you or Ellen, here, might set your heart on the finest in the
flock, and my character against a horn of powder, that the bird would
be hanging head downwards, in five minutes, and that too, with a single
ball. I scorn a shot-gun! No man can say, he ever knew me carry one, a
rod."

"The lad has good in him! I see it plainly by his manner;" said the
trapper, turning to Ellen with an encouraging air; "I will take it on
myself to say, that you are not unwise in meeting him, as you do. Tell
me, lad; did you ever strike a leaping buck atwixt the antlers? Hector;
quiet, pup; quiet. The very name of venison quickens the blood of the
cur;--did you ever take an animal in that fashion, on the long leap?"

"You might just as well ask me, did you ever eat? There is no fashion,
old stranger, that a deer has not been touched by my hand, unless it was
when asleep."

"Ay, ay; you have a long and a happy-ay, and an honest life afore you! I
am old, and I suppose I might also say, worn out and useless; but, if
it was given me to choose my time, and place, again,--as such things are
not and ought not ever to be given to the will of man--though if such
a gift was to be given me, I would say, twenty and the wilderness! But,
tell me; how do you part with the peltry?"

"With my pelts! I never took a skin from a buck, nor a quill from a
goose, in my life! I knock them over, now and then, for a meal, and
sometimes to keep my finger true to the touch; but when hunger is
satisfied, the prairie wolves get the remainder. No--no--I keep to my
calling; which pays me better, than all the fur I could sell on the
other side of the big river."

The old man appeared to ponder a little; but shaking his head he soon
continued--

"I know of but one business that can be followed here with profit--"

He was interrupted by the youth, who raised a small cup of tin, which
dangled at his neck before the other's eyes, and springing its lid, the
delicious odour of the finest flavoured honey, diffused itself over the
organs of the trapper.

"A bee hunter!" observed the latter, with a readiness that proved he
understood the nature of the occupation, though not without some little
surprise at discovering one of the other's spirited mien engaged in so
humble a pursuit. "It pays well in the skirts of the settlements, but I
should call it a doubtful trade, in the more open districts."

"You think a tree is wanting for a swarm to settle in! But I know
differently