e natural sciences, the animal or vegetable must, of necessity, be
characterised by the peculiarities of its species, which is always
indicated by the name--"

"Friend," said the trapper, a little positively, "would the tail of a
beaver make the worse dinner for calling it a mink; or could you eat of
the wolf, with relish, because some bookish man had given it the name of
venison?"

As these questions were put with no little earnestness and some spirit,
there was every probability that a hot discussion would have succeeded
between two men, of whom one was so purely practical and the other so
much given to theory, had not Ishmael seen fit to terminate the dispute,
by bringing into view a subject that was much more important to his own
immediate interests.

"Beavers' tails and minks' flesh may do to talk about before a maple
fire and a quiet hearth," interrupted the squatter, without the smallest
deference to the interested feelings of the disputants; "but something
more than foreign words, or words of any sort, is now needed. Tell me,
trapper, where are your Siouxes skulking?"

"It would be as easy to tell you the colours of the hawk that is
floating beneath yonder white cloud! When a red-skin strikes his blow,
he is not apt to wait until he is paid for the evil deed in lead."

"Will the beggarly savages believe they have enough, when they find
themselves master of all the stock?"

"Natur' is much the same, let it be covered by what skin it may. Do
you ever find your longings after riches less when you have made a good
crop, than before you were master of a kernel of corn? If you do, you
differ from what the experience of a long life tells me is the common
cravings of man."

"Speak plainly, old stranger," said the squatter, striking the butt of
his rifle heavily on the earth, his dull capacity finding no pleasure in
a discourse that was conducted in so obscure allusions; "I have asked a
simple question, and one I know well that you can answer."

"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 nos