"
"It is enough," interrupted Middleton, "I have seen and heard so much
of this extraordinary man, as to know that persuasions will not change
his purpose. First we will hear your request, my friend, and then we
will consider what may be best done for your advantage."
"It is a small matter, Captain," returned the old man, succeeding at
length in opening his bundle. "A small and trifling matter is it, to
what I once used to offer in the way of bargain; but then it is the
best I have, and therein not to be despised. Here are the skins of
four beavers, that I took, it might be a month afore we met, and here
is another from a racoon, that is of no great matter to be sure, but
which may serve to make weight atween us."
"And what do you propose to do with them?"
"I offer them in lawful barter. Them knaves the Siouxes, the Lord
forgive me for ever believing it was the Konzas! have stolen the best
of my traps, and driven me altogether to make-shift inventions, which
might foretell a dreary winter for me, should my time stretch into
another season.
Pages:
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811