Down the River; Or, Buck Bradford and His Tyrants

re prime favorites with me. If I bore a divided love, it was so equally divided that I could not tell which I liked the best. I was fond of working over the horse, t

I had a suspicion that Ham Fishley had never had half enough of it, owing to the fact that he was a spoiled child. It seemed

I glanced at the wagon, to see if there was anything about it that would answer my purpose. My eye fell upon the whip, which rested in the socket at the end of the seat. It was a very elegant whip in

serting his right, not to ask me, but to order me, in the most offensive manner, to black his boots, or to perform other menial offices for him. I trust that I have already proved my willingness to do my du

ness to hit me. I halted first, and then retreated a few paces, to afford me time to disengage the lash from the handle of the whip,-I used to consider myself very skilful with the whip,-though

nist's temper; indeed, I am forced to confess that this was not exactly the way to subdue his ire. I am sorry to say that Ham used some naughty words, which politeness wi

ll consequences. He wanted to throw himself upon me with that club, and I am satisfied that a single blow of the formidable weapon would have smashed my head.

ve felt that it would be a long job. His patience-not very carefully nursed-gave out at last; and, when he found that it would be impossible for him to inflict a single blow upon me, he raised the club, and let it fly at my head. If it had hit me there, I think the reader wo

disarmed and overpowered him; but I was not yet quite content with his frame of mind, and I continued my favorite exercise for some time longer. I did not actua

ord!" cried he, i

ave you, Ham Fishley?" I rep

this another t

I want it finished now," I added, cracking the whip

-will

you say you have

last of this very so

going to do

you off fo

tling his sensibilities again

" snarled he,

aple leaf at that moment, I should have

t, Buck

ad enough?"

, I

, just remember that when I am awake I keep my eyes open," I replied, coiling up the lash of my whip. "When I told you I had stood this thing lon

, in a tone so like his mother's that I could not h

to treat you and everybody else like gentlemen, if you use me decently. If you know how to behave like a gentleman, I'd like to have you try it on for

you had better go along w

ion apparently, for my singular proceedings had doubtless impressed h

Crofton's?" I called to H

arty," replied he, as he glanced

ht of that before you began th

l vigorously to brushing h

or I felt that I could afford to be magnanimous; and I t

o Crofton's in t

f do you a good turn as not," I added, taking from the box of the wagon-seat a small hand bro

ed towards him. He was shy of me after what

r clothes, Ham. I

out enough already," sa

e you af

not a

ouldn't hurt you now any mor

is garments till he looked as bright and f

n I had finished the job. "Jump into the wag

e trick, Buck," sa

hit a fellow over the head with a mail-bag,"

not care to see company just yet, he got into the wagon, and I drove off. He kept one eye on me all

I began, after we had ridden a quarter of a mile in silence. "You p

de no

u don't come out first-best in it. You know that as well as I do. I reckon you won't want to talk much to the fellows about it. I

t I shall do," re

am, I don't think you feel much like braggin

o the old man about it," growled he, involuntarily putting himse

ll your father or anybody else of it, I'm willing; b

atter. Ham leaped out of the wagon without another word, rushed throu