accurate imitation of
the letter N--that sort termed by engravers the "rustic letter." The
huge black hat capped one extremity; and the long pedal-like feet that
rested horizontally on the ground terminated the other, completing the
alphabetical resemblance.

A face, with a certain mocking monkeyish expression, but without any
trait of fierceness or ill-nature--a nose slightly snub--quick
scintillating eyes--a chin, tipped with a little tuft of clay-coloured
beard--some half-dozen queue-like tangles, of bright-yellowish hair,
hanging down behind the hat--the hat itself a black "silk," badly
battered--such were the salient points of the portrait appearing above
the knee-caps of the taller man. With the exception of the "tile," his
costume was altogether military--to me well-known. It was the ordinary
undress of the mounted rifles: a dark-green round-about of coarse
cloth--with a row of small brass buttons from throat to waist--and
overalls of the same material. In the particular sample before us,
_overalls_ was rather an inappropriate name. The garment so designated
scarcely covered the calves of the wearer's legs--though of these there
was not much to cover. The jacket appeared equally scant; and between
its bottom border and the waistband of the trousers, there was an
interval of at least six inches. In this interval was seen a shirt of
true Isabella colour, which also appeared over the breast--the jacket
being worn unbuttoned. The frouzy cotton was visible at other places--
peeping through various rents both in jacket and trousers. A black
leather stock concealed the collar of the shirt--if there was any--and
though the stock itself was several inches in depth, there were other
several inches of naked neck rising above its rim. Coarse woollen
socks, and the cheap _contract_ shoe completed the costume of
Sure-shot--for it was he.

His contrasting comrade was equally in military garb--even more so, by
the additional article of a cloth forage-cap. His was also an undress
uniform; but, though of very similar cut to the other, and resembling it
in the quality of the material, the colour was different. It was
sky-blue, turned whitey with wear--the buttons of the jacket being of
lead, and the facings of white worsted tape. It was a better fit than
the green uniform; and its wearer had evidently some conceit in the
style of it--as was evidenced by the jacket being carefully buttoned
from waist to throat, and th