That Mr. Hoskins, my wife's uncle, was a stirring and adventurous old Yankey, shrewd in observation, and sagacious in foresight, has been already seen. Having settled with me about the store, our goods being assorted, and my eldest son Charles appointed to be my assistant, he began to be occupied with some speculation which more nearly concerned himself; but he said nothing to me concerning it; indeed, he was but little with us, being all day abroad, and, in the evening, greatly tired, he went early to bed.

In the morning he rose with the sun, and sometimes, before going abroad, put an aliment of victual in his pocket; on which occasions he seldom returned before night. He was evidently making his calculations, but for what purpose I could not divine, only I remarked that he had ceased to speak of raising his house, and more than once he expressed some doubt if the town had been so judiciously located as it might have been, by which I was led to fear he would not remain long with us.

By and by I discovered that his solitary rambles were chiefly along the banks of the main river, and that he had been several times at the falls, over which I had so narrowly escaped from tumbling on that memorable night when I lost myself in the woods. “What can the old gentleman be seeking?” I often said to Mrs. Hoskins and my wife; and, to acknowledge the truth, I began to grow not overly well pleased that he should treat me with so little confidence. “Can he be looking for a gold mine?” and upon this we built many a device for a hearty laugh, intending to search his purpose with jocularity when he returned. But all jocularity was hushed when he came, for his countenance was thoughtful, and his speech costive; he became a mystery and perplexity to us all.