samen re eats

NEGRO LIFE IN AMERICA. 53

broad in proportion. He was dressed in a coat of buffalo-skin,
made with the hair outward, which gave him a shaggy and fierce
appearance, perfectly in keeping with the whole air of his physi-
ognomy. In the head and face every organ aud lineament ex-
pressive of brutal and unhesitating violence was in a state of the
highest possible development. Indeed, could our readers fancy a
bull-dog come unto man’s estate, and walking about in a hat and
coat, they would have no unapt idea of the general style and effect
of his physique. He was accompanied by a travelling companion,
in many respects an exact contrast to himself. He was short and
slender, lithe and cat-like in his motions, and had a peering,
mousing expression about his keen black eyes, with which every
feature of his face seemed sharpened into sympathy; his thin,
long nose, ran out as if it was eager to bore into the nature of
things in general ; his thin, sleek, black hair, was stuck eagerly
forward, and all his motions and evolutions expressed a dry,
cautious acuteness. ‘The great big man poured out a big tumbler
half full of raw spirits, and gulped it down without a word. The
little man stood tip-toe, and putting his head first to one side and
then to the other, and snuffing considerately in the direction of
the various bottles, ordered at last a mint julep, in a thin and
quivering voice, and with an air of great circumspection. When
poured out, he took it and looked at it with a sharp, complaisant
air, like a man who thinks he has done about the right thing, and
hit the nail on the head, and proceeded to dispose of it in short
and well-advised sips. 7

“Wal, now, who'd a thought this yer luck ‘ad come to me?
Why Loker, how are ye?” said Haley, coming forward and ex-
tending his hand to the big man.

“The devil!” was the civil reply. ‘ What brought you here,

‘Haley ?”

The mousing man, who bore the name of Marks, instantly
stopped his sipping, and, poking his head forward, looked shrewdly
on our new acquaintance, as a cat sometimes looks at a moving dry
leaf, or some other possible object of pursuit.

“I say, Tom, this yer’s the luckiest thing in the world. I'm in
a devil of a hobble, and you must help me out.”

“Ugh! aw! like enough!” grunted his complacent acquaint-
ance. ‘A body may be pretty sure of that, when you're glad to
see ’em ; something to be made off of ‘em. What's the blow now ”

« You've got a friend here?” said Haley, looking doubtfully at
Marks, “ partner, perhaps ?”

“Yes, I have. Here, Marks! here’s that ar feller that I was
in with in Natchez.”

“‘ Shall be pleased with his acquaintance,” said Marks, thrusting
out a long thin hand, likea raven’sclaw. ‘ Mr. Haley, I believe ?”

“The same, sir,” said Haley. ‘And now, gentlemen, seein’
as we’ve met so happily, I think I'll stand up toa small matter