Dr. Battius had not thought it necessary to push his success
beyond the comfortable niche, which accident had so opportunely formed
for his protection, and in which he now reposed from his labours, with
a pleasing consciousness of security, added to great exultation at the
possession of the botanical treasure already mentioned.
"Mount, mount, my worthy mole-catcher! come and behold the prospect of
skirting Ishmael; come and look nature boldly in the face, and not go
sneaking any longer, among the prairie grass and mullein tops, like a
gobbler nibbling for grasshoppers."
The mouth of the light-hearted and reckless bee-hunter was instantly
closed, and he was rendered as mute, as he had just been boisterous
and talkative, by the appearance of Ellen Wade. When the melancholy
maiden took her seat on the point of the rock as mentioned, Paul
affected to employ himself in conducting a close inspection of the
household effects of the squatter. He rummaged the drawers of Esther
with no delicate hands, scattered the rustic finery of her girls on
the ground, without the least deference to its quality or elegance,
and tossed her pots and kettles here and there, as though they had
been vessels of wood instead of iron.
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