Oui.
Well, you must live a lonesome and hazardous sort of life; can you make anything by it?
Oh! oui, Monsr. putty coot, mais if it is not pour for de dam rascalité Riccaree, et de dam Pieds noirs, de Blackfoot Ingin, I am make very much monnair, mais (sacré), I am rob—rob—rob too much!
What, do the Blackfeet rob you of your furs?
Oui, Monsr. rob, súppose, five time! I am been free trappare seven year, et I am rob five time—I am someting left not at all—he is take all; he is take all de horse—he is take my gun—he is take all my clothes—he is takee de castors—et I am come back with foot. So in de Fort, some cloths is cost putty much monnair, et some whiskey is give sixteen dollares pour gall; so you see I am owe de Fur Comp 600 dollare, by Gar!
Well, Ba’tiste, this then is what you call being a free trapper is it?
Oui, Monsr. “free trappare,” free!
You seem to be going down towards the Yellow Stone, and probably have been out on a trapping excursion.
Oui, Monsr. c’est vrai.
Have you been robbed this time, Ba’tiste?