Page:Historic highways of America (Volume 11).djvu/180

 on a log by the river with a rifle in his lap, "can you direct us to the stage-house?"

"Well, I can't say that I can."

"Perhaps you do not understand what we want," said Edgarton; "we wish to take seats in a mail-coach for ."

"Well, stranger, it's my sentimental belief that there isn't a coach, male or female, in the county."

"This fellow is ignorant of our meaning," said Edgarton to Logan.

"What's that you say, stranger? I spose maybe you think I never seed a coach? Well, it's a free country, and every man has a right to think what he pleases; but I reckon I've saw as many of them are fixens as any other man. I was raised in Tennessee. I saw General Jackson once riding in the elegantest carriage that ever mortal man sot his eyes on—with glass winders to it like a house, and sort o' silk curtings. The harness was mounted with silver; it was drawd by four blooded nags, and druv by a mighty likely nigger boy."

The travellers passed on, and soon learned that there was indeed no stage in the country. Teams and carriages of any