"Then he blabbed, told everything he knew, an' a lot he didn't, an' the farmers stopped counting their cows long enough to listen. Hasty words flew round, about fraudulent subscriptions, vitiated transactions, no contracts, ruined farms, going to law--an' I thought it was time to skip. The firm had made me stop there up to this, an' as soon as I ran, they bounced me--I'm all played out here, sir. My native State bids me farewell!"