The Prairie

t: here will I

orrow?-Well, al

rd the

d joining its waters to those of other similar little fountains in its vicinity, their united contributions formed a run, which was easily to be traced, for miles along the prairie, by the scattering foliage and

ded conveniences. The leader of the emigrants cast his eyes, understandingly, about him, and examined the place with the keenness of on

with his scrutiny; "boys, you have s

er to the ground, while their owners continued to regard the place with listless and incurious eyes. In the mean time, the elder traveller, as if familiar with the nature of the impulses by which his children

bove his head, with the grace and dexterity with which a master of the art of offence would wield his nobler though less useful weapon, he quickly severed the trunk of the tree, bringing its tall top crashing to the earth in submission to his prowess. His companions regarded the operation with indolent curiosity, until they saw the prostrate trunk stretched on

ncholy gaze, and finally turned away, muttering to himself with a bitter smile, like one who disdained giving a more audible utterance to his discontent. Pressing through the group of active

hicket. Here they brought certain poles, which had, seemingly, been long employed in such a service, and fastening their larger ends firmly in the ground, the smaller were attached to the hoops that supported the covering of the wagon. Large folds of cloth were next drawn out of the vehicle, and after being spread around the whole, were pegged to the earth in such a manner as to form a tolerably capacious and an exceedingly convenient tent. After surveying their work with inquisitive, and perhaps jealous

some of its impulses. He approached the tent, and was about to sever two of its folds, with the very obvious intention of examining, more closely, into the nature of its contents, when the man w

rved, though with an eye that threatened volumes, "and some

man, as if willing, and yet a little ignorant how to apologize for the liberty h

ough this has the look of an old country, t

Many months have passed since I have laid eyes on a face of my own colour, before your own. I say again, friend, I

thout any troublesome interference on the part of his neighbour; a wholesome and just principle that he had, also, most probably imbibed from the habits of his secluded life.

en W

r her sudden disappearance, nor any of the arrangements we have mentioned, seemed, however, to excite the smallest surprise among the remainder of the party. The young men, who had already completed their tasks with the axe, were all engaged after their lounging and listless manner; some in bestow

composed chiefly of c

unced, in tones that might have been heard at a dangerous distance, that the evening meal waited only for the approach of those who were to consume it. Whatever may be the other qualities of a border man, he is seldom deficient in the virtue of h

my hearty thanks; but I have eaten for the day, and am not one of them, who dig their graves with their teeth. Well

ed by his skilful, though repulsive spouse. "They told us below, we should find settlers something thinnish, hereaway, and I must say, the report was mainly true; for, unle

be called a settler, seeing that I have no regular abode, and

aside, as if to examine the equipments of his new acquainta

fle, with a look in which affection and regret were singularly blended; "and I may say they are but litt

ssary to say, that this

in a trap. It is of

er, an animal too s

taken in this way

ou ar' something of the other; for the two cal

choose to designate by his pursuit; "for more than fifty years did I carry my rifle in the wilderness, without so much

he trap," said the ill-looking companion of the emigrant, in his rough manner.

broad," bluntly interrupted the emigrant, as if he had a reason for wis

luggage in the weste

ight easily mislead o

notwithstanding thei

are, like the inh

ble and honest. Knav

is chiefly found in r

od and clothing be all that is needed; and I have little occasion for what you call plu

n his mind the exception which the other had taken to the very equivocal word, which he

e, though most of my life h

woman tendered him one of those civilities with which, uncouth as they were, she was little accustomed to grace her hospitality, as if in deference to the travelled dignity of her guest.

ard, from the waters of the west

and much have I seen, and something h

od deal of hard trave

s in the whole distance, after you leave the Hudson, on which I have not tasted venison of my o

e one who distrusted his knowledge, and deemed it prudent to assume a becoming diffidence in the presence of a man who

are there growing on its banks," returned the trapper; "an

med the ill-looking associate of the emigrant: "a real river

, in the new countries,

etimes of an entire c

hey form themselves i

gradually draw near

to this custom, in whi

om one to

if he desired to keep his rough companion as much as possible out of the disc

et bring the land! Ay, weeks, if not months, may you journey in these open fields, in which there is neither dwelling nor habitation for man or beast. Even the savage anim

iments, his auditors were deeply attentive, and as silent as the grave. Indeed, the trapper was left to renew the dia

s, and to make your way so deep into the prairies, fr

when we rafted ourselves across without any great suffering. The women lost a fleece or two from the next year's shearing

west, until you come to land m

itions to pass the night. Several little bowers, or rather huts, had already been formed of the tops of trees, blankets of coarse country manufacture, and the skins of buffaloes, united without much reference to any other object than temporary comfort. Into these covers the children, with their mother, soon drew themselves, and where, it is more than po

sition. Within these narrow limits (with the exception of what the tent contained), both man and beast were now collected; the latter being far too happy in resting their weary limbs, to give any undue annoyance to their scarcely more intelligent associates. Two of the young men took their rifles; and, f

of the emigrant, until the whole arrangement was completed; and the

ke a bold vessel leaving its haven to enter on the trackless field of the ocean. He appeared to move for some time without object, or, indeed, without any apparent consciousness, whither his limbs were carrying him. At length, on reaching the rise of one of the undulations, he came to a stand; and, for the first time since leaving the band, who had caused such a flood of r

of great affection. "What is it, pup? ha! Hector; what is it nosing, now? It won't do, dog; it won't do; the very fa'ns play in open view of us,

intive whine, which he even continued after he had again buried his head in the grass, as if

dropping his voice, to the tones of caution and looking waril

ough the deceptive light, floating along the very elevation on which he had placed himself. Presently its proportions became more distinct, and then an airy, female form appeared to hesitate, as if co

is companion by long use, and, probably, through the strength of the secret

the female approached, until she stood at his side; when the old man perceived his visitor to be

and anxiously around. "They said you were gone; and that

per, "and I humbly hope, though I have so long consorted with the be

too," she answered hastily, as if willing to explain she knew not what, an

he teams of your father

feelingly, "I have no father

erest, that was even more conciliating than the ordinary, uprig

manded. "Did you not know that, when you crossed the big river, you left a friend

m do yo

e brought me to feel such weakness, at times. Yes-yes, the law is needed, when such as have not the gifts of stre

sed silence. But catching a glimpse of the mild and serious features of her companion, as he continued to gaze on

any thing else near or dear to me! But, tell me, do you then actually live alon

rightful owners of the country, roving ab

interrupted the girl, like one too impatient to aw

k bears from the mountains sometimes make their way, even lower than this. The pup is not apt to complain of the harmless game. I am not so ready and true wi

nce their glances, by examining the earth at their feet, and terminate them by noting every thing within

w direction to the looks of both, and then the rea