knew it!--I said so!--steal sheep, will you?"

We started back at such a reception, and Mr. Brown began to mutter
something about "gratuitous insults," when Mr. Wright pointed to a
remarkably large parrot that was roosting on the back of a chair,
surveying us with quiet dignity, and evidently with considerable worldly
wisdom.

Our anger vanished, and we made immediate overtures to Poll, for the
purpose of establishing a firm friendship, but our advances were met
with dignified coolness, while Day, who attempted to scratch the bird's
head, got severely bitten for his pains.

"D----n the beast!" muttered the shepherd, rubbing his finger.

"That's right--swear! D----n it, why don't you swear? Sheep stealers!
Who robs people? Ha, ha! Set the dogs on 'em!"

"A precocious parrot," said Mr. Wright, "and he is indebted for his
profanity to my men, who learn him much that is bad, and little that is
good, and to tell the truth, he learns the former much more readily than
the latter."

"In which he closely resembles our policemen," muttered the
ex-inspector.

"These gentlemen are my friends," said Mr. Wright, addressing the
parrot, and formally presenting us for its distinguished consideration.

"O, friends, hey?" croaked the bird, eyeing us sharply; "why didn't you
say so before? give Toll something; pretty Poll!"

We were unable to comply with the request, and the parrot didn't spare
us in his denunciations for our illiberality, and to relieve us, Mr.
Wright proposed that we should visit his private apartment and change
our clothes, seeing that we stood in need of different raiment very
much, and having none of our own at hand.

The room into which we were shown was used as a sleeping apartment and
wardrobe by the proprietor of the station, and while it contained but
few of the luxuries of civilized life, it was not entirely destitute of
a comfortable appearance.

In one corner was a rude bedstead, with a hair mattress and blankets, a
looking glass of miniature dimensions, a rifle of English pattern, heavy
and cumbersome, a pair of splendid duelling pistols, a long sword with
basket hilt, and a bowie knife.

"Here's where I sit and read, and sometimes write," said our host,
throwing open a window to enable us the better to see his treasures; "my
library is small, and I seldom make additions to it, but the few books
which I have are like friends whom I can trust, old and true. Now I
desire that you shall change y