no further reason for delay, had also chosen it as their day
of departure for Carolina. Nor did the already named constitute the sum
total of the cavalcade setting out for that region. Carolina was about
to receive an accession in the person of the sagacious pedler, who, in a
previous conversation with both Colonel Colleton and Ralph, had made
arrangements for future and large adventures in the way of trade--having
determined, with the advice and assistance of his newly-acquired
friends, to establish one of those wonders of various combinations,
called a country store, among the good people of Sumter district. Under
their direction, and hopeful of the Colleton patronage and influence,
Bunce never troubled himself to dream of unprofitable speculations; but
immediately drawing up letters for his brother and some other of his
kinsmen engaged in the manufacture, in Connecticut, of one kind of
_notion_ or other, he detailed his new designs, and furnished liberal
orders for the articles required and deemed necessary for the wants of
the free-handed backwoodsmen of the South. Lest our readers should lack
any information on the subject of these wants, we shall narrate a brief
dialogue between the younger Colleton and our worthy merchant, which
took place but a few hours before their departure:--

"Well, Bunce, are you ready? We shall be off now in a couple of hours or
so, and you must not keep us waiting. Pack up at once, man, and make
yourself ready."

"I guess you're in a little bit of a small hurry, Master Colleton,
'cause, you see, you've some reason to be so. You hain't had so easy a
spell on it, no how, and I don't wonder as how you're no little airnest
to get off. Well, you won't have to wait for me. I've jest got through
mending my little go-cart--though, to be sure, it don't look, no how,
like the thing it was. The rigilators made awful sad work of the box and
body, and, what with patching and piecing, there's no two eends on it
alike."

"Well, you're ready, however, and we shall have no difficulty at the
last hour?"

"None to speak on. Jared Bunce aint the chap for burning daylight; and
whenever you're ready to say, 'Go,' he's gone. But, I say, Master Ralph,
there's one little matter I'd like to look at."

"What's that? Be quick, now, for I've much to see to."

"Only a minute. Here, you see, is a letter I've jest writ to my brother,
Ichabod Bunce, down to Meriden. He's a 'cute chap, and quite a Yankee,
now, I