"I thought it would be hard for those, who had so often met in fair and foul, by starlight and under the clouded moon, to part at last in anger.

Now is there little time to lose in talk, and every thing to gain by industry! It cannot be long afore some of yonder brood will be nosing along the 'arth for our trail, and should they find it, as find it they surely will, and should they push us to a stand on our courage, the dispute must be settled with the rifle; which may He in heaven forbid! Captain, can you lead us to the place where any of your warriors lie ?--For the stout sons of the squatter will make a manly brush of it, or I am but little of a judge in warlike dispositions!" "The place of rendezvous is many leagues from this, on the banks of La Platte." "It is bad--it is bad.

If fighting is to be done, it is always wise to enter on it on equal terms.

But what has one so near his time to do with ill-blood and hot-blood at his heart! Listen to what a grey head and some experience have to offer, and then if any among you can point out a wiser fashion for a retreat, we can just follow his design, and forget that I have spoken.

This thicket stretches for near a mile as it may be slanting from the rock, and leads towards the sunset instead of the settlements." "Enough, enough," cried Middleton, too impatient to wait until the deliberative and perhaps loquacious old man could end his minute explanation.