The Prairie

dam, and th

ill shak

ou li

f white adventurers. The semi-barbarous hunters from the Canadas, the same description of population, a little more enlightened, from the States, and the metiffs or half-breeds, who claimed to be ranked in the class of w

e scientific distinct

ed, with due deference

articular is the fact

elicious and nourishi

ely e

ews were pacific; for the whites had a common enemy to dread, in the ancient and perhaps more lawful occupants of the country; but instances were not rare, in which jealousy and cupidity had caused them to terminate in scenes of the most violent and ruthless treachery. The meeting of two hunters on the American desert, as we find it convenient sometim

which might prove too hasty. On the other hand, Paul stood playing with the lock of his rifle, too proud to let it appear that three men could manifest any apprehension of a solitary individual, and yet too prudent to omit, entirely, the custom

that of the new comer was distinguished by an air of vigour, and a front and step

he Confederacy. Beneath this, however, were visible the collar and lapels of a jacket, similar in colour and cloth to the cap. His lower limbs were protected by buckskin leggings, and his feet by the ordinary Indian moccasins. A richly ornamented, and exceedingly dangerous straight dirk was stuck in a sash of red silk net-work; another girdle, or rather belt, of uncoloured leather cont

startled at the ludicrously belligerent attitude which Dr. Battius had seen fit to assume. "I

o you understand lining a bee from this open pla

seek," returned the other, laughing; "though I h

rel about the comb, since you set so little store by the honey. And now, if your stomach has an empty corner, and you know how to relish a genuine dew-drop when it falls into your very mou

owever, gladly profit by your invitation, for I have fasted since the rising of ye

w start on equal ground. I should be the happiest fellow between Kentucky and the Rocky Mountains, if I had a snug cabin, near some old

vidently amused with the communicative

myself," returned Paul, picking the flint of his rifle, and beginning ver

lready making a serious inroad on its relics. Dr. Battius, however, watched his movements with a jea

y of all explorers of her trans-Atlantic dominions, whether bent on the purposes of commerce, or, like himself, on the more laudable pursuits of science, he had a sufficiency of every-day philosophy to feel that the same motives, which had so powerfully urged himself to his present undertaking, might produce a like result on the mind of some other student of nature. Here, then, was the prospect of an alarming riv

ung and handsome he was fairly entitled to be considered; "either hunger has given a pec

throat, before speaking, much in the manner that a duellist examines the point of the weapon he is about to plunge into the body of his foe. "The figure is more per

he now awaited the blow of his antagonist, intending that his next thrust should be still more vigorous. But the young stranger appeared much better disposed to partake of the good cheer, with which he had

g indifference to the importance of the points he conceded. "I dare sa

without many and particular qualifications, the bibulus Americanus, in the family of the vacca. For,

an honour I cannot claim

ur degrees have been taken in som

ng, I do a

dence of your fitness for the task! Some commission by which you can assert an authority to proceed, or by

little he regarded the grosser appetites, when a subject nearer his heart was approached. "Still, sir, your language is incomprehensible. That pursuit, which in another migh

ons to produce it, in order that congenial and friendly minds may, at once, reject unworthy suspicions, and stepp

view to weigh their physical powers. Then, putting his hand into his bosom, he drew forth a small box, and extending it with an air of dignity towards

is is the sign-manual of the philosopher, Jefferson! The seal of state! Countersigned by the mi

r, during the whole discourse, with eyes that seemed greedily to devour eac

a native chief, that both my uncle and myself bear with pride; for it is the memorial

rt of their wondering owner. "Ah my eyes are old, and not so keen as when I was a warrior myself; but I can see the look of the father in the son! I saw it when he first came n

the revolution, of my own name of course; my mo

choed the other, trembling wi

ative chief. It was to him, and to my grandmother, tha

the other mentioned awakened some long dormant emotions, connected with the events of an anterior age. "I know'd it! son or gran

head sorrowfully, as he

of honours. Beloved, happy

hands. "Ah! he liv'd in the settlements, and was wise only after their fashions. But yo

and her colonies, my grandfather did not forget his birthplace, but threw off the empty

t ye down beside me, lad; sit ye down, and tell me of what your grand't

ested by the old man; but as he found there was no longer the least app

s seat on the other side of the young soldier. "It is the fashion of old age to relish these anc

a slight air of derision; but, good-natur

dshed and all the horrors of Indian cruelty and of I

e used to these matters in Kentuck, and, I must say, I th

ons of the bee-hunter, which amounted to no more than a sort of by-play. "And what thought he an

hat he would have adopted in the woods, and

or, naked, painted warrior? he was not too

ard, bestowed a name on his first-born, which is likely to be

a Christian, too! He used to say the Delaw

of him by the appellation of Le Cerf Agil

his companion, with a wistfulness that bespoke the delight he received in listen

ed Uncas and his father, who from his wisdom was called

hey might. I see your grand'ther was just, and did his duty, too, by his offspring! 'Twas a perilous time he had of it, among

l tale, full of moving incidents, and the memori

! Elsie or Alice; 'tis all the same. A laughing, playful child she was, when happy; and tender and weeping in her misery! Her hair was shining and yellow

e been construed into a declaration that such were not his own recollections of his venerable and revered an

hey had passed, by far too vivid easily to lose

hen, turning again towards his companion, though his honest eyes no longer dwelt wi

ere they all red-skins, but him

ith the Delawares. A scout of the Engli

ke most of his colour who harbour

d perhaps rarest gift of nature; that of distinguishing good from evil. His virtues were those of simplicity, because such were the fruits of his habits, as were indeed his very prejudices. In courage he was the equal of his red associates; in warlike skill, being better instructed, their superi

played with the ears of his hound; fingered his own rustic garment, and opened and shut the pan of his rifle, with hands that trem

n't then entirely fo

eady three among us, who have al

the solitary, unl'arned hunter? Do the great, and the rich, and the honoure

cousins, whatever may be their titles to be

spelt with the very same letters, beg

a dog brushing a deer, not far from this, who is come of a hound that very scout sent as a present after his friends, an

and speaking to his hound in the sort of tones he would have used to a child, "do ye hear

by tender and long dormant recollections, strangely and unexpectedly revived, the old man had just self-c

ver his wasted cheeks, out of fountains that had long been dried, and, sinking his face

his face on every side of him, to avoid he knew not what, until he saw the tears and heard the sobs of the old man, when he sprang to his feet, and grappling his guest fiercely by the throat, he demanded by what authority he had made his aged companion weep. A flash of recollection crossing his brain at th

?" he rather shouted than cried: "is not

ouredly recovering his wig, with twinkling eyes and a husky voice. "'Tis rare

y subsided; the three spectators clustering around the trappe

known beyond my own family," at length the youth observed, not ashamed to ack

evidence I will swear to it! I know every w

soldier. "My grandfather had filled his days with hon

him with composure and dignity. "That I am still here, young man, is the pleasure of the Lord, who has spared me until I have seen fourscore long and

why do I find you, venerable and excellent friend of my parents, in t

never follow! But I may put the like question to yourself. Are you of the party which the Sta

the river, some hundreds of miles from

e haunts of the beaver, using a trap instead of a rifle, it is strange that one so young and prosperous, and bearing the

ou shall if you are disposed to listen to my story. I think you all hone

his example. The latter willingly complied; and after Paul and the Doctor had disposed of themselves to their sever