Francois is a great bird-catcher.

He is at this moment engaged in repairing his nets; and his double-barrel shot gun, which he has just finished cleaning, rests beside him.

Francois is a favourite with everybody, but a great pest to Hugot, upon whom he plays numerous tricks.
-- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- While the naturalist and his family were thus engaged, a loud booming noise was heard at some distance off, down the river.

It somewhat resembled the regular firing of great guns, though the explosions sounded softer and more hollow.
"A steamboat!" cried Francois, whose ear first caught the sounds.
"Yes," muttered Basil, "from New Orleans, I expect, and bound to Saint Louis." "No, brother," said Lucien, quietly raising himself from his book.

"She is an Ohio boat." "How can you tell that, Luce ?" inquired Francois.
"From the sound of her 'scape, of course.