The genial proprietor of the hotel carried his seventy-odd years and two hundred and sixty pounds quite handily in his shirt-sleeves, moving with commendable celerity from office to bar-room, supplying us in the front room with information and those in the back with refreshment.

“So you never heard that those big men were born in this locality.  That’s strange; tho’t ev’rybody knew that.  Why ’Neida has produced more famous men than any town same size in ’Merika,—­Russell Sage, General New,—­comin’” (to those in the bar-room); “say, you fellers, can’t you wait?” As he disappeared in the rear we heard his rotund voice, “What’ll you take?  Was jest tellin’ that chap with the threshin’-machine a thing or two about this country.  Rye? no, thet’s Bourbon—­the reel corn juice—­ten years in wood—­”

“Mixed across the street at the drug store—­ha! ha! ha!” interrupted some one.

“Don’t be faceshus, Sam; this ain’t no sody-fountin.”

“Where’d that feller cum frum with his steam pianer,—­Syr’cuse?”

“Naw!  Chicago.”

“Great cranberries! you don’t say so,—­all the way from Chicago!  When did he start?”

“Day ’fore yesterday,” replied the old man, and we could hear him putting back the bottles; a chorus of voices,—­

“What!”

“Holy Mo—­”

“Day afore yester—­say, look here, you’re jokin’.”

“Mebbe I am, but if you don’t believe it, ask him.”

“Why Chicago is further’n Buf’lo—­an’ that’s faster’n a train.”

“Yes,” drawled the old man; “he passed the Empire Express th’ other side Syr’cuse.”

“Get out.”

“What do you take us fer?”

“Wall, when you cum in, I took you fer fellers who knowed the diff’rence betwixt whiskey and benzine, but I see my mistake.  You fellers shud buy your alc’hol across the way at the drug store; it don’t cost s’ much, and burns better.”

“Thet’s one on us.  Your whiskey is all right, grandpa, the reel corn juice—­ten year in wood—­too long in bottl’spile if left over night, so pull the stopper once more.”

CHAPTER TEN THE MOHAWK VALLEY IN THE VALLEY

On looking over the machine the next morning, Tuesday, the 27th, the large cap-screws holding the bearings of the main-shaft were found slightly loose.  The wrench with the machine was altogether too light to turn these screws up as tight as they should be; it was therefore necessary to have a wrench made from tool steel; that required about half an hour, but it was time well spent.

The road from Oneida to Utica is very good; rolling but no steep grades; some sand, but not deep; some clay, but not rough; for the most part gravel.