with white skins on them, at this hour. If my presence here
gives offence, I am sorry; and will go my way. It is more than likely
that when your young friend has told her story, you will be better given
to believe mine.

"Friend!" said the youth, lifting a cap of skins from his head, and
running his fingers leisurely through a dense mass of black and shaggy
locks, "if I have ever laid eyes on the girl before to-night, may I--"

"You've said enough, Paul," interrupted the female, laying her hand
on his mouth, with a familiarity that gave something very like the lie
direct, to his intended asseveration. "Our secret will be safe, with
this honest old man. I know it by his looks, and kind words."

"Our secret! Ellen, have you forgot--"

"Nothing. I have not forgotten any thing I should remember. But still I
say we are safe with this honest trapper."

"Trapper! is he then a trapper? Give me your hand, father; our trades
should bring us acquainted."

"There is little call for handicrafts in this region," returned the
other, examining the athletic and active form of the youth, as he leaned
carelessly and not ungracefully, on his rifle; "the art of taking the
creatur's of God, in traps and nets, is one that needs more cunning than
manhood; and yet am I brought to practise it, in my age! But it would
be quite as seemly, in one like you, to follow a pursuit better becoming
your years and courage."

"I! I never took even a slinking mink or a paddling musk-rat in a cage;
though I admit having peppered a few of the dark-skin'd devils, when
I had much better have kept my powder in the horn and the lead in its
pouch. Not I, old man; nothing that crawls the earth is for my sport."

"What then may you do for a living, friend? for little profit is to be
made in these districts, if a man denies himself his lawful right in the
beasts of the fields."

"I deny myself nothing. If a bear crosses my path, he is soon the mere
ghost of Bruin. The deer begin to nose me; and as for the buffaloe, I
have kill'd more beef, old stranger, than the largest butcher in all
Kentuck."

"You can shoot, then!" demanded the trapper, with a glow of latent fire,
glimmering about his eyes; "is your hand true, and your look quick?"

"The first is like a steel trap, and the last nimbler than a buck-shot.
I wish it was hot noon, now, grand'ther; and that there was an acre or
two of your white swans or of black feathered ducks going south, over
our heads;