ve done nothing more than your duty. I
am a Virginian, and no d--d Yankee--does anybody want to fight me?'

"It was Dexter Ralston. How many of the people on board knew him I have
no idea, or what they knew of him. He seemed to exercise some strange
influence, however, for Col. Washington turned away, with the friend who
had offered to introduce him; and the man who had offered to fight me
also disappeared. The crowd at that spot on the deck seemed to be gone
in a moment. Ralston and myself exchanged a few words. I thanked him for
having extricated me from a possible scrape, as well as for his good
opinion of my conduct, all which he waived with a 'pshaw!' He received
an introduction to the ladies with all due courtesy, chatted with them a
few moments, and then strolled off, smoking a cigar. I was engaged with
my party for the remainder of the trip, and did not see him again until
we had reached Washington and the passengers dispersed from the
steamboat, when of course I lost him, without any inquiry being made as
to his address or present residence. I went to Europe, the last time, as
you know, the summer following, and so perhaps lost him more
effectually. Tired?"

The latter word was especially addressed to Harding, who gave symptoms
of going to sleep. Refreshed, however, by a cigar which Leslie thrust
between his lips and insisted upon his smoking, Harding managed, even in
his recumbent position, to keep awake for what followed.

"Confound you!" said Leslie, "you might manage to get along without
yawning at my story, when you asked me to tell it! However, who cares!
You are not the only man who does not know a good thing when he sees or
hears it! Some of my best things in print have probably been received in
like manner, by people just as stupid!"

"Very likely," said Harding, drily; and Leslie continued.

"I came home from Europe in the winter of 1860-61, as you may likewise
remember if you are not too sleepy; and I was one of the ten thousand
who went down from this city to Washington, to attend the inauguration
of Abraham Lincoln. Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety odd went armed
to the teeth, carrying each from one revolver to three, and a few
bowie-knives, in anticipation of there being a general row on
inauguration morning, if not an open attempt to assassinate the
President. One man whom I could name actually carried four revolvers and
a dirk, without knowing any more about the use of either than a chi