Ephriam said es how the further north ye wint, the tougher it got.

He saw an Injun from up near the big lake--a Pottamottamie, or somethin' like thet--what was nine fut high, an' he told him es how the rivers in his kintry was all full o' man-eatin' critters like snakes, an' some on 'em hed a hundred legs ter crawl with, an' cud travel a dinged sight faster ner a hoss.

By gosh! but you bet I don't want none on it.

Your father must 'a' been plum crazy fer ter sind ye way out ther all 'lone,--jist a green boy like you.

What ye a-goin' fer, enyhow ?" I explained to him the occasion and necessity for my trip, but he shook his head dubiously, his long face so exceedingly mournful that I could not remain unaffected by it.
"Wal," he said at length, carefully weighing his words, "maybe it's all right 'nough, but I 've got my doubts jist the same.