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Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851

"The Prairie"

"
"You are right, you are right. I can answer, for I have too often seen
the disposition of my kind to mistake it, when evil is stirring. When
the Siouxes have gathered in the beasts, and have made sure that you
are not upon their heels, they will be back nibbling like hungry
wolves to take the bait they have left or it may be, they'll show the
temper of the great bears, that are found at the falls of the Long
River, and strike at once with the paw, without stopping to nose their
prey."
"You have then seen the animals you mention!" exclaimed Dr. Battius,
who had now been thrown out of the conversation quite as long as his
impatience could well brook, and who approached the subject with his
tablets ready opened, as a book of reference. "Can you tell me if what
you encountered was of the species, ursus horribilis--with the ears,
rounded--front, arquated--eyes--destitute of the remarkable
supplemental lid--with six incisores, one false, and four perfect
molares--"
"Trapper, go on, for we are engaged in reasonable discourse,"
interrupted Ishmael; "you believe we shall see more of the robbers.


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