‘’Matter!’ said George; ’the d——­d Lincolnites have seized Bowling-Green, Fort Donelson, and have by this time taken Nashville.  Why,’ continued he, in a burst of confidence, ’when I left, hacks was worth a hundred dollars an hour, and, Polk, (in a whisper,) I didn’t have a d——­d cent.’

’The touching pathos of this last remark was added to by the sincere vehemence with which it was uttered, and the mute eloquence with which he lifted up a ragged flap in the rear of his person that some envious rail or brier had torn from its position of covering a glorious retreat.

‘’Not a d——­d cent,’ repeated he; ’and, Polk, I walked that hard-hearted town up and down, all day, with bomb-shells dropping on the street at every lamp-post—­I’ll swear I did—­trying to borrow some money; and Polk, do you think, there wasn’t a scoundrel there would lend any thing, not even Harris, and he got the money out of the banks, too?’

    ‘’No?’ said Polk, who dropped in a word occasionally, as a sort of
    encourager.

‘’Bill,’ repeated Sanders:  ’Bill, I said you was a friend of mine—­and a talented one—­always said so, Bill.  I didn’t have a red, and I’ve walked forty-five miles in the last day, by the mile-stones, and I haven’t had any thing to buy a bit to eat; and,’ he added with impassioned eloquence, ’what is a cursed sight worse, not a single drop to drink.’

’This is complete.  It is unnecessary to tell how the gallant and clever Tenneseean took the wayfarer home, gave him numerous, if not innumerable, drinks, and filled him with fruits of fields and flesh of flocks.  When George was filled, however, he signified by numerous signs, and finally by words, that he wished the servants to leave the room.  ‘Polk,’ said he, ’I knew you were a man with a heart in your bosom; I told ’em so.  I said no better man than Bill Polk could be found.  I told ’em so.’

    ‘’Told who so?’ asked Mr. Polk, rather surprised at the sudden and
    mysterious language, accompanied by the removal of the servants.

    ‘’Mr. Polk,’ said Sanders, ’I want your horses and carriage for a
    time.’

    ‘’Certainly, Mr. Sanders, if you wish them.’

    ‘’Mr. Polk,’ said George, ’I do not appear before you in any
    ordinary character to-day; I am clothed with higher authority; I
    am an emissary.’

    ’The tone and manner indicated something fearful—­perhaps to
    arrest his host.

‘’I am an emissary,’ repeated Mr. Sanders, speaking in very large capitals, ’from the State of Kentucky, and hope to be received as such.  The fact is,’ continued he, coming down to the level of familiar conversation, ’I left the Provisional Government of Kentucky a mile or so back, on foot, finding its way southwardly, and I demand your horses and carriage in the name of that noble State.’

    ’Of course, the carriages were harnessed up at once, and Mr.
    Sanders proceeded to bring the Provisional Government to Mr.
    Polk’s house.