Away In The Wilderness

THE HUNTER.

On a beautiful summer evening, not many years ago, a man was seen to
ascend the side of a little mound or hillock, on the top of which he
lingered to gaze upon the wild scenery that lay stretched out before
him.

The man wore the leathern coat and leggings of a North American hunter,
or trapper, or backwoodsman; and well did he deserve all these titles,
for Jasper Derry was known to his friends as the best hunter, the most
successful trapper, and the boldest man in the backwoods.

Jasper was big and strong as well as bold, but he was not a bully. Men
of true courage are in general peacefully disposed. Jasper could fight
like a lion when there was occasion to do so; but he was gentle and
grave, and quiet by nature. He was also extremely good-humoured; had a
low soft voice, and, both in mind and body, seemed to delight in a state
of repose.

We have said that his coat was made of leather; the moccasins or Indian
shoes on his feet were made of the same material. When Jasper first put
them on they were soft like a glove of chamois leather, and bright
yellow; but hard service had turned them into a dirty brown, which
looked more business like. The sun had burned his face and hands to as
deep a brown as his coat. On his head he wore a little round cap, which
he had made with his own hands, after having caught the black fox that
supplied the fur, in one of his own traps. A coloured worsted belt
bound his coat round his waist, and beneath the coat he wore a scarlet
flannel shirt. A long knife and a small hatchet were stuck in the belt
at his back, and in front hung a small cloth bag, which was so thickly
ornamented with beads of many colours, that little of the cloth could be
seen.

This last was a fire-bag--so called because it contained the flint,
steel, and tinder required for making a fire. It also contained
Jasper's pipe and tobacco--for he smoked, as a matter of course. Men
smoke everywhere--more's the pity--and Jasper followed the example of
those around him. Smoking was almost his only fault. He was a
tremendous smoker. Often, when out of tobacco, he had smoked tea.
Frequently he had tried bark and dried leaves; and once, when hard
pressed, he had smoked oakum. He would rather have gone without his
supper than without his pipe! A powder-horn and shot pouch were slung
over his shoulders by two cross belts, and he carried a long
single-barrelled gun.

I have been thus particular in describing Jasper Derry, because he is
our hero, and he is worth describing, being a fine, hearty, handsome
fellow, who cared as little for a wild Indian or a grizzly bear as he
did for a butterfly, and who was one of the best of companions, as he
was one of the best of hunters, in the wilderness.

Away In The Wilderness