The stranger was, as has been said, tall, and wore a long beard.  On the present occasion he was wrapped in an ample cloak, and had on his head a high-crowned hat encircled with a feather.  Amos could not make him out;--what was he?  As they came close up to one another, the stranger saluted Amos with an air of mingled ease and affectation, and motioned him to a seat when he had dismounted from his pony.  So Amos, still holding Prince's bridle in his hand, placed himself on a grassy mound near the base of the old oak, while the other seated himself a few paces from him.  Neither spoke for a little while; then the stranger broke the silence.  His voice was not, in its natural tones, otherwise than pleasing; but there was an assumption in his manner of speaking and a spice of sarcastic swagger which grated very painfully on the sensibilities of his companion.  However, it was pretty evident that the stranger had no particular care to spare the feelings of the person whom he was addressing.