“Well, I predicate I didn't, fur by this time he's travellin' into the diggins most amazin' innocently,” and then the pair enjoyed a regular guffaw! “He's safe as a skin'd bar, then, Tom, and I'll spread his hide afore the Benton boys to-morrow--jest let them into the joke, and I allow, after that, his dandified aristocracy speeches won't have much effect in this section. “Go it, Jedge,” shouted Tom, “ef I ain't thar to hear it, it'll be 'cause the breath'll leave me afore then--gin him goss without sweeten'--rumple his har, but don't spile the varmint!” After Hoss had stayed his stomach with a cold bite, he bade Tom good-day, and started for Benton, highly tickled with the success of his trick. As he neared the “saplnracre,” he met Jim, who exhibited a full spread of his ivories, when Hoss. inquired which road he had directed the gentleman before him? “He gone into de swamp road, massa, but what de debil he want dar, 'cept he arter coon skins, dis niggah doesn't hab no idear, whatsomedeber.” Allen passed on, assured that all was right, and as his horse leisurely ambled forward, he broke into singing a verse of a western ditty, which says:-- “Thar aint throughout this western nation, Another like old Hickory He was bom jest fur his siteation-- A bold leader of the free.” As night spread her curtain over this wild district, Hoss neared Benton, and as his nag jogged up the principal street, he broke out into a louder strain, repeating the above verse, on hearing which, the “boys,” who were expecting him and Edwards, turned out, and old Hoss was received with a cheer. “Hello, Jedge!--How are you, Old Hoss?--Give us your paw, Governor!--Here at last, Squire!”--and sundry such expressions of familiar welcome was showered on Allen, by the crowd. “Come in, and git a drink, old fellar,” shouted one of the crowd, and forthwith all hands pushed for the hotel bar room, where sweetened corn juice was pushed about with vast liberality--at the _candidate's_ expense, of course. “Whar did you leave the new fellar, Jedge Eddards?” was the general inquiry. “Why, boys, I stopped to rest on the road, and he slid off to git ahead of me--I heered on him at the forks, and expected he was here. It's my opinion, boys, he's seen a bar on the road, and bein' too delicate to make the varmint clar the path, he's taken a long circuit round him!” This raised a laugh among the crowd, and it was followed up by general inquiries as to what Edwards looked like, but to these Hoss shook his head, remarking, as he raised his hands expressive of how they would be astonished--“jest wait tell you see him yourselves, boys, and then you'll be satisfied.”