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; you or Ellen, here, might set your heart on the finest in the flock, and my character against a horn of powder, that the bird would be hanging head downwards, in five minutes, and that too, with a single ball.

I scorn a shot-gun! No man can say, he ever knew me carry one, a rod." "The lad has good in him! I see it plainly by his manner;" said the trapper, turning to Ellen with an encouraging air; "I will take it on myself to say, that you are not unwise in meeting him, as you do.

Tell me, lad; did you ever strike a leaping buck atwixt the antlers?
Hector; quiet, pup; quiet.