A Pagan of the Hills

The shambling mountaineer stretched himself to his lean length of six feet two, and wagged an incredulous head. Out of pale eyes he studied the man before him until the newcomer from "down below" felt that, in the attitude, lay almost the force of rebuke. It was as though he stood self convicted of having visited Naples without seeing Vesuvius. "But I haven't been haggling with Mr. McGivins", he hastened to remonstrate. "On the contrary we have done business most amicably. " The native of the tangled hills casually waved aside the distinction of terms as a triviality and went on: "I hain't nuver heered tell of no man's tradin' in these hyar Kentucky mountains without he haggled considerable. Why thet's what tradin' denotes. Howsomever what flabbergasts me air thet ye hain't met up with Alexander.