Part 21 (1/2)

”He won't be havin' no feather-bed tiettin' wonderful peevish an' sot in his way lately He's thinkin' o' th' fine grub an' good tie place he talks about, instead o' thinkin' o' how he likes rabbit meat three times a day an' betwixt meals when you an' him was 'bidin' a time on th' island over here because you wasn't havin'

wings t' fly off, an' they wa'n't no other way t' get off till th'

Injun lass takes you off”

”Shad weren't gettin' peeved,” objected Bob, ready to defend his absent friend ”He were just disappointed at findin' no huntin', an'

he 'bides with th' Injuns t' get soet back t' th' river tilt, an' when he is gettin' back he'll be findin' it fine He'll be thinkin' o' th' tough cruisin' with th' Injuns instead o' th' grub at his college place, an' that'll make he think 'tis fine in th' tilts

That's the way it mostly is with folks They alants soets un they wants somethin' else An'

like's not then they wants what they was havin' first, because they can't have un now”

Ed paused to pour a cup of tea and help hih,” he continued ettin' used t' th' bush yet That's all's th' et used t' un after a bit, an' then he won't be gettin' peeved like he is now”

”I'm wishi+n' he weren't stayin' back with th' Injuns now I'm fearin'

he'll be havin' a hard tiettin'

in trouble not knowin' how t' take un,” Bob remarked solicitously

”I'm wonderful sorry, now, he stays wi' th' Injuns 'Twould be fine t' have he here for Christ of black tobacco froan to shave so his pipe

”Any fur this trip?” asked Bob

”Two martens--both fine uns Not so bad How'd you ets one ettin' any, Bill?” asked Ed, turning to Bill, as reclining in one of the bunks and s in luxurious contentment

”Aye, one marten, an' I shoots a wolf last evenin'--a wonderful poor wolf, an' his skin ain't much account Three of un were after ets one”

”Three wolves, now--an' poor uns,” commented dick ”Wolves ain't follerin' a ry, an' they ain't like t'

be hungry where they's deer”

”No,” agreed Ed, who had lighted his pipe, one e of the bunk upon which he lounged, the other long leg stretched out ”Wolves follers th' deer, but when they ain't no deer t' faller they don't faller un Which means they ain't no deer in this part o' th' country, an' so they just naturally fallers Bill as th'

next best ry, an' bein' hungry means they's lickin' their chops for Bill,” continued dick

”Were it night, now?” asked Ed

”No, 'twere broad day,” answered Bill, undisturbed

”Now if 'twere night, I'd say they was follerin' you because your red hair lights th' trail up for un”

”'Tain't no redder 'n your'n,” retorted Bill

”Never mind un, Bill,” said Bob sympathetically ”Ed's jealous because your hair's curly an' his 'n ain't”

”No about gettin' grub?” suggested Ed, when the laugh had subsided ”They ain't nothin' t' kill, an' we got t' haul grub in from th' Bay I'm thinkin' t' start down Friday, an' if one o' you wants t'