no harm in his having a look at the other sea, but the old fellow is
in a bad condition to take the long journey! I would try a lock myself
before he should be quite murdered."

"His party is strong in number, and well armed; do you think it will
fight?"

"Look here, old trapper: few men love Ishmael Bush and his seven
sledge-hammer sons less than one Paul Hover; but I scorn to slander
even a Tennessee shotgun. There is as much of the true stand-up
courage among them, as there is in any family that was ever raised in
Kentuck, itself. They are a long-sided and a double-jointed breed; and
let me tell you, that he who takes the measure of one of them on the
ground, must be a workman at a hug."

"Hist! The savages have done their talk, and are about to set their
accursed devices in motion. Let us be patient; something may yet offer
in favour of your friends."

"Friends! call none of the race a friend of mine, trapper, if you have
the smallest regard for my affection! What I say in their favour is
less from love than honesty."

"I did not know but the young woman was of the kin," returned the
other, a little drily--"but no offence should be taken, where none was
intended."

The mouth of Paul was again stopped by the hand of Ellen, who took on
herself to reply, in her conciliating tones: "we should be all of a
family, when it is in our power to serve each other. We depend