Page:Edward Ellis--Seth Jones.djvu/10

Rh "You're right, as I said, Mr. Have-your-land, or Haverland as the case may be. I tell you these are dubious times—no disputin' that, and I am considerably s'prised when I heard the ring of an ax down in these parts."

"And I was equally surprised to meet your visage when I looked up. Jones, I believe you said was your name."

"Exactly:—Seth Jones, from New Hampshire. The Jones' are a numerous family up there—rather too many of them for comfort,—so I migrated. Mought be acquainted perhaps?"

"No; I have no acquaintances, to my knowledge, in that section."

"Haven't, eh? Thought the Jones' were pretty generally known through the country. Some remarkable geniuses have sprung from the family? But what under the sun keeps you out in this heathen country? What brought you here?"

"Enterprise, sir; I was tired of the civilized portion of our country, and, when such glorious fields were offered to the emigrant, as are here spread before him, I considered it a duty to avail myself of them, and I have done so. And now, sir, be equally frank with me, and let me know what induced you to visit this perilous region when you had no reason to suppose that a settlement had yet been commenced by the whites. You look to me as if you were an Indian hunter or scout."

"Wal, perhaps I am. At any rate I have been. I was scout among the Green Mountain Boys, under Colonel Allen, and staid wilt them till the Revolution was finished. After that I went down on the farm and worked a while with the old man. Something occurred in our neighborhood that led me to think, it was best for me to leave, I won't say what it was, but I will say it was no crime I committed. I stopped at the settlement down the river a few clays, and then come to the conclusion to take a tramp in these parts."

"I am very glad you have come, for it isn't often you get sight of a white face. I hope you will take the welcome of a backwoodsman, and make your home with us as long a time as you can—remembering that the longer you stay, the more welcome you will be."

"I shall probably stay till you git tired of me, at any rate," laughed the eccentric Seth Jones.

"As you are from the East, probably you can give