"You look like a hardy man; where were you born, sir?"
"Varmount state; 'tis a mountaynious place, but there's a stiff soil, and it's pretty much wooded with beech and maple."
"I have always heerd so," said Mr. Lippet, soothingly. "You have been used to the rifle yourself, in that country?"
"I pull the second best trigger in this county. I knock under to Natty Bumppo there, sin' he shot the pigeon."
Leather-stocking raised his head, and laughed again, when he thrust out a wrinkled hand, and said—
"You're young yet, Billy, and haven't seen the matches that I have; but here's my hand; I bear no malice to you, I don't."
Mr. Lippet allowed this conciliatory offering to be accepted, and judiciously paused, while the spirit of peace was exercising her influence over the two; but the Judge interposed his authority, by saying—
"This is an improper place for such dialogues. Proceed with your examination of this witness. Mr. Lippet, or I shall order the next."
The attorney started, as if he were unconscious of any impropriety, and continued—
"So you settled the matter with Natty amicably on the spot, did you?"
"He gi'n me the skin, and I didn't want to quarrel with an old man; for my part, I see no such mighty matter in shooting a buck?"
"And you parted friends? and you would never have thought of bringing the business up before a court, hadn't you been subpœnaed?"
"I don't think I should; he gi'n the skin, and I didn't feel a hard thought, though Squire Doolittle got some affronted."
