"
"Is there nothing to be done?" asked Ellen, in an imploring manner,
which proved the sincerity of her concern.
"It would be an easy matter to call out, in so loud a voice as to make
old Ishmael dream that the wolves were among his flock," Paul replied;
"I can make myself heard a mile in these open fields, and his camp is
but a short quarter from us."
"And get knocked on the head for your pains," returned the trapper.
"No, no; cunning must match cunning, or the hounds will murder the
whole family."
"Murder! no--no murder. Ishmael loves travel so well, there would be
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.
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