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a chorus of desire expressed that we should find it； and in this anxiety was exhibited a decided sensitiveness about the honor of Mitchell County。 It seemed too bad that a stranger should go away with the impression that it was not safe to leave money anywhere in it。 We felt very much obliged for this genuine sympathy； and we told them that if a pocket…book were lost in this way on a Connecticut road； there would be felt no neighborhood responsibility for it； and that nobody would take any interest in the incident except the man who lost； and the man who found。
By the time the travelers pulled up at a store in Bakersville they had lost all expectation of recovering the missing article； and were discussing the investment of more money in an advertisement in the weekly newspaper of the capital。 The Professor； whose reform sentiments agreed with those of the newspaper； advised it。 There was a group of idlers； mica acquaintances of the morning； and philosophers in front of the store； and the Friend opened the colloquy by asking if a man named David Thomas had been seen in town。 He was in town； had ridden in within an hour； and his brother； who was in the group； would go in search of him。 The information was then given of the loss； and that the rider had met David Thomas just before it was discovered； on the mountain beyond the Toe。 The news made a sensation； and by the time David Thomas appeared a crowd of a hundred had drawn around the horsemen eager for further developments。 Mr。 Thomas was the least excited of the group as he took his position on the sidewalk； conscious of the dignity of the occasion and that he was about to begin a duel in which both reputation and profit were concerned。 He recollected meeting the travelers in the morning。
The Friend said； 〃I discovered that I had lost my purse just after meeting you； it may have been dropped in Toe River； but I was told back here that if David Thomas had picked it up； it was as safe as if it were in the bank。〃
〃What sort of a pocket…book was it？〃 asked Mr。 Thomas。
〃It was of crocodile skin； or what is sold for that； very likely it is an imitation； and about so large indicating the size。〃
〃What had it in it？〃
〃Various things。 Some specimens of mica； some bank checks； some money。〃
〃Anything else？〃
〃Yes； a photograph。 And； oh； something that I presume is not in another pocket…book in North Carolina；in an envelope； a lock of the hair of George Washington； the Father of his Country。〃 Sensation mixed with incredulity。 Washington's hair did seem such an odd part of an outfit for a journey of this kind。
〃How much money was in it？〃
〃That I cannot say； exactly。 I happen to remember four twenty…dollar United States notes； and a roll of small bills； perhaps something over a hundred dollars。〃
〃Is that the pocket…book？〃 asked David Thomas； slowly pulling the loved and lost out of his trousers pocket。
〃It is。〃
〃You'd be willing to take your oath on it？〃
〃I should be delighted to。〃
〃Well； I guess there ain't so much money in it。 You can count it ＇handing it over＇； there hain't been nothing taken out。 I can't read； but my friend here counted it over； and he says there ain't as much as that。〃
Intense interest in the result of the counting。 One hundred and ten dollars！ The Friend selected one of the best engraved of the notes； and appealed to the crowd if they thought that was the square thing to do。 They did so think； and David Thomas said it was abundant。 And then said the Friend ：
〃I'm exceedingly grateful to you besides。 Washington's hair is getting scarce； and I did not want to lose these few hairs； gray as they are。 You've done the honest thing； Mr。 Thomas； as was expected of you。 You might have kept the whole。 But I reckon if there had been five hundred dollars in the book and you had kept it； it wouldn't have done you half as much good as giving it up has done； and your reputation as an honest man is worth a good deal more than this pocket…book。 ＇The Professor was delighted with this sentiment； because it reminded him of a Sunday…school。＇ I shall go away with a high opinion of the honesty of Mitchell County。〃
〃Oh； he lives in Yancey；〃 cried two or three voices。 At which there was a great laugh。
〃Well； I wondered where he came from。〃 And the Mitchell County people laughed again at their own expense； and the levee broke up。 It was exceedingly gratifying； as we spread the news of the recovered property that afternoon at every house on our way to the Toe； to see what pleasure it gave。 Every man appeared to feel that the honor of the region had been on trialand had stood the test。
