has so frequently happened to me that I have had to blush for the
acquaintances whom I have selected, that I seldom indulge in any
close intimacies of this kind. But, nevertheless, I was taken with
John Smith, in spite of his name. There was so much about him that
was pleasant, both to the eye and to the understanding! One meets
constantly with men from contact with whom one revolts without
knowing the cause of such dislike. The cut of their beard is
displeasing, or the mode in which they walk or speak. But, on the
other hand, there are men who are attractive, and I must confess
that I was attracted by John Smith at first sight. I hesitated,
however, for a minute; for there are sundry things of which it
behoves a traveller to think before he can join a companion for such
a journey as that which I was about to make. Could the young man
rise early, and remain in the saddle for ten hours together? Could
he live upon hard-boiled eggs and brandy-and-water? Could he take
his chance of a tent under which to sleep, and make himself happy
with the bare fact of being in the desert? He saw my hesitation,
and attributed it to a cause which was not present in my mind at the
moment, though the subject was one of the greatest importance when
strangers consent to join themselves together for a time, and agree
to become no strangers on the spur of the moment.

"Of course I will take half the expense," said he, absolutely
blushing as he mentioned the matter.

"As to that there will be very little. You have your own horse, of
course?"

"Oh, yes."