“Nevertheless it is quite enough for me,” replied the artist, leaning down on his elbow. “I could, indeed, eat more; but I hold that man should always rise from table capable of eating more, if required.”
Here was a proposition that it had not entered into the minds of the trappers, even in their most transcendental efforts of abstruse meditation, to think of! They gazed at each other in amazement.
“Wot! not eat yer fill w’en ye git the chance,” exclaimed Bounce.
“No, certainly not.”
“I say, stranger, when did you feed last?” inquired Big Waller.
“Why do you ask?” said the artist, looking quickly up.
“’Cause I wants to know.”
The artist smiled. “My last meal was eaten yesterday morning.”
“Ha! I was sure ob dat,” cried Gibault; “your face look like as if you be full ob starvation.”
“An’ wot did ye eat last?” inquired Bounce, laying down his pipe and looking at their guest with much interest not unmingled with pity.