essed truths and its
workings. He glanced inquiringly at our hero when he ceased to speak.

"What is your own opinion about heaven?" asked Will Big Ben looked
earnestly at his companion for a few seconds and said--

"Young man, I never was asked that question before, an' so, of course,
never made a straightforward reply to it. Nevertheless, I think I have
a sort of notion on the pint, an' can state it, too, though I can't
boast of havin' much larnin'. Seems to me that the notion of the men of
the settlements isn't worth much, for few o' them can tell ye what they
think or why they think it, except in a ramblin' way, an' they don't
agree among themselves. Then, as for the Redskins, I can't believe that
it's likely there will be such work as shootin' an' fishin' in heaven.
So I'm inclined to think that we know nothin' about it at all, and that
heaven will be nothin' more nor less than bein' with God, who, bein' the
Maker of the soul an' body, knows what's best for both, and will show us
that at the proper time. But there _are_ mysteries about it that puzzle
me. I know that the Almighty _must_ be right in all He does, yet He
permits men to murder each other, and do worse than that."

"I agree with you, Ben," said Will Osten, after a moment's reflection.
"That everything in heaven will be perfect is certain. That we don't at
present see how this is to be is equally certain, and the most certain
thing of all is, that the very essence of heaven will consist in being
`for ever with the Lord.' I don't wonder at your being puzzled by
mysteries. It would be strange indeed were it otherwise, but I have a
book here which explains many of these mysteries, and shows us how we
ought to regard those which it does _not_ explain."

Here Will Osten drew a small volume from the breast-pocket of his coat.

"The Bible?" said the trapper.

"Part of it at all events," said Will. "It is the New Testament. Come,
let us examine it a little."

The youth and the trapper sat down and began to read the New Testament
together, and to discuss its contents while supper was being prepared by
their comrades. After supper, they returned to it, and continued for
several hours to bend earnestly over the Word of God.

In the wild remote part of the Rocky Mountains where their camp was
made, neither trappers nor Indians were wont to ramble. Even wild
beasts were not so numerous there as elsewhere, so that it was deemed
unnecessary to keep