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Cooper, James Fenimore, 1789-1851

"The Prairie"


In the bustle and confusion that were likely to succeed such a
mandate, there was little opportunity to indulge in complaints or
reflections. As the adventurers had not come unprepared for victory,
each individual employed himself in such offices as were best adapted
to his strength and situation. The trapper had already made himself
master of the patient Asinus, who was quietly feeding at no great
distance from the rock, and he was now busy in fitting his back with
the complicated machinery that Dr. Battius saw fit to term a saddle of
his own invention. The naturalist himself seized upon his portfolios,
herbals, and collection of insects, which he quickly transferred from
the encampment of the squatter, to certain pockets in the aforesaid
ingenious invention, and which the trapper as uniformly cast away the
moment his back was turned. Paul showed his dexterity in removing such
light articles as Inez and Ellen had prepared for their flight to the
foot of the citadel, while Middleton, after mingling threats and
promises, in order to induce the children to remain quietly in their
bondage, assisted the females to descend.


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