He'd larrup a spell, an' then he'd set back; an' then he'd lean over an' try it agin, harder'n ever.

Scat my -- --! I thought I'd die a-laughin'.

I couldn't hardly cluck to the mare when I got ready to move on.

I drove alongside an' pulled up.

'Hullo, deakin,' I says, 'what's the matter ?' He looked up at me, an' I won't say he was the maddest man I ever see, but he was long ways the maddest-lookin' man, an' he shook his fist at me jest like one o' the unregen'rit.