The Young Fur Traders by R. M. (Robert Michael) Ballantyne
page 26 of 436 (05%)
page 26 of 436 (05%)
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he meant to say that his father had hit the nail quite on the top of
the head that time, and no mistake. "But consider," resumed Mr. Grant, "although you might probably be pleased with an outpost life at first, you would be sure to grow weary of it after the novelty wore off, and then you would wish with all your heart to be back here again. Believe me, child, a trader's life is a very hard and not often a very satisfactory one--" "Ay," broke in the father, desirous, if possible, to help the argument, "and you'll find it a desperately wild, unsettled, roving sort of life, too, let me tell you! full of dangers both from wild beast and wild men--" "Hush!" interrupted Mr. Grant, observing that the boy's eyes kindled when his father spoke of a wild, roving life, and wild beasts.--"Your father does not mean that life at an outpost is wild and _interesting_ or _exciting_. He merely means that--a--it--" Mr. Grant could not very well explain what it was that Mr. Kennedy meant if he did not mean that, so he turned to him for help. "Exactly so," said that gentleman, taking a strong pull at the pipe for inspiration. "It's no ways interesting or exciting at all. It's slow, dull, and flat; a miserable sort of Robinson Crusoe life, with red Indians and starvation constantly staring you in the face--" "Besides," said Mr. Grant, again interrupting the somewhat unfortunate efforts of his friend, who seemed to have a happy facility in sending a brilliant dash of romantic allusion across the |
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