Tell me, trapper, where are your Siouxes skulking ?" "It would be as easy to tell you the colours of the hawk that is floating beneath yonder white cloud! When a red-skin strikes his blow, he is not apt to wait until he is paid for the evil deed in lead." "Will the beggarly savages believe they have enough, when they find themselves master of all the stock ?" "Natur' is much the same, let it be covered by what skin it may.

Do you ever find your longings after riches less when you have made a good crop, than before you were master of a kernel of corn?
If you do, you differ from what the experience of a long life tells me is the common cravings of man." "Speak plainly, old stranger," said the squatter, striking the butt of his rifle heavily on the earth, his dull capacity finding no pleasure in a discourse that was conducted in so obscure allusions; "I have asked a simple question, and one I know well that you can answer." "You are right, you are right.

I can answer, for I have too often seen the disposition of my kind to mistake it, when evil is stirring.

When the Siouxes have gathered in the beasts, and have made sure that you are not upon their heels, they will be back nibbling like hungry wolves to take the bait they have left or it may be, they'll show the temper of the great bears, that are found at the falls of the Long River, and strike at once with the paw, without stopping to nose their prey." "You have then seen the animals you mention!" exclaimed Dr.Battius, who had now been thrown out of the conversation quite as long as his impatience could well brook, and who approached the subject with his tablets ready opened, as a book of reference.

"Can you tell me if what you encountered was of the species, ursus horribilis--with the ears, rounded--front, arquated--eyes--destitute of the remarkable supplemental lid--with six incisores, one false, and four perfect molares--" "Trapper, go on, for we are engaged in reasonable discourse," interrupted Ishmael; "you believe we shall see more of the robbers." "Nay--nay--I do not call them robbers, for it is the usage of their people, and what may be called the prairie law." "I have come five hundred miles to find a place where no man can ding the words of the law in my ears," said Ishmael, fiercely, "and I am not in a humour to stand quietly at a bar, while a red-skin sits in judgment.