Dick felt much relieved at this candid confession by

such a bronzed veteran, and, the chords of sympathy

having been struck, he opened up his heart at once, to

the evident delight of Henri, who, among other curious

partialities, was extremely fond of listening to and taking

part in conversations that bordered on the metaphysical,

and were hard to be understood. Most conversations

that were not connected with eating and hunting were

of this nature to Henri.

"Hom'-sik," he cried, "veech mean bein' sik of hom'!