Part 31 (2/2)

'Is that Gaelic, Dugald?' said our Archie

'Not quite, ht not'

'Why?' said Dugald

'It is hed

'I think, Dugald,' he said, 'your cousin has the best of you'

He then h brief history, as the reader already knows it If he asked us questions, however, it was evidently not for the sake of inquisitiveness, but to exchange experiences, and support the conversation He was quite as ready to impart as to solicit information; but somehoe felt towards him as if he were an elder brother or uncle; and this only proves the herer in this beautiful wilderness?' asked Donald

'Well, I will tell you all about that,' replied the hermit 'And the all is very brief When I ca stay I was a trapper and hunter then pure and simple, and sold my skins and other odds and ends which these hills yield--and what these are Iover the Andes with radually, as len grew up around me, and so ot to lovea hermit, I dare say I have coh I have ine--in the Chilian banks, I do not seeain For soit off and off I should not wonder if it never comes, or, to speak more correctly, I should wonder if it ever came

Oh, I dare say I shall die in my own private wilderness here, with no one to close o on journeys to Chili?'

'I still go twice a year I have strong fleetin winter across the Andes! That must be a terribly dreary journey'

'It is Yet it has its advantages I never have to flee from hostile Indians then They do not like the hills in winter'

'Are you not afraid of the pampas Indians?'

'No, not at all They visitI trust the they could find to steal, even if they cared to be dishonest But they are _not_ They are good-hearted fellows in their oay'

'Yes,' I said, 'very much in their oay'

'My dear boy,' said the hermit, 'you do not know all A different policy would have made those Indians the sworn friends, the faithful allies and servants of the white rounds, they would have brought to you wealth of skins, and wealth of gold and silver, too, for believe me, they (the Indians) have secrets that the white trader little wots of No, it is the dishonest, blood-stained policy of the Republic that has ainst every ainst hiave us to understand?'

'Nay, not the paipsy tribes from the far north Even they will not when they knowas a seer'

'As a seer?'

'Yes, a kind of prophet Do not iine that I foster any such folly, only they will believe that, living here all alone in the wilds, I must have communication with--ha! ha! a worse world than this'

As we rose to go the herht,' he said; 'and let len your headquarters for a tiues around abound in game Then your way back lies across a pampa north and east of here; not the road you have coo, I want to ask you the question which tras all safe?”'