human
Wot! not eat yer fill w'en ye git the chance,
gpt
No, certainly not.
human
I say, stranger, when did you feed last?
gpt
Why do you ask?
human
My last meal was eaten yesterday morning.
gpt
Ha! I was sure ob dat, cried Gibault;
human
An' _wot_ did ye eat last?
gpt
I breakfasted on a little bird about the size of a hen's egg. I know not what it is named, but it was excellently flavoured. I relished it much.
human
I say, stranger, broke in Waller, in a tone of voice that seemed to imply that he was determined to be at the bottom of this mystery, and would stand it no longer--
gpt
Theodore Bertram,
human
Where do you come from?
gpt
From England.
human
Where air you a-goin' to?
gpt
To the Rocky Mountains.
human
Wot for to do there?
gpt
You are inquisitive, friend, said Bertram, smiling;
human
No one can do more than that, said Redhand, regarding the young enthusiast with interest.
gpt
But surely you have not travelled to this out-o'-the-way place without a guide?
human
These are my guides, said he;
gpt
But that book ain't always readable, said Redhand;
human
Fur-traders in the far north have taught me how to ascertain the north by the bark on the trees; besides this I have a bosom friend who always points the way.
gpt
Good, rejoined Redhand;
human
I have none other arms now but these, save this good sword. They will serve to defend me in the hour of need, I trust; though now that I have seen the grisly bear I should doubt my chance of success were I to cope with him alone. I should imagine that monster to be worse even than the Wild Man of the West himself.
gpt
The Wild Man o' the West! echoed March Marston eagerly;
human
Nay, verily; but I have heard of him, replied the artist, smiling,
gpt
But I am of a sceptical turn of mind, and do not easily believe unless I see. There is one thing I have observed, however, which is in favour of his existence.
human
What's that? inquired March, brightening up.
gpt
That the nearer one comes to his reputed dwelling-place, this wild man assumes smaller and more natural proportions. I first heard of him in the Red River Prairies, where he is held to be a giant who devours men as well as brutes. As I came nearer to the Missouri, I found that the people there do not believe him to be either a cannibal or a giant, but assert that he is an enormously tall and powerful man, exceedingly fierce, and the sworn enemy of the whole human race; a species of Cain, whose hand is against every man, and every man's hand against him. The last white man I met--about two weeks ago--told me he had been with a tribe of Indians, some of whom had seen him, and they said that he was indeed awfully wild, but that he was not cruel--on the contrary, he had been known to have performed one or two kind deeds to some who had fallen into his power.
human
Most extonishin'!