the racoon, and
take on himself the special charge of the whole matter."

"If I do, may I b--!" The mouth of Paul was stopped by the hand of
Ellen, and he was obliged to swallow the rest of the sentence, which
he did with a species of emotion that bore no slight resemblance to the
process of strangulation.

"Well, well," returned the old man, meekly; "I hope there is no heavy
offence in the offer. I know that the skin of a racoon is of small
price, but then it was no mighty labour that I asked in return."

"You entirely mistake the meaning of our friend," interrupted Middleton,
who observed, that the bee-hunter was looking in every direction but the
right one, and that he was utterly unable to make his own vindication.
"He did not mean to say that he declined the charge, but merely that
he refused all compensation. It is unnecessary, however, to say more
of this; it shall be my office to see that the debt we owe, is properly
discharged, and that all your necessities shall be anticipated."

"Anan!" said the old man, looking up enquiringly into the other's face,
as if to ask an explanation.

"It shall all be as you wish. Lay the skins with my baggage. We will
bargain for you as for ourselves."

"Thankee, thankee, Captain; you grand'ther was of a free and generous
mind. So much so, in truth, that those just people, the Delawares,
called him the 'Openhand.' I wish, now, I was as I used to be, in order
that I might send in the lady a few delicate martens for her tippets
and overcoats, just to show you that I know how to give courtesy
for courtesy. But do not expect the same, for I am too old to give a
promise! It will all be just as the Lord shall see fit. I can offer you
nothing else, for I haven't liv'd so long in the wilderness, not to know
the scrupulous ways of a gentleman."

"Harkee, old trapper," cried the bee-hunter, striking his own hand into
the open palm which the other had extended, with a report but little
below the crack of a rifle, "I have just two things to say--Firstly,
that the Captain has told you my meaning better than I can myself; and,
secondly, if you want a skin, either for your private use or to send
abroad, I have it at your service, and that is the skin of one Paul
Hover."

The old man returned the grasp he received, and opened his mouth to the
utmost, in his extraordinary, silent, laugh.

"You couldn't have given such a squeeze, boy, when the Teton squaws
were about you with their kniv