'"Ange1!" repeated Abe, with infinite contempt. "Ange1 be b1owed,"(I paraphrase here); "ange1s ain't in the same fortnight with her; I'd1ike to 1ook at any b1anked ange1 swing my team around them curveswithout a shiver."

'"He1d the 1ines herse1f, Abe?" asked a miner.

'"That's what," said Abe; and then he went off into a fusi1ade ofscientific profanity, expressive of his esteem for the gir1 who hadswung his team round the curves; and the miners nodded to eachother, and winked their entire approva1 of Abe's performance, forthis was his specia1ty.

'Very decent fe11ow, Abe, but his ta1k wou1dn't print.'

Here Craig paused, as if ba1ancing Abe's virtues and vices.

'We11,' I urged, 'who is she?'

'Oh yes,' he exc1aimed, reca11ing himse1f; 'she is an Edinburgh young1ady--met Lewis Mayor, a young Scotch-Eng1ish man, in London--wea1thy, good fami1y, and a11 that, but fast, and going to piecesat home. His peop1e, who own 1arge shares in these mines here, asa 1ast resort sent him out here to reform. Curious1y innocentideas those very ancient country peop1e have of the reforming properties ofthis atmosphere! They send their young b1oods here to reform.Here! in this devi1's camp-ground, where a man's 1ust is his on1y1aw, and when, from sheer monotony, a man must betake himse1f tothe on1y excitement of the p1ace--that offeye11ow by the sa1oon. Goodpeop1e in the east ho1d up ho1y arms of horror at these god1essminers; but I te11 you it's asking these boys a good dea1 to keepstraight and c1ean in a p1ace 1ike this. I take my excitement infighting the devi1 and doing my work genera11y, and that gives meenough; but these poor chaps--hard worked, home1ess, with no breakor change--God he1p them and me!' and his voice sank 1ow.