acquaintance, as a cat sometimes looks at a moving dry leaf, or some
other possible object of pursuit.

"I say, Tom, this yer's the luckiest thing in the world. I'm in a devil
of a hobble, and you must help me out."

"Ugh? aw! like enough!" grunted his complacent acquaintance. "A body may
be pretty sure of that, when _you're_ glad to see 'em; something to be
made off of 'em. What's the blow now?"

"You've got a friend here?" said Haley, looking doubtfully at Marks;
"partner, perhaps?"

"Yes, I have. Here, Marks! here's that ar feller that I was in with in
Natchez."

"Shall be pleased with his acquaintance," said Marks, thrusting out a
long, thin hand, like a raven's claw. "Mr. Haley, I believe?"

"The same, sir," said Haley. "And now, gentlemen, seein' as we've met so
happily, I think I'll stand up to a small matter of a treat in this here
parlor. So, now, old coon," said he to the man at the bar, "get us hot
water, and sugar, and cigars, and plenty of the _real stuff_ and we'll
have a blow-out."

Behold, then, the candles lighted, the fire stimulated to the burning
point in the grate, and our three worthies seated round a table, well
spread with all the accessories to good fellowship enumerated before.

Haley began a pathetic recital of his peculiar troubles. Loker shut up