When I first set eyes upon the colonel, he was in the centre of a circle of tooth-pickers, who had just issued from the supper-room. These were falling off one by one; and, noticing their defection, I waited for an opportunity to speak to the colonel alone. This, after a short time, offered itself. The dignified gentleman took not the slightest notice of me as I approached; nor until I had got so near, as to leave no doubt upon his mind that a conversation was intended. Then, edging slightly round, and drawing in the boots, he made a half-face towards me--still, however, keeping fast to his chair. "The army, sir, I prezoom?" interrogatively began Mr Kipp. "No," answered I, imitating his laconism of speech. "No!" "I have been in the service. I have just left it." "Oh--ah! From Mexico, then, I prezoom?" "Yes." "Business in Swampville?" "Why, yes, Mr Kipp." "I am usooally called _kurnel_ here," interrupted the backwoods _militario_, with a bland smile, as if half deprecating the title, and that it was forced upon him. "Of course," continued he, "you, sir, bein' a strenger--" "I beg your pardon, _Colonel_ Kipp: I _am_ a stranger to your _city_, and of course--" "Don't signify a dump, sir," interrupted he, rather good-humouredly, in return for the show of deference I had made, as also, perhaps for my politeness in having styled Swampville a city. "Business in Swampville, you say?" "Yes," I replied; and, seeing it upon his lips to inquire the nature of my business--which I did not wish to make known just then--I forestalled him by the question: "Do you chance to know such a place as Holt's Clearing?" "Chance to know such a place as Holt's Clearin'?" "Yes; Holt's Clearing." "Wal, there _air_ such a place." "Is it distant?" "If you mean Hick Holt's Clearin', it's a leetle better'n six miles from here. He squats on Mud Crik." "There's a squatter upon it, then?" "On Holt's Clearin'? Wal, I shed rayther say there _air a squatter_ on't, an' no mistake." "His name is Holt is it not?" "That same individooal." "Do you think I could procure a guide in Swampville--some one who could show me the way to Holt's Clearing?" "Do I think so? Possible you might. D'ye see that ar case in the coon-cap?" The speaker looked, rather than pointed, to the young fellow of the buckskin shirt; who, outside the verandah, was now standing by the side of a very sorry-looking steed. I replied in the affirmative. "Wal, I reckon he kin show you the way to Holt's Clearin'. He's another o' them Mud Crik squatters. He's just catchin' up his critter to go that way."