. I b'lieve I'll try luck once more myself; so, Brom, here's my money,
and I take the next fire.«
    »It's likely you know the laws of the woods better than I do, Billy Kirby!«
returned Natty. »You come in with the settlers, with an ox goad in your hand,
and I come in with moccasins on my feet, and with a good rifle on my shoulders,
so long back as afore the old war; which is likely to know best! I say, no man
need tell me that snapping is as good as firing, when I pull the trigger.«
    »Leab it to Massa Jone,« said the alarmed negro; »he know ebbery ting.«
    This appeal to the knowledge of Richard was too flattering to be unheeded.
He therefore advanced a little from the spot whither the delicacy of Elizabeth
had induced her to withdraw, and gave the following opinion, with the gravity
that the subject and his own rank demanded: -
    »There seems to be a difference in opinion,« he said, »on the subject of
Nathaniel Bumppo's right to shoot at Abraham Freeborn's turkey, without the said
Nathaniel paying one shilling for the privilege.« This fact was too evident to
be denied, and after pausing a moment, that the audience might digest his
premises, Richard proceeded: - »It seems proper that I should decide this
question, as I am bound to preserve the peace of the county; and men with deadly
weapons in their hands, should not be heedlessly left to contention, and their
own malignant passions. It appears that there was no agreement, either in
writing or in words, on the disputed point; therefore we must reason from
analogy, which is, as it were, comparing one thing with another. Now, in duels,
where both parties shoot, it is generally the rule that a snap is a fire; and if
such is the rule, where the party has a right to fire back again, it seems to me
unreasonable, to say that a man may stand snapping at a defenceless turkey all
day. I therefore am of opinion, that Nathaniel Bumppo has lost his chance, and
must pay another shilling before he renews his right.«
    As this opinion came from so high a quarter, and was delivered with effect,
it silenced all murmurs, for the whole of the spectators had begun to take sides
with great warmth, except from the Leather-stocking himself.
    »I think Miss Elizabeth's thoughts should