The Prairie

f my follower

ea

iferous lamentations over his anticipated loss, did not fail to rouse the drowsy family of the squatter. Ishmael and his sons, together with the forbidding looking

the encampment too confined. He was followed by several of the men, who were attentive observers, watching the dark expression of his eye as the index of their own future movements. The whole proceeded in profound and moody silence to the summit of the nearest swell, whence they cou

ing his eye towards the latter, "and that the meanest of the stock. This is a hard co

thirsty soil on which he stood, with an air of contempt. "It is good for such as they who make their dinner bette

heel had made on the compact earth, and laughing with frightful ferocity. "Is this the

spot, where he who loves to till the 'arth might have received bushels in return for pints, and that too at the cost of no very g

he other Ocean?" demanded the squatter,

with melancholy pleasure. "I have seen the waters of the two seas! On one of them was I born, and raised to be a lad like yonder tumbling boy. America has grown, my men, since the da

t often have heard the place you speak of n

e! I tarried till the mouths of my hounds were deafened by the blows of the chopper, and then I came west in search of quiet. It was a grievous journey that I made; a gri

ld Kentuck, I reckon; though what

ains of the Delaware and Hudson, and took the beaver on the streams of the upper lakes in the same season, but my eye was quick and certain at that day, and my limbs were like the legs of a moose! The dam of

, and a rap on the head woul

e Choppers say, when they have cut their path from the eastern to the western waters, and find that a hand, which can lay the 'arth bare at a blow, has been here and swept the country, in very mockery of their wickedness. They will turn on their tracks like a fox that doubles, and then the rank smell of their own footsteps will show them the madness of their waste. Howsomever, these are thoughts that are more likely to

u belong? You have the colour and speech of a Christian

make use and custom with strangers, as one can do with such as he has dwelt amongst for years. Still am I a man without the cross of Indian blood; and what is due from a warr

a simple question. Where are the

sed by the panther across this plain, no later

d observation, following the current of vulgar error. The animal you describe is in truth a species of the bos ferus, (or bos sylvestris, as he has been happily called by the poets,) but, though of close

tle matter. The creatur' is the same

ural sciences, the animal or vegetable must, of necessity, be characterised

er make the worse dinner for calling it a mink; or could you eat of the wo

d have succeeded between two men, of whom one was so purely practical and the other so much given to theory, had not Ishmael s

he squatter, without the smallest deference to the interested feelings of the disputants; "but something mor

oating beneath yonder white cloud! When a red-skin strikes his blow

they have enough, when they find

er riches less when you have made a good crop, than before you were master of a kernel of corn? If

the earth, his dull capacity finding no pleasure in a discourse that was conducted in so o

red in the beasts, and have made sure that you are not upon their heels, they will be back nibbling like hungry wolves to take the bait they have left or it may be

brook, and who approached the subject with his tablets ready opened, as a book of reference. "Can you tell me if what you encountered was of the species, ursu

onable discourse," interrupted Ishmael; "yo

or it is the usage of their people, an

r, while a red-skin sits in judgment. I tell you, trapper, if another Sioux is seen prowling around my camp, wherever it may be, he shall feel the contents of old Kentuck," slapp

nment creates chiefs a

th silver medals bear

nts. That of Washingt

Konza, and men of a dozen other trib

erefore each has a right to his share of 'arth. Why do not the surveyors of the States set their compasses and run their lines over our heads as well as beneath our feet? Why do they not cover their shini

, in scorn. The deriding but frightful merriment passed from the mouth of one of his p

ad much to do with title-deeds, or county clerks, or blazed trees; therefore we will not waste words on fooleries. You ar' a man that has tarrie

e, however, was fastened on him, and whichever way he turned his face, he encountered a look ri

gry rifle again. Ten weary years have I sojourned alone on these naked plains, waiting for

ilis," mutter

ce, but perceiving it was no more than a sort of m

s; unless the beaver, which is a wise and knowing animal, may be so reckone

hmael Bush has less kindness for his

spot for a dozen men to make

is eye towards his humble camp; "but something mi

and pointed across the rolling plain in

owed, like so many prairie dogs: it wouldn't do, it wouldn't do. Three long miles from this spot is a place, where as I have often thought in p

eluctantly extorted from the trapper, who by some singular process of reasoning had evidently persuaded himself that it was his duty to be strictly neutral. A few direct and pertinent enquiries served to obtain the little addi

g his knowledge of the cardinal points of the compass. In accomplishing this object, the gigantic strength of the men was taxed to the utmost, nor were the females or the children spared a heavy proportion of the toil. While the sons distributed themselves about the heav

, that of gaining the level of their intended route, was accomplished. Then he pointed out the required course, cautioning his sons to proceed in such a manner t

yed the momentary pleasure he found in witnessing from time to time the vast power the youths discovered. Then, as the train drew slowly up the ascent, a cloud of thought and sorrow threw all into the shade again, leaving the expression of his countenance in its usual state of quiet melancholy. As vehicle after vehicle left the place of the encampment,

concealed, though their work was conducted in rigid silence. It would appear that long practice had made each of the two acquainted with his particular duty; for neither sign nor direction of any sort was necessary from Ishmael, in order to apprise his surly associate of the manner in which he was to proceed. In less time than has been consummated in relating it, the interior portion of the arrangement was completed, when the men re-appeared without the tent. Too busy with his occupation to heed the presence of the trapper, Ishmael began to release the folds of the cloth from the ground, and to dispose of them

that man is not an enemy, I will disgrace father and mot

He turned his head on every side of him, as if seeking some engine sufficiently terrible to annihilate the offending trapper at a blow; and then, poss

and settlements, and not the manner in which men, who are used to live where each has room for himself,

least observable apprehension, and pointing imposingly upward; "a Judge; and Judge of all. Little does he need knowl

, which spread so wide and blue above his head, as if he expected to see the Almighty eye itself beaming from the heavenly vault. But impressions of a serious character are seldom lasting on minds long indulged in forget

y sullen to betray his humour, though it was no longer threatening, "had your shoulder been put to the whee

left me," returned the trapper, "to thi

rision, applying his powerful strength at the same time to the little vehicle, which ro

e desolation of the scene around him. The absence of human forms would have scarce created a sensation in the bosom of one so long accustomed to solitude, had not the site of the deserted camp furnished such strong memorials of its recent visitors, and as the old man w

ent them to the only neighbourhood of their kind within many long leagues of the spot where I stand. This is man's wish, and pride, and waste, and sinfulness! He tames th

moment, and cut short the soliloquy. The habits of so many years, spent in the wilderness, caused the old man to bring his rifle to a poise, with something like the activ

fe, when my wants call for no sacrifice? It will not be long afore the birds will peck at eyes that shall not see them, and perhaps light on my very bones;

place of concealment. "There was an air about you, when you threw forward the muzzle of the piec

ues of a long rifle, like this I carry, better than myself, old and useless as I now seem. You are right, young man; and the time was, when it was dangerous to move a leaf wi

he thicket as he spoke; while, at the same time, he cast quick and uneasy glances behind him, in o

a man! Though, a Mingo is little better than a beast; or, for that matter, he is worse, when rum and opportunity are placed before his

le speaking, too much occupied by thoughts which dwelt on scenes and acts that had taken pl