and in the vigour of manhood, the homage
that he paid to the work of his more aged friend's hands was of the most
profound and engrossing character. As one delicious morsel succeeded
another he rolled his eyes towards his companion, and seemed to express
that gratitude which he had not speech to utter, in looks of the most
benignant nature.

"Cut more into the heart of it, lad," said the trapper, for it was the
venerable inhabitant of those vast wastes, who had served the bee-hunter
with the banquet in question; "cut more into the centre of the piece;
there you will find the genuine riches of natur'; and that without need
from spices, or any of your biting mustard to give it a foreign relish."

"If I had but a cup of metheglin," said Paul, stopping to perform the
necessary operation of breathing, "I should swear this was the strongest
meal that was ever placed before the mouth of man!"

"Ay, ay, well you may call it strong!" returned the other, laughing
after his peculiar manner, in pure satisfaction at witnessing the
infinite contentment of his companion; "strong it is, and strong it
makes him who eats it! Here, Hector," tossing the patient hound, who was
watching his eye with a wistful look, a portion of the meat, "you have
need of strength, my friend, in your old days as well as your master.
Now, lad, there is a dog that has eaten and slept wiser and better, ay,
and that of richer food, than any king of them all! and why? because he
has used and not abused the gifts of his Maker. He was made a hound, and
like a hound has he feasted. Then did He create men; but they have eaten
like famished wolves! A good and prudent dog has Hector proved, and
never have I found one of his breed false in nose or friendship. Do you
know the difference between the cookery of the wilderness and that
which is found in the settlements? No; I see plainly you don't, by your
appetite; then I will tell you. The one follows man, the other natur'.
One thinks he can add to the gifts of the Creator, while the other is
humble enough to enjoy them; therein lies the secret."

"I tell you, trapper," said Paul, who was very little edified by the
morality with which his associate saw fit to season their repast, "that,
every day while we are in this place, and they are likely to be many, I
will shoot a buffaloe and you shall cook his hump!"

"I cannot say that, I cannot say that. The beast is good, take him in
what part you will, and it was to be foo