d Shad's absence.

"Well, now!" he exclaimed. "Shad must ha' been gettin' light-headed t'
do that. Well, he's welcome t' 'bide 'long with Injuns if he wants to,
but I'm thinkin' by about now he's wishin' he was where he ain't. An'
by t'morrer he'll have boiled goose an' fried pa'tridges on his mind,
an' wishin' harder 'n ever he were back here in th' river tilt."

"He were wantin' th' hunt, an' now he may not find un so bad," said
Bob.

"He won't be havin' no feather-bed time cruisin' about with Injuns,"
insisted Ed. "Shad's gettin' wonderful peevish an' sot in his way
lately. He's thinkin' o' th' fine grub an' good times he's been havin'
t' that college place he talks about, instead o' thinkin' o' how he
likes rabbit meat three times a day an' betwixt meals when you an' him
was 'bidin' a time on th' island over here because you wasn't havin'
wings t' fly off, an' they wa'n't no other way t' get off till th'
Injun lass takes you off."

"Shad weren't gettin' peeved," objected Bob, ready to defend his
absent friend. "He were just disappointed at findin' no huntin', an'
he 'bides with th' Injuns t' get some deer."

"Maybe so, but Shad'll be glad enough t' get back t' th' river tilt,
an' when he is gettin' back he'll be findin' it fine. He'll be
thinkin' o' th' tough cruisin' with th' Injuns instead o' th' grub at
his college place, an' that'll make he think 'tis fine in th' tilts.
That's the way it mostly is with folks. They always wants somethin'
they ain't got, an' when they gets un they wants somethin' else. An'
like's not then they wants what they was havin' first, because they
can't have un now."

Ed paused to pour a cup of tea and help himself to pork.

"Shad's a good mate, though," he continued magnanimously. "He ain't
gettin' used t' th' bush yet. That's all's th' matter with he. He'll
get used t' un after a bit, an' then he won't be gettin' peeved like
he is now."

"I'm wishin' he weren't stayin' back with th' Injuns now. I'm fearin'
he'll be havin' a hard time of un--an' I'm fearin' he may be gettin'
in trouble not knowin' how t' take un," Bob remarked solicitously.

"I'm wonderful sorry, now, he stays wi' th' Injuns. 'Twould be fine
t' have he here for Christmas," agreed Ed, as he drew a plug of black
tobacco from his pocket and began to shave some of it into the hollow
of his hand, preparatory to filling his pipe.

"Any fur this trip?" asked Bob.

"Two martens--both fine uns. Not so bad. How'd you