ntry, according to his heart;
and now he had collected all his own (he might have said, `and other
people's too'), to go to New Orleans, where his pigs and corn, exchanged
against goods, would enable him to settle with his family in Texas in a
gallant style. Upon my inquiring what could be the cause of a certain
abominable smell which pervaded the cabin, he apprised me that, in a
small closet adjoining, he had secured a dozen of runaway negroes, for
the apprehension of whom he would be well rewarded.

"Well, the next morning we went on pretty snugly, and I had nothing to
complain of, except the fleas and the `gals' who bothered me not a
little. Three days afterwards we entered the Ohio, and the current
being very strong, I began to think myself fortunate, as I should reach
New Orleans in less than forty days, passage free. We went on till
night, when we stopped, three or four miles from the junction with the
Mississippi. The cabin being very warm, and the deck in possession of
the pigs, I thought I would sleep ashore, under a tree. The general
said it was a capital plan, and, after having drained half-a-dozen cups
of `stiff, true, downright Yankee Number 1,' we all of us took our
blankets (I mean the white-skinned party), and having lighted a great
fire, the general, the colonel, the major, and the judge laid down,--an
example which I followed as soon as I had neatly folded up my coat and
fixed it upon a bush, with my hat and boots, for I was now getting
particular, and wished to cut a figure in New Orleans; my thoughts
running upon plump and rich widows, which you know are the only
provision for us preachers.

"Well, my dreams were nothing but the continuation of my thoughts during
the day. I fancied I was married, and the owner of a large sugar
plantation. I had a good soft bed and my pious wife was feeling about
me with her soft hands, probably to see if my heart beat quick, and if I
had good dreams;--a pity I did not awake then, for I should have saved
my dollars, as the hand which I was dreaming of was that of the
hospitable general searching for my pocket-book. It was late when I
opened my eyes--and, lo! the sleepers were gone, with the boat, my
boots, my coat, my hat, and, I soon found, with my money I had been left
alone, with a greasy Mackinaw blanket, and as in my stupefaction I gazed
all round, and up and down, I saw my pocket-book empty, which the
generous general had humanely left to me to put othe