It struck this gentleman that supplies of fresh provisions might be got from the American side, and accordingly he sent emissaries over the river, and the result justified the correctness of his views. While sitting after dinner one day _tete-à-tete_ with the Colonel, his servant announced that a gentleman wanted to see him. As the word _gentleman_ on this side of the Atlantic conveys no idea of either high birth or high breeding, nor even of a clean shirt, or a whole coat, my friend demanded what kind of a gentleman,--as, like a sensible man as he was, he did not wish to be interrupted in the pleasant occupation of discussing his wine and listening to my agreeable conversation, by a gentleman who possibly might ask him if he wished to buy any eggs, as many species of the _genus_ gentleman on this side of the herring pond might possibly deem a good and sufficient reason for intruding on his privacy. His servant said he believed he must be a kind of Yankee gentleman, for he wore his hat in the parlor, and spit on the carpet. The _causa scientiae_, as the lawyers say, seemed conclusive to my Commandant, for he was ordered to be admitted, and the Colonel, telling me that he suspected this must be one of his beef customers, requested I would not leave the room, as he wished a witness to the bargain he was about to make. Accordingly, there entered a tall, good-looking, middle-aged man, dressed in a blue something, that might have been a cross between a surtout and a great coat. He was invited to sit down, and fill his glass, when the following dialogue took place: Yankee.--I'm Major ---- of Vermont State, and I would like to speak to the Colonel in private, I guess, on particular business. Colonel.--Anything you may have to say to me, Sir, may be said with perfect safety in presence of this gentleman. Major.--I'm a little in the smuggling line, I reckon. Colonel.--Aye, and pray what have you smuggled? Major.--Kettle, (cattle,) I reckon. I heerd that the Colonel wanted some very bad, so I just brought a hundred on 'em across at St. Regis, as fine critters, Colonel, as ever had hair on 'em. So I drove them right up; the Colonel can look at 'em hisself--they are right at the door here. Colonel.--Well, what price do you ask for them? Major.--Well, Colonel I expect about the same as other folks gets, I conclude. Colonel.--That is but reasonable, and you shall have it.