I out-climbed him, you see--as I told him I could!" and she laughed like an angel.
Yes! it was splendid to find how I had improved! I jumped to my feet and made a low bow.

I wasn't red in the face--I wasn't confused--I didn't stammer; I felt as cool as I do this moment, as I answered her courteously: "Cer-cer-certainly, madam--miss, I mean--you shall have a spring fresh from me--a drink, I mean--we've a nice, cold spring in the rocks just behind the cabin; I'll get you one in a second." "No such _great_ hurry, sir"-- another smile.
I dashed inside and brought a tin cup--my only goblet--hurried to the spring, and brought her the sparkling draught, saying, as I handed it to her: "You must excuse the din tipper, miss." She took it politely! and began to quaff, but from some reason she choked and choked, and finally shook so, that she spilled the water all over the front breadth of her gray-check silk.

She was laughing at my "din tipper," just as if the calmest people did not sometimes get the first letters of their words mixed up.
While she giggled and pretended to cough the old gentleman came in sight, puffing and blowing like a porpoise, and looking very warm.

He told me he was "doing the mountains" for his daughter's health, and that they were going on to California to spend the winter; ending by stating that he was thirsty too, and so fatigued with his climb that he would be obliged to me if I would add a stick in his, if I had it.
Now I kept a little whisky for medicine, and I was only too anxious to oblige the girl's father, so I darted into the cabin again and brought out one of the two bottles which I owned--two bottles, just alike, one containing whisky, the other kerosene.

In my confusion I--well, I was very hospitable, and I added as much kerosene as there was water; and when he had taken three large swallows, he began to spit and splutter; then to groan; then to double up on the hard rock in awful convulsions.