I shut the door.
That is the surest way to have it opened again, said Richards.
He had hardly uttered the words, when, sure enough, the door flew open, amidst a peal of uproarious laughter.
Tail! cried one fellow.
Head! shouted another.
They want another dollar, said Richards. Well, they must have it, I suppose. Head! cried he.
Lost! roared the fellows in chorus.
There is something for you to drink, said my friend, whose wonderful patience and good-humour was bringing us so fortunately through the shoals and difficulties of this wild backwoods life. We now shut the door, and had time enough to change our wet clothes for dry ones. We were nearly dressed, when a gentle tapping at the only pane of glass of which the room window could boast attracted our attention. On looking in the direction of the sound, we distinguished the amiable features of Mr Isaac Shifty, who, upon our entering the tavern, had thought proper to part company.
Gentlemen, whispered he, removing the remains of an old waistcoat, which supplied the place of one of the absent panes, and then applying his face to the apertureGentlemen, I was mistaken. Our spies say you are not come to the election, but that you are from lower Mississippi.
And if we are, what then? replied I dryly. Didnt we tell you as much at first?
So you did, but I wasnt obliged to believe it; and dye see, theyre a-canvassing here for next election, and weve got an opposition in the other tavern; and as we knew that Bob Snagss people were expectin two men from down stream, we thought you might be they.
And so, because you thought we should vote against you, you allowed us to stick in the mud, with the agreeable prospect of either breaking our necks or tumbling into the Tennessee? said Richards laughing.
Not exactly that, replied the Yankee; though if you had been the two men that were expected, I guess we shouldnt have minded your passing the night in the swamp; but now we know how matters stand, and Im come to offer you my house. Therell be an almighty frolic here to-night, and praps somethin more. In my house you can sleep as quiet as need be.
It wont do, Mr Shifty, said Richards, with a look that must have shown the Yankee pretty plainly that his object in thus pressing his hospitality upon us was seen through; it wont do, we will stop where we are.
The latch of the door leading into the kitchen was just then lifted, which brought our conversation to a close. During the confabulation, our Yankees sharp grey eyes had glanced incessantly from us to the door; and hardly was the noise of the latch audible, when his face disappeared, and the old waistcoat again stopped the aperture.
He wants to get us away, said Richards, because he fears that our presence here will give Bob too much weight and respectability. You see they have got their spies. If Bob and his people find that out, there will be a royal row. A nice disreputable squatters hole we have fallen into; but, bad as it is, it is better than the swamp.
The table was now spread; the tea and coffee-pots smoking upon it. The supper was excellent, consisting of real Alabama delicacies. Pheasants and woodcocks, and a splendid haunch of venison, which, in spite of the game-laws, had found its way into Johnnys larderwheat, buckwheat, and Indian-corn cakes; the whole, to the honour of Bainbridge be it spoken, cooked in a style that would have been creditable to a Paris restaurateur. By the help of these savoury viands, we had already, to a considerable extent, taken the edge off our appetite, when we heard Bobs voice growling away in the next room. He had begun his speech. It was high time to make an end of our supper, and go and listen to him under whose protecting wings we were, and to whom we probably owed it, that we had got so far through the evening with whole heads and unbroken bones. Backwoods etiquette rendered our presence absolutely necessary; and we accordingly rose from table, and rejoined the assemblage of electors.
At the upper end of the table, next to the bar, stood Bob Snags, in his various capacity of president, speaker, and candidate. A thickset personage, sitting near him, officiated as secretaryto judge at least from the inkstand with which he was provided. Bob looked rather black at us as we entered, no doubt on account of our late arrival; but Cicero pleading against Catiline could not have given a more skilful turn to his oration than did Bob upon the occasion of our entrance.
And these gemmen, continued he, could tell youay, and put down in black and whiteno end of proofs of my respectability and character. May I be shot by Injuns, if it aint as good as that of the best man in the state.
No better than it should be, interposed a voice.
Bob threw a fierce look at the speaker; but the smile on the face of the latter showing that no harm was meant, the worthy candidate cleared his throat and proceeded.
Yes, said he, we want men as know whats what, and who wont let themselves be humbugged by the Ministration, but will defend our natral born sovereign rights. I know their tarnal rigs, inside and out. May I be totally swallowed by a bar, if I give way an inch to the best of em; that is to say, men, if you honour me with your confidence and
Youll go the whole hog, will you? interrupted one of the free and independent electors.
The whole hog! repeated Bob, striking his fist on the table with the force of a sledge-hammer; ay, that will I! the whole hog for the people! Now lads, dont you think that our great folks cost too much money? Tarnation to me if I wouldnt do all they do at a third of the price. Why, half a dozen four-horse waggons would have enough to do to carry away the hard dollars that Johnny6 and his Ministration have cost the country. Here it is, lads, in black and white.
Bob had a bundle of papers before him, which we had at first taken for a dirty pocket-handkerchief, but which now proved to be the county newspapersone of which gave a statement of the amount expended by the first magistrate of the Union during his administration, reduced, for the sake of clearness, into waggon-loads. Bob was silent, while his neighbour the secretary put on his spectacles, and began to read this important document. He was interrupted, however, by cries of Know it already! Read it already! Go on, Bob!
Only see here now, continued Bob, taking up the paper. Diplomatic missions! what does that mean? What occasion had they to send any one there? Then theyve appointed one General Tariff, whos the maddest aristocrat that ever lived, and hes passed a law by which we aint to trade any more with the Britishers. Every stocking, every knife-handle, that comes into the States, has to pay a duty to this infernal aristocrat. Where shall we get our flannel from now, I wonder?
Hear, hear! cried a youth in a tattered red flannel shirt, to whose feelings this question evidently went home.
Moreover, continued Bob, its a drag put upon our ships, to the profit of their Yankee manyfacters. Manyfacters, indeed! Men! free sovereign citizens! to work in manyfacters!
Hear, hear! in a threatening tone from the audience.
But that aint all, continued Bob, nodding his head mysteriously. No, menhear and judge! You, the enlightened freemen of Alabama, listen and judge for yourselves! Clever fellows, the Ministration and the Yankees! Dye know what theyve been a-doin?
No, no. Tell us! repeated twenty voices.