t. Even the old Astorians, used to this sort of
weather and not disliking it, having little to do in the winter time,
and being always braced up by sea-airs that even this fresh-water flood
could not divest of their tonic flavor--these old sea-dogs, pilots,
fishermen, and other _amphibia_, were constrained at last to give
utterance to mild growls at the persistent character of the storm.

A crowd of these India-rubber clad, red-cheeked, and, alas! too often
red-nosed old men of the sea, had taken shelter in the Railroad
Saloon--called that, apparently, because there was no railroad then
within hundreds of miles--and were engaged in alternate wild railings at
the weather, reminiscences of other storms, and whisky-drinking; there
being an opinion current among these men that water-proof garments alone
did not suffice to keep out the all-prevailing wet.

"If 'twant that we're so near the sea, with a good wide sewage of river
to carry off the water, we should all be drownded; thet's my view on't,"
said Rumway, a bar pilot, whose dripping hat-rim and general shiny
appearance gave point to his remark.

"You can't count on the sea to befriend you this time, Captain. Better
git yer ark alongside the wharf; fur we're goin' to hev the Columbia
runnin' up stream to-night, sure as you're born."

"Hullo! Is that you, Joe Chillis? What brought you to town in this kind
o' weather? And what do you know about the tides?--that's _my_ business,
I calculate."

"Mebbe it is; and mebbe a bar pilot knows more about the tides nor a
mountain man. But there'll be a rousin' old tide to-night, and a
sou'wester, to boot; you bet yer life on that!"

"I'll grant you thet a mountain man knows a heap thet other men don't.
But I'll never agree thet he can tell _me_ anything about _my_ business.
Take a drink, Joe, and then let's hear some o' your mountain yarns."

"Thankee; don't keer ef I do. I can't stop to spin yarns, tho', this
evenin'. I've got to git home. It won't be easy work pullin' agin the
tide an hour or two from now."

"What's your hurry?" "A story--a story!" "Let's make a night of it." "O,
come, Joe, you are not wanted at home. Cabin won't run away; wife won't
scold." "Stop along ov us till mornin';" were the various rather noisy
and ejaculatory remarks upon Chillis's avowed intention of abandoning
good and appreciative company, without stopping to tell one of his
ever-ready tales of Indian and bear fighting in the Rocky Mountains