"Who sold ye the bear-claw collar?" inquired another

man of Dick.

"I didn't buy it. I killed the bear and made it."

"Did ye, though, all be yer lone?"

"Ay; that wasn't much, was it?"

"You've begun well, yonker," said a tall, middle-aged

hunter, whose general appearance was not unlike that of

Joe Blunt. "Jest keep clear o' the Injuns an' the grog

bottle, an' ye've a glor'ous life before ye."

At this point the conversation was interrupted by the