e days wouldn't hurt ye, and the money won't come amiss."

"I tell ye, old man," returned Wild Bill earnestly, "I won't take a
cent. I'll allow there's several colors in my trousers, for I've
patched in a dozen different pieces off and on, and I doubt, as ye
hint, if the patching holds together much longer; but I've eaten at
your table and slept in your cabin more than once, John Norton, and
whether I've come to it sober or drunk, your door was never shut in my
face; and I don't forget either that the man who sent you that box
fished me from the creek one day, when I had walked into it with two
bottles of the Dutchman's whisky in my pocket, and not one cent of
your money or his will I take for bringing the box in to you."

"Have it yer own way, ef ye will," said the Trapper; "but I won't
forgit the deed ye have did, and the boy won't forgit it neither.
Come, let's clear away the vict'als, and we'll open the box. It's
sartinly a big un, and I would like to see what he has put inside of
it."

The opening of the box was a spectacle such as gladdens the heart to
see. At such moments the countenance of the Trapper was as facile in
the changefulness of its expression as that of a child. The passing
feelings of his soul found an adequate mirror in his face, as the
white clouds of a summer day find full reflection in the depth of a
tranquil lake. He was not too old or too learned to be wise, for the
wisdom of hearty happiness was his,--the wisdom of being glad, and
gladly showing it.

As for Wild Bill, the best of his nature was in the ascendant, and
with the curiosity and pleasure of a child, and a happiness as sincere
as if the box were his own, he assisted at the opening.

"The man who made this box did the work in a workmanlike fashion,"
said the Trapper, as he strove to insert the edge of his hatchet into
the jointing of the cover, "fur he shet these boards together like the
teeth of a bear trap when the bars be well 'iled. It's a pity the boy
didn't send him along with the box, Wild Bill, fur it sartinly looks
as ef we should have to kindle a fire on it, and burn a hole in
through the kiver."

At last, by dint of great exertion, and with the assistance of Wild
Bill and the poker, the cover of the box was wrenched off, and the
contents were partially revealed.

"Glory to God, Wild Bill!" exclaimed the Trapper. "Here be yer
breeches!" and he held up a pair of pantaloons made of the stoutest
Scotch stuff. "Yis, here