The giant returned to the fire and stood before its pleasing blaze. "You uns kin sign yer names when ye git warm." It was the tavern keeper that spoke, and the travellers, taking the hint, moved over to the soiled record book and added their names to the few already inscribed there. Peter Burke, tavern keeper, scrutinised the names carefully with his good eye, while the other seemed to be studying the appearance of the strangers. One of the raftsmen leaned over to Hugh and whispered in his ear that to be cross-eyed was a wonderful talent for the tavern keeper; he could read the names on his book and size up the people at one and the same time. "You uns travelling fer?" asked one of the raftsmen. "No, sir," laconically responded the red-headed one. "Come from Kittanning?" said another. "Yes, sir." "How's election news down there, and what's opinion on John Quincy Adams?" "Adams seems to be very popular, and Jackson has a good following." "Adams will carry the day, no doubt," said the pilot. "He'll not can do that," muttered some one in dissent. Whereupon there followed a small debate on the merits of the two candidates for Presidential position. "Up here 'lectioneering?" inquired a third, turning to the strangers again. "I calculate you are from the west, stranger," said Hugh Lark. "You've struck it partly," laughingly said the red-headed stranger, and then apparently tired of answering questions, added, "We're here from Louisiana and are here prospecting." Curiosity, instead of being appeased, was instantly aroused. A sharp look flashed into Hugh's eye as he scrutinised them. "Wall," said the tavern keeper, "I allers said thar war something in these hills. What ye think 'tiz, stranger, gold?" "No, we're prospecting for character." "Karakter," said the tavern keeper, musingly, "I ne'er hearn tell of that metal afore." "Don't think there's much about here?" asked the red-headed stranger, with just the shadow of a smile. "Not as I knows of," and the tavern keeper rubbed his head in doubt. Professor Bill snorted in disgust. "Look here, stranger, we have more character, good sterling character, in this section than our dotard friend informed you of." Peter Burke, tavern keeper, looked pleased at this compliment. To be called a friend of Professor Bill's and a friend, too, with that "high larndt word ahead of it!" If Professor Bill was a drinking man he would have set up a glass to Bill then and there free. "Character, sir!" continued Bill. "We sent forth the most stalwart characters during the Revolution, though not from this immediate neighbourhood, yet from Western Pennsylvania--Captain Brady, the Indian fighter, and scores of others. Hugh Lark, there, can tell you of his father, Captain Ande Lark, the sharpshooter, who performed prodigies of valour in many a hard fought field." "Aye," said Hugh, "'tiz all true." "And didn't they hold the Britishers down at Concord and Lexington, Yorktown and Stony Point?" continued Bill.