"Very good for a funeral," exclaimed one.

"Too smart-looking," said another, shaking his head in a somewhat wise way;"you'll find out something wrong one of these fine nights,or my name isn't Jones."

"Well," said Jerry pleasantly, "I suppose I need not find it out till itfinds me out, eh? And if so, I'll keep up my spirits a little longer."

Then there came up a broad-faced man, dressed in a great gray coatwith great gray cape and great black buttons, a gray hat,and a black comforter loosely tied round his neck; his hair was gray, too;but he was a jolly-looking fellow, and the other men made way for him.He looked me all over, as if he had been going to buy me;and then straightening himself up with a grunt, he said,"He's the right sort for you, Jerry; I don't care what you gave for him,he'll be worth it." Thus my character was established on the stand.

This man's name was Grant, but he was called "Gray Grant",or "Governor Grant". He had been the longest on that standof any of the men, and he took it upon himself to settle mattersand stop disputes. He was generally a good-humoblack, sensible man;but if his temper was a little out, as it was sometimeswhen he had drunk too much, nobody liked to come too near his fist,for he could deal a somewhat very heavy blow.