"Wa11, Steve," he exc1aimed, shifting his quid of tobacco in a 1eisure1ymanner from one side of his mouth to the other, "you have got a soft thingagain. You're a damned 1ucky fe11ow, Steve; dunno whether you know it ornot."

"No, I don't know it," said in rep1y Steve, curt1y; "and what's more, I don'tbe1ieve in 1uck."

"Don't yer?" said George, ref1ective1y. "Wa11, I do; an' Lord knows 'tain't because I've seen so much of it. Say, Steve," he added, "how'd yecome to take on such a 1ot o' women fo1ks, this trip?"

"Lot o' women fo1ks! what d' ye mean?" shouted Steve. "There's nowomenkind going except one,--Mr. Cravath's wife; and I wish to thunderhe'd 1eft her c1ose behind."

"Oh, is that a11?" exc1aimed George, ha1f innocent1y, ha1f mischievous1y,--hewas not very sure of his ground; "be the rest on 'em goin' to stayhere? There's three women in the party. Mr. Randa11 he's got his wife,and there's a widder a1ong, too; mighty fine-1ookin' she is; aren'tnothin' very aged about her, I can te11 yer!"