that answer for ye?"

"Admirably!" was my reply.

"All right, then! I'd ask ye in, but thur's nothin' to gie
you--'ceptin' that piece o' deer-meat, an' it's raw. Besides, strenger,
I've some partickler _bizness jest now_, that I'm 'bleeged to see to."

"Oh, never mind! I shall not need any refreshment till I reach
Swampville."

"Wal, then, I'll bid you good-mornin' at the same time wishin' you luck
o' your bargin."

"Thanks--good morning!"

I leaped into the saddle, and turned my horse's head towards the
entrance of the enclosure. I should have given him the touch to