"But what's the use in goin' over there? Hain't there plenty of room here?"
"Yes, I suppose so; but I want to show you something on the other side," replied the scout.
"Wal, I hain't afraid, in course, but if it hain't necessary I won't go!"
"It is necessary!" answered the scout.
"Wal, if I must, I must; but the Lord knows I don't want to! And Lew, if I fall and kill myself, I shall always blame you."
"All right! I'll take the blame—you hang on to the rope."
Jehiel let his weight bear on the rope, shut his eyes, and raising his feet from the floor, soon felt himself swinging through space at a rate that made him hold his breath, and tighten his grip upon the rope. He would have retained his hold and swung back again, had not the old trapper seized him by the arm and stopped him.
They were soon joined by the scout, and proceeded at once to the menagerie.
Here the old trapper stuck his torch in the ground, and spoke with a voice trembling with emotion:
"Here's my pets—jest ther best lot uv b'ars an' painters I ever see'd—an' I've got ter leave 'em! I didn't think uv thet when I got 'em here, sech little fellers; but now I feel thet I'm er goin ter die, an' thar won't be nobody ter take care uv 'em, an' love 'em as I do!"