would have been deemed a plain piece by most frontier men, its
great merit consisting in the accuracy of its bore, the perfection of
the details, and the excellence of the metal. Again and again did the
hunter apply the breech to his shoulder, and glance his eye along the
sights, and as often did he poise his body and raise the weapon slowly,
as if about to catch an aim at a deer, in order to try the weight, and
to ascertain its fitness for quick and accurate firing. All this was
done, by the aid of Hurry's torch, simply, but with an earnestness and
abstraction that would have been found touching by any spectator who
happened to know the real situation of the man.

"Tis a glorious we'pon, Hurry!" Deerslayer at length exclaimed, "and it
may be thought a pity that it has fallen into the hands of women. The
hunters have told me of its expl'ites, and by all I have heard, I should
set it down as sartain death in exper'enced hands. Hearken to the tick
of this lock-a wolf trap has'n't a livelier spring; pan and cock speak
together, like two singing masters undertaking a psalm in meetin'. I
never did see so true a bore, Hurry, that's sartain!"

"Ay, Old Tom used to give the piece a character, though he wasn't the
man to particularize the ra'al natur' of any sort of fire arms, in
practise," returned March, passing the deer's thongs through the
moccasin with the coolness of a cobbler. "He was no marksman, that we
must all allow; but he had his good p'ints, as well as his bad ones. I
have had hopes that Judith might consait the idee of giving Killdeer to
me."

"There's no saying what young women may do, that's a truth, Hurry, and I
suppose you're as likely to own the rifle as another. Still, when things
are so very near perfection, it's a pity not to reach it entirely."

"What do you mean by that?--Would not that piece look as well on my
shoulder, as on any man's?"

"As for looks, I say nothing. You are both good-looking, and might
make what is called a good-looking couple. But the true p'int is as to
conduct. More deer would fall in one day, by that piece, in some man's
hands, than would fall in a week in your'n, Hurry! I've seen you try;
yes, remember the buck t'other day."

"That buck was out of season, and who wishes to kill venison out of
season. I was merely trying to frighten the creatur', and I think you
will own that he was pretty well skeared, at any rate."

"Well, well, have it as you say. But this is a lordly p