ancestor, though it
would seem he did not think it necessary to say as much in words. He was content
to answer: -
    »They both retained impressions of the dangers they had passed, by far too
vivid easily to lose the recollection of any of their fellow actors.«
    The trapper look'd aside, and seem'd to struggle with some deeply innate
feeling; then turning again, towards his companion, though his honest eyes no
longer dwelt with the same open interest, as before, on the countenance of the
other, he continued -
    »Did he tell you of them all? were they all red-skins, but himself and the
daughters of Munro?«
    »No. There was a white man, associated with the Delawares. A scout of the
English Army, but a native of the Provinces.«
    »A drunken, worthless, vagabond, like most of his colour who harbor with the
savages, I warrant you!«
    »Old man, your gray hairs, should caution you against slander. The man, I
speak of, was of great simplicity of mind, but of sterling worth. Unlike most of
those who live a border life, he united the better, instead of the worst
qualities of the two people. He was a man, endowed with the choicest and perhaps
rarest gift of nature, that of distinguishing, good from evil, his virtues were
those of simplicity, because such were the fruits of his habits, as were,
indeed, his very prejudices. In courage, he was the equal of his red associates,
in warlike skill, being better instructed, their superior. In short, he was a
noble shoot from the stock of human nature, which never could attain its proper
elevation and importance, for no other reason, than because it grew in the
forest: such, old hunter, were the very words of my grandfather, when speaking
of the man, you imagine so worthless.«
    The eyes of the trapper had sunk to the earth as the stranger delivered this
character in the ardent tones of generous youth. He play'd with the ears of his
hound, fingered his own rustic garment, and open'd and shut the pan of his
rifle, with hands that trembled in a manner, that would have implied their total
unfitness to wield the weapon. When the other had concluded he hoarsely added -
    »Your grand'ther didn't then entirely forget the white man!«
    »So far from that, there are already three, among us, who have also names
derived from that scout.