He laughed heartily at the simplicity of the youth, and entered into many details, not so tedious as long, of the various hairbreadth escapes, narrow chances, and curious enterprises of his own initiation into the secrets of wood-craft, and to the trials and perils of which, in his own probation, his experience had necessarily subjected him.

At length he concluded his narrative by seizing upon one portion of Ralph's language with an adroitness and ingenuity that might have done credit to an older diplomatist; and went on to invite the latter to quarter upon himself for a few weeks at least.
"And now Master Colleton, as you are rambling, as you say, indifferent quite as to what quarter you turn the head of your creature--suppose now you take up lodgings with me.

I have, besides this room, which I only keep for my use of a Saturday and Sunday when I come to the village--a snug place a few miles off, and there's room enough, and provisions enough, if you'll only stop a while and take what's going.

Plenty of hog and hominy at all times, and we don't want for other and better things, if we please.

Come, stay with me for a month, or more, if you choose, and when you think to go, I can put you on your road at an hour's warning.