The horse knew the road, and was furnished with keener vision than the man who drove him.
Jim was aware of this, and letting the reins lie loose upon his back, the animal struck into a long, swinging trot, in prospect of home and another "pail iv oats." They had not gone a mile when the gathering tempest came down upon them.
It rained in torrents, the lightning illuminated the whole region again and again, and the thunder cracked, and boomed, and rolled off among the woods and hills, as if the day of doom had come.
The war of the elements harmonized strangely with the weird fancies of the weak man who sat at Jim's side.

He rode in perfect silence for miles.

At last the wind went down, and the rain settled to a steady fall.
"They were pretty angry about my going," said he, feebly.
"Yes," said Jim, "they behaved purty car'less, but I'm too many for 'em." "Does Father Abraham know I'm coming ?" inquired Benedict.

"Does he expect me to-night ?" "Yes," responded Jim, "an' he'd 'a' sent afore, but he's jest wore out with company.

He's a mighty good-natered man, an' I tell 'im they take the advantage of 'im.