"Quite a beautiful country through here," said Bagsley. "I am always delighted when I can escape from the drudgery of the profession, and hold communion with the beauties of nature. But I must confess, you have rather too much of nature around here, gentlemen. Your roads are not remarkably well worn or broken; and we have had quite a fatiguing journey; have we not, Rogers?"
Rogers assented, with a sort of affirmative grunt.
"Belong in these parts?" asked Bagsley, turning towards Ralph.
"I am only on a visit here," was the answer. "I am quite as much a stranger as yourself."
"Will you allow me to ask," continued Bagsley, addressing Barton, "how long you have resided in this section?"
"But two years," Barton replied.
"I declare! you must have been active to have accomplished so much. But, I believe," said Bagsley, with a professional Gravity, "you cannot have the fee of the property here."
"I am a sort of tenant at sufferance of the Oneidas; but should the State purchase these lands—as I believe they will, soon—I may hope to obtain a title to what I already occupy."
"Perhaps—perhaps," answered Bagsley. "But you must be aware, as a gentleman of experience, that, by an act of the Honorable, the Legislature of the State of New York, passed July 25, 1782, this section is particularly and definitely reserved to the Indians of the Six Nations. Now, it may be questionable—I never speak with certainty out of my office—but it may be questionable—whether the State will ever purchase these lands. Should they not—you see the point—you lose, as a matter of course, all of your improvements, and may be ejected at any time."
"Of that fact I am well aware," answered Barton, "and I run my risk, of course. But will you allow me to ask, sir—if my question is not too impertinent—what business gentlemen of your profession can find in these forests?"