ly stopped
short, and turned to him with a comical look.
"See heyar, young chap, didn't T hearn you say you was from Bosson, or some dch place in the Stales ?"
"Doubtless," answered Huivly, " for that, I am proud to say, is my native city."
"0, it's a citv. then. Bi^'s St. Louey, hey?"
"Much larger."
"Do say. Why then it's some, 1 reck ons."
"A very flourishing place."
"Hum! You was born to Bosson?"
"Ay, and bred there."
"Bread? O, that means you was fod dered thar, spose?"
"Yes, brought up and educated there."
"Edicated augy! Heyar's what never did that; never had no need on't; know how to shoot and trap, but can't make pot hooks; can't tell 'em when they is made; know they's some, though, and wouldn't mind I know'd 'em a few but don't care much no how; couldn't live no longer for't; couldn't ' float my sticks '* no better, spect. Well, for a yoxmker, you've had a right smart chance, and I spose know a heap.f Heyar's what's born way down to Ark-an- saw, on a swamp patch, that didn't yield nothin worth divin for. I's raised down thar, or bread, as you calls it, young Bosson, (spose you've got no objection to beirr called arter your natyve city) though al mighty poor bread I was, for I didn't git much on't for a spell in fact till I'd near ly gone under* augh! Let's see, whar -was I? 0, you's saying sumthin 'bout bein thankful forsich fare's tin's. It tickled me a heap it did and I had to in'ardly hold on tight to my ribs, to keep from guf fawing. Why, young Bossoners, ( address ing both of us) ef you'd seeii what I hev, a piece like that thar, (pointing to the meat
- That is, couldn't get aloiiff any bolter. This
Se a common e\pres>iou iimonjj the trappers, and its moulting depends altogether upon the sense in which it is used. It is derived from their occu pation. A "stick" is attached to each trip by a string, and if the beaver runs away with the trap, k, floating on the surface of the WM-T, in dicates the whereabouts of the animal, and enables the trapper to recover his property.
+ A western word, equivalent to "very much." t Diod another expression peculiar to the trap-
on the end of his stick, which he was toast ing at the fire, \ would a bin a heaven on arth, and no mistake. Talk about beia thankful for sich tare's this! Wait till you've seen your hoss go under, and the lyst end o' the eatable part o' your possi bles chawed up, and then talk."
Here the old man paused and chuckled heartily, and winked at his companions, who joined him in his merriment, to the utter consternation of poor Teddy, who, with mouth -wide open, and eyes enlarged to their utmost capacity, simply exclaimed:
"Howly murther! what a baastly time on't yees had!"
"I suppose you have seen some very rough times?" I rejoined, anxious to draw the old man out in some of his wonderful tales of adventure.
"Well I has, hoss," was the quick re sponse: "and ef you want to make folks stare in the States, you'd better jest jog down one I've a notion to tell."
"We shall all be eager listeners," I re joined.
"Think you'd like to hear it, hey?"
"0, most certainly."
The old man smiled complacently, and stroked his beard of a day's growth, in a way to denote that he felt himself some what complimented.
"Got any bacca?"
I gave him a large piece.
"Well, plant yourselves down here in talking distance, and while this deer meat's sizzling, I'll tell you a trump, and an ace at thai."
Huiuly and myself at once seated our selves upon the ground, as near the old man as possible, who, giving the weed a tew extra turns in his mouth, began the tale which I give in the following chapter.
CHAPTER VI.
THK OLD TRAPPEK'S TALE ATTACK ON HIM
BY THE INDIANS HIS ESCAPE THE DEAD
PURSUER SUFFERINGS THE MTSTERIOUi
PKAIKIE FLOWER, ETC.
"YE see, strangers," said the old man, "or Bossonersj (though I spect it don't make no pertikelar dif'rence what I calls ye, so it don't hurt your feelins none,) as