The eighteen miles to Burnsville had now to be added to the morning excursion； but the travelers were in high spirits； feeling the truth of the adage that it is better to have loved and lost； than never to have lost at all。 They decided； on reflection； to join company with the mail…rider； who was going to Burnsville by the shorter route； and could pilot them over the dangerous ford of the Toe。
The mail…rider was a lean； sallow； sinewy man； mounted on a sorry sorrel nag； who proved； however； to have blood in her； and to be a fast walker and full of endurance。 The mail…rider was taciturn； a natural habit for a man who rides alone the year round； over a lonely road； and has nothing whatever to think of。 He had been in the war sixteen months； in Hugh White's regiment；reckon you've heerd of him？
〃Confederate？〃
〃Which？〃
〃Was he on the Union or Confederate side？〃
〃Oh； Union。〃
〃Were you in any engagements？〃
〃Which？〃
〃Did you have any fighting？〃
〃Not reg'lar。〃
〃What did you do？〃
〃Which？〃
〃What did you do in Hugh White's regiment？〃
〃Oh； just cavorted round the mountains。〃
〃You lived on the country？〃
〃Which？〃
〃Picked up what you could find； corn； bacon； horses？〃
〃That's about so。 Did n't make much difference which side was round； the country got cleaned out。〃
〃Plunder seems to have been the object？〃
〃Which？〃
〃You got a living out of the farmers？〃
〃You bet。〃
Our friend and guide seemed to have been a jayhawker and mountain marauderon the right side。 His attachment to the word 〃which〃 prevented any lively flow of conversation； and there seemed to be only two trains of ideas running in his mind： one was the subject of horses and saddles； and the other was the danger of the ford we were coming to； and he exhibited a good deal of ingenuity in endeavoring to excite our alarm。 He returned to the ford from every other conversational excursion； and after every silence。
I do' know's there 's any great danger； not if you know the ford。 Folks is carried away there。 The Toe gits up sudden。 There's been right smart rain lately。
If you're afraid； you can git set over in a dugout； and I'll take your horses across。 Mebbe you're used to fording？ It's a pretty bad ford for them as don't know it。 But you'll get along if you mind your eye。 There's some rocks you'll have to look out for。 But you'll be all right if you follow me。〃
Not being very successful in raising an interest in the dangers of his ford； although he could not forego indulging a malicious pleasure in trying to make the strangers uncomfortable； he finally turned his attention to a trade。 〃This hoss of mine；〃 he said； 〃is just the kind of brute…beast you want for this country。 Your hosses is too heavy。 How'll you swap for that one o' yourn？〃 The reiterated assertion that the horses were not ours； that they were hired； made little impression on him。 All the way to Burnsville he kept referring to the subject of a trade。 The instinct of 〃swap〃 was strong in him。 When we met a yoke of steers； he turned round and bantered the owner for a trade。 Our saddles took his fancy。 They were of the army pattern； and he allowed that one of them would just suit him。 He rode a small flat English pad； across which was flung the United States mail pouch； apparently empty。 He dwelt upon the fact that his saddle was new and ours were old； and the advantages that would accrue to us from the exchange。 He did n't care if they had been through the war； as they had； for he fancied an army saddle。 The Friend answered for himself that the saddle he rode belonged to a distinguished Union general； and had a bullet in it that was put there by a careless Confederate in the first battle of Bull Run； and the owner would not part with it for money。 But the mail…rider said he did n't mind that。 He would n't mind swapping his new saddle for my old one and the rubber coat and leggings。 Long before we reached the ford we thought we would like to swap the guide； even at the； risk of drowning。 The ford was passed； in due time； with no inconvenience save that of wet feet； for the stream was breast high to the horses； but being broad and swift and full of sunken rocks and slippery stones； and the crossing tortuous； it is not a ford to be commended。 There is a curious delusion that a rider has in crossing a swift broad stream。 It is that he is rapidly drifting up…stream； while in fact the tendency of the horse is to go with the current。
The road in the afternoon was not unpicturesque； owing to the streams and the ever noble forests； but the prosp