a trapper."[*]

[*] It is scarcely necessary to say, that this American word means one
who takes his game in a trap. It is of general use on the
frontiers. The beaver, an animal too sagacious to be easily
killed, is oftener taken in this way than in any other.

"If you ar' much of the one, I'm bold to say you ar' something of the
other; for the two callings, go mainly together, in these districts."

"To the shame of the man who is able to follow the first be it so said!"
returned the trapper, whom in future we shall choose to designate by
his pursuit; "for more than fifty years did I carry my rifle in the
wilderness, without so much as setting a snare for even a bird that
flies the heavens;--much less, a beast that has nothing but legs, for
its gifts."

"I see but little difference whether a man gets his peltry by the rifle
or by the trap," said the ill-looking companion of the emigrant, in his
rough manner. "The 'arth was made for our comfort; and, for that matter,
so ar' its creatur's."

"You seem to have but little plunder,[*] stranger, for one who is far
abroad," bluntly interrupted the emigrant, as if he had a reason for
wishing to change the conversation. "I hope you ar' better off for
skins."

[*] The cant word for luggage in the western states of America is
"plunder." The term might easily mislead one as to the character
of the people, who, notwithstanding their pleasant use of so
expressive a word, are, like the inhabitants of all new
settlements, hospitable and honest. Knavery of the description
conveyed by "plunder," is chiefly found in regions more civilised.

"I make but little use of either," the trapper quietly replied. "At my
time of life, food and clothing be all that is needed; and I have little
occasion for what you call plunder, unless it may be, now and then, to
barter for a horn of powder, or a bar of lead."

"You ar' not, then, of these parts by natur', friend," the emigrant
continued, having in his mind the exception which the other had taken
to the very equivocal word, which he himself, according to the custom of
the country, had used for "baggage," or "effects."

"I was born on the sea-shore, though most of my life has been passed in
the woods."

The whole party now looked up at him, as men are apt to turn their eyes
on some unexpected object of general interest. One or two of the young
men repeated the words "sea-shore" and the woman tendered