Thus it was that he arose before his spouse;
but his step awakened her.
"What's the matter, Hans? Are you sick?" she asked, with considerable
solicitude.
"No, my dear, good Keewaygooshturkumkankangewock, I feels so goot as,
ever, but I t'inks te mornin' air does me goot, so I goes out to got a
little."
No objection being interposed, he sauntered carelessly forth, taking a
direction that would lead him to the spot where he had held the
interview with the Huron upon the previous day. He walked slowly, for
it lacked considerable of the hour which had been fixed upon for the
meeting, and, knowing the mathematical exactitude with which his friend
kept his appointments, he had no desire to reach the spot in advance.
"I doeshn't wish to hurry, so I t'inks I will rest myself here, and den
when----"
Hans was prevented any further utterance, by some heavy body striking
his shoulders with such force that he was thrown forward upon his face,
and his hat smashed over his eyes.
"Mine Gott! vot made tat tree fall on me?" he exclaimed, endeavoring to
crawl from beneath what he supposed to be the trunk of an immense oak
which he had noticed towering above him. This belief was further
strengthened by a glimpse which he caught of a heavy branch upon the
ground.
"Hebens, golly! dat you, ole swill-barrel?" greeted his ears; and he
picked his hat and himself up at the same time, to see the negro, Cato,
lying on the ground, with his heels high up in the air.
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