Gol ding their pictur's! Ye might as well say that we hain't no right in the woods 'cause a lot o' bears an' painters got there fust, which I ain't a-sayin' but what bears an' painters has their rights." Mr.Binkus paused again to put another coal on his pipe.

Then he listened a moment and looked up at the rocks above their heads, for they were camped in a cave at the mouth of which they had built a small fire, in a deep gorge.

Presently he went on: "I found a heap o' Injuns at Swegache--Mohawks, Senekys, Onandogs an' Algonks.

They had been swappin' presents an' speeches with the French.
Just a little while afore they had had a bellerin' match with us 'bout love an' friendship.

Then sudden-like they tuk it in their heads that the French had a sharper hatchet than the English.