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THE PIONEERS.
51

"Ter deyvel, Richart!" he exclaimed, in a voice half serious, half comical, "put you unloat your sleigh very hantily."

It may be doubtful, whether the attitude in which Mr. Grant continued for an instant after his overthrow, was the one into which he had been thrown, or was assumed, in humbling himself before the power that he reverenced, in thanksgivings at his escape. When he rose from his knees, he began to gaze about him, with anxious looks, after the welfare of his companions, while every joint in his body was trembling with nervous agitation. There was also a slight confusion in the faculties of Mr. Jones, that continued for some little time; but as the mist gradually cleared {rem before his eyes, he saw that all was safe, and with an air of great self-satisfaction, he cried, "Well—that was neatly saved, any how—it was a lucky thought in me to hold on the reins, or the fiery devils would have been over the mountain by this time. How well I recovered myself, cousin 'duke! Another moment would have been too late; but I knew just the spot where to touch the off-leader; that blow under his right flank, and the sudden jerk I gave with the reins, brought them round quite handsomely, I must own myself."

"Thou jerk! thou recover thyself, Dickon!" cried the judge, whose fears were all vanished in mirth at the discomfiture of the party; "but for that brave lad yonder, thou and thy horses, or rather mine, would have assuredly been dashed to pieces—But where is Monsieur Le Quoi?"

"Oh! mon cher Juge! Mon ami!" cried a smothered voice, "praise be God I live; vill-a you, Mister Agamemnon, be pleased come down ici, and help-a me on my foot?"

The divine and the negro seized the incarcera-