With that, she stoops down, and catches up his staff, and says she, 'I have as great a mind to give you a jab with this here toothpick, where your mother used to spank you, as ever I had in all my life.

But if you want it, my old 'coon, you must come and get it; for if you won't help me, I shall help myself.' "Jist at that moment, her eyes being better accustomed to the dim light of the place, she see'd a man, a sittin' at the fur eend of the room, with his back to the wall, larfin' ready to kill himself.

He grinned so, he showed his corn-crackers from ear to ear.

She said, he stript his teeth like a catamount, he look'd so all mouth.
"Well, that encouraged her, for there ain't much harm in a larfin' man; it's only them that never larf that's fearfulsome.

So sais she 'My good man, will you he so kind as to lend me your arm down this awful peak, and I will reward you handsomely, you may depend.' "Well, he made no answer, nother; and thinkin' he didn't onderstand English, she tried him in Italian, and then in broken French, and then bungled out a little German; but no, still no answer.