"What are yer in such a darned hurry for, now," replied my interlocutor. "I've heerd them air wheels of yourn a rattlin, rattlin, this half hour by spells, and I don't bleive I've cut the vally of an armfull of wood all that time. I do'no what She'll say." Here he glanced uneasily over his shoulder towards the house, as if he feared _Her_ awe-inspiring presence. "But, my friend," I remonstrated, "this don't tell me anything about the road. I _am_ in a hurry, and no mistake; and I'll be much obliged to you, if you will give me a short answer to a short question." "Wal, if that's all you want, mebbe I can 'commodate yer. 'Taint no use keeping on this ere road. Ef you should drive ever so fast on't, you couldn't never git to G. Cause it don't go there! Wal, you wanted a short answer, so I'll give it to yer. That are beast o' yourn hes some good pints. Wal, ef you want to git to G.--lemme see,--never bin on this road afore, hev you?" "Of course I haven't," replied I, somewhat testily. "Then you wouldn't know nothin about the old Hoxie place; no, sartin you wouldn't. Wal, abeout two mild furder on, you'll come to a brick house with four chimblys, jist where another road comes in. You turn to the right by the brick house, and that'll bring you to G." "How much further is it to G. this way than it is by the direct road?" "Wal, 'bout four mild." Upon this, I was about starting, when he called out, "I say, mister, don't you want to trade hosses? I----" "What yer beout there, Jerry," exclaimed a shrill voice from the house, which could be no other than that of the redoubtable "She"--"not a stick of wood in the house, and you a loafin there on the fence. I tell you----" Her further remonstrances were lost to me, but I doubt not that the luckless Jerry received a suitable reprimand for his delinquency. Here I was then, having four miles further to go than the stage, and my horse beginning to show unequivocal signs of fatigue. As the stage driver knew nothing of our plan, the probability was that he would pass the next office long before I could arrive and examine the mail bag. In this emergency, I could think of nothing better than to leave horse and carriage at some place on the road, and obtain a saddle-horse, with which I might succeed in "coming to time." And after turning at the "brick house with four chimblys," I was gladdened by the sight of a tavern some half a mile beyond, to which I hastened with all practicable speed, and lost no time in inquiring whether I could obtain a substitute for my over-driven animal.