h
girl and woman; for she was at that age when the sweet simplicity of the
one, and the full charm of the other, come into union, and a time, at
least, stand in attractive alliance. She was of medium height, and
perfectly formed. Her hair was brown, as were her eyes, that were large
and mild of look; and over all her face was such an expression of
gentleness and peace as I never saw on any other woman's face, and she
loved the man with so great a love that it made her life and took it
both."

* * * * *

For a moment Herbert and the trapper stood looking at the man and girl,
who were standing on the edge of the beach, looking silently at them;
and then the trapper said, still standing in the boat:

"We would not run agin ye so sudden-like had we seed ye, friend; and ef
our company be not pleasant to ye, we will move on, and camp on some
clump furder down," and the old man placed his paddle against the beach
as if he would breast the boat out into the pool.

"I beg you not to do so," answered the man on the beach; "you have as
good a right to this camp-ground as we, and I dare say a better one, as
we are but strangers to the woods; while you, old man, look as if you
had made them your home for years."

"Ye speak the truth, friend," replied the trapper. "Yis, the woods be my
home; and ef livin' in 'em gives man a right, few would gainsay my
claim. Yis, it's thirty years agone sence I hefted the fust trout from
this pool, and br'iled him on the bank there,--and a toothsome supper he
made for me, too. Lord-a-massy, boy," exclaimed the old man, half
turning toward his companion, "what a thing memory be! Thirty year!--and
I've seed some wanderin' sence then,--but I remember as though I'd eat
him last night jest how that trout tasted. You're sartin, friend, that
we won't distarb ye ef we come ashore?"

"No, no, old man," answered the other, "come ashore, you and your
companion. Our camp is the other side of the balsam thicket there, and
after you have built your own, we will come down and pass an hour with
you, unless we should disturb you in your occupation or your pleasure."

[Illustration: "_Come ashore, you and your companion._"]

"I be a man of the woods, as ye see," replied the trapper, "and Henry,
here, be my companion; and though his home be in the city, he has
consorted with me so much that he's fallen into my habits,--though it
should be said to his credit that the Lord gin him