style="font-size:15px;"> "Have you seen this beautiful country?"
"No; but I know all about it."
"Do you?" sneered the other; "Well, beware of the creeks."
"Never you fear. Wherever there is water there are bridges."
"Of course; and now may I ask, what have you done with your magnificent southern property?" the other asked.
"I have sold it, slaves and all, keeping only such as were willing to follow me. I brought away all that could travel – my wife, my sons, my daughter, my furniture, my horses, all I wanted."
"May I without offence ask you this question: Were you not very well where you were? Did you not find the land excellent?"
"I was well off, and the land was excellent."
"Were you unable to sell your produce?"
"I had an admirable market," was the answer.
"Then," cried Samuel, angrily, "what in the devil's name do you mean by giving it up and going to a land where you will find nothing but wild beasts, brutal savages, and a hard and rigorous climate?"
The bold adventurer, driven into his last intrenchment, made no reply, only scratching his head in search of a reply. His wife here interfered.
"What is the use," she said, smiling, "asking for reasons which do not exist? Joshua is going for the love of change – nothing more. All our lives, as you well know, we have been roaming hither and thither. As soon as we are once comfortably settled anywhere, then we begin to think it time to be off."
"Yes! Yes! I know my brother's vagabond habits. But when he is in one of his mad fits, why do you not interfere?" he cried, impetuously.
"Brother, you don't know what it is to be married to a wanderer," she said.
"Good!" cried Joshua, laughing.
"But if you don't find this beautiful country?" asked Samuel.
"I will embark on one of the rivers."
"And where will you land?"
"I have not the slightest idea. But there, do not be uneasy, I shall find a place."
"Then," said Samuel, gazing at him with perfect amazement in his looks, "you are determined?"
"I am determined."
"Then, as we shall never meet again, come and spend a few days at my house," urged Samuel.
"I am very sorry to decline, but I cannot go back. If I were to waste a day, it would be a serious loss of time and money. I must reach my new settlement in time for the sowing."
Samuel Dickson, putting his hands behind his back, walked across the room with great strides, backwards and forwards, watching his niece curiously under his eyes.
He several times struck the ground with his riding whip, muttering to himself all the time. Diana sat with her hands crossed on her knees, the teardrops falling from her eyes.
Suddenly the farmer appeared to have made up his mind. Turning round, he laid his heavy hand on his brother's shoulder.
"Joshua!" he said, "It is clear to me that you are mad, and that I alone in the family possess any common sense; never, God forgive you, did more crooked notion enter the head of an honest man. You won't come to my house? Very good. I will then ask you one thing, which, if you refuse, I shall never forgive you."
"You know how much I love you."
"I know you say so; but this is the favour I ask: don't start until you see me again."
"Hem! But – "
"I must get home on important business at once. My house is but twenty miles distant; I shall soon be back."
"But when?" cautiously asked the emigrant.
"Tomorrow, or the next day at the latest."
"That is a long delay," continued Joshua.
"I do not deny it. But as your paradise, your El Dorado, your beautiful country will not probably run away, you are bound to reach it sooner or later. Besides," urged Samuel, "it is important, very important, we should meet again."
"As you will, my brother," sighed Joshua; "I give you my word to wait until the day after tomorrow at seven o'clock in the morning – no later."
"That will suit me admirably," cried the farmer; "so good-bye for the present."
And with a bow to all, and a smile to Diana, he hurried out of the room.
The crowd still patiently surrounded the inn and received him with a loud shout. He, however, took no notice, but rode off.
"We could not very well refuse, Susan," said the farmer to his wife.
"He is your brother," she replied.
"Our only relative," murmured Diana.
"True. Diana is right. Children, unharness the animals: we will stop here tonight."
And, to the great surprise of the gaping crowd, who hung about after the fashion of idlers, the horses of the emigrants were unyoked and taken to a shed, the waggons placed under cover, without the curious knowing the reason why.
On the morning of the second day Joshua Dickson, shortly after sunrise, was overlooking the horses being fed by his sons and servants, when a great noise was heard in the street, as of many waggons, and then there was a sharp knocking at the door of the inn.
Joshua hastily left the stables and took his way to the great room of the hotel.
He came face to face with Samuel Dickson, who had just been admitted by the sleepy innkeeper.
"Hilloa!" cried Joshua, "Is that you, my brother?"
"Who else do you suppose it is?" cried Samuel.
"Well, but I did not expect you so early."
"Well," said Samuel, drily, "I was afraid you might give me the slip, so I came early."
"An excellent idea, brother," said Mrs. Dickson, who now entered.
"And knowing how anxious my brother is to reach the promised land, I would not keep him waiting."
"Quite right," coolly replied Joshua; "and now about this important business?"
"Look out of window," drily answered Samuel.
Joshua obeyed, and saw five heavily-laden waggons, drawn each by horses, with about twelve hired men.
"Well," coolly observed Joshua, "what may be the meaning of all this?"
"It means," answered the farmer, "that as you have found yourself such a fool, it becomes my duty, as your elder brother, to come and look after you. I have sold up everything, and invested part, as you see."
"Oh, my brother!" cried Joshua, with tears in his eyes.
"Am I not your only
