When we reached the place, Mr. Keyser asked us into the parlor, and while we were sitting there we heard Mrs. Keyser in the dining-room, adjoining, busy preparing supper.  Keyser would not sell his horse, but he was quite sociable, and after some conversation, he said,

“Gentlemen, in 1847 I owned a hoss that never seen his equal in this State.  And that hoss once did the most extr’ordinary thing that was ever done by an animal.  One day I had him out, down yer by the creek—­”

Here Mrs. Keyser opened the door and exclaimed, shrilly,

“Keyser, if you want any supper, you’d better get me some kin’lin-wood pretty quick.”

Then Keyser turned to us and said, “Excuse me for a few moments, gentlemen, if you please.”

A moment later we heard him splitting wood in the cellar beneath, and indulging in some very hard language with his soft pedal down, Mrs. Keyser being the object of his objurgations.  After a while he came into the parlor again, took his seat, wiped the moisture from his brow, put his handkerchief in his hat, his hat on the floor, and resumed: 

“As I was sayin’, gentlemen, one day I had that hoss down yer by the creek; it was in ’47 or ’48, I most forget which.  But, howsomedever, I took him down yer by the creek, and I was jest about to—­”

Mrs. Keyser (opening the door suddenly).  “You, Keyser! there’s not a drop of water in the kitchen, and unless some’s drawed there’ll be no supper in this house this night, now mind me!”

Keyser (with a look of pain upon his face).  “Well, well! this is too bad! too bad!  Gentlemen, just wait half a minute.  I’ll be right back.  The old woman’s rarin’ ’round, and she won’t wait.”

Then we heard Keyser at work at the well-bucket; and looking out the back window, we saw him bringing in a pail of water.  On his way he encountered a dog, and in order to give his pent-up feelings adequate expression, he kicked the animal clear over the fence.  Presently he came into the parlor, mopped his forehead, and began again.

Keyser.  “As I was sayin’, that hoss was perfeckly astonishin’.  On the day of which I was speakin’.  I was ridin’ him down yer by the creek, clost by the corn-field, and I was jest about to wade him in, when, all of a suddent-like, he—­”

Mrs. Keyser (at the door, and with her voice pitched at a high key).  “ARE you goin’ to fetch that ham from the smoke-house, or ARE you goin’ to set there jabberin’ and go without your supper?  If that ham isn’t here in short order, I’ll know the reason why.  You hear me?”

Keyser (his face red and his manner excited). “Gra-SHUS!  If this isn’t—­Well, well! this just lays over all the—­Pshaw!  Mr. Butterwick, if you’ll hold on for a second, I’ll be with you agin.  I’ll be right back.”

Then we heard Keyser slam open the smokehouse door, and presently he emerged with a ham, which he carried in one hand, while with the other he made a fist, which he shook threateningly at the kitchen door, as if to menace Mrs. Keyser, who couldn’t see him.