James Fenimore Cooper

“ If there were any bears scenting around the place, as often occurred at night, their instinct must have apprised them that a large reinforcement was present, and caused them to defer their attack to a more favorable opportunity. The first afoot next morning was the bee-hunter himself, who arose and left his cabin just as the earliest streaks of day were appearing in the east. Although dwelling in a wilderness, the "openings" had not the character of ordinary forests. The air circulates freely beneath their oaks, the sun penetrates in a thousand places, and grass grows, wild but verdant. ”

“ As they drew nigh, certain signs of uneasiness in the dog attracted his master's attention, and he pointed them out to Gershom.
"There's game in the wind," answered Whiskey Centre, who had a good knowledge of most of the craft of border life, notwithstanding his ungovernable propensity to drink, and who, by nature, was both shrewd and resolute. "I shouldn't wonder"-a common expression of his class — "if we found bears prowling about that honey!" ”

“ The bee-hunter was now alone with the only one of his guests who was of the color and race to which he himself belonged. Of the three, he was the visitor he least respected; but the dues of hospitality are usually sacred in a wilderness, and among savages, so that he could do nothing to get rid of him. As Gershom manifested no intention to quit the place, le Bourdon set about the business of the hour, with as much method and coolness as if the other had not been present. The first thing was to bring home the honey discovered on the previous day ”

“ In less than five minutes a bright blaze was gleaming upward, and when the bees returned, as most of them soon did, they found this new enemy intrenched, as it might be, behind walls of flame. Thousands of the little creatures perished by means of this new invention of man, and the rest soon after were led away by their chiefs to seek some new deposit for the fruits of their industry. ”

“ But our bee-hunter was not without the means of accomplishing such an object, and he now busied himself in getting ready. As Gershom volunteered his assistance, together they toiled in apparent amity and confidence.
The Kalamazoo is a crooked stream; and it wound from the spot where le Bourdon had built his cabin, to a point within a hundred yards of the fallen tree in which the bees had constructed their hive. As a matter of course, Ben profited by this circumstance to carry his canoe to the latter place, with a view to render it serviceable in transporting the honey. ”

“ I make no secret of my feelings — I am for my own people, and I wish proof that you are a friend, and not an enemy."
"Too many question, one time," returned the Chippewa, a little distastefully. "No good have so long tongue. Ask one question, answer him — ask anoder, answer him, too."
"Well, then, what is your business, here?"
"Go to Chicago, for gen'ral."
"Do you mean that you bear a message from some American general to the commandant at Chicago?"
"Just so — dat my business. Guess him, right off; he, he, he!"
It is so seldom that an Indian laughs that the bee-hunter was startled. ”

“ It proved that Whiskey Centre had points about him which, if not absolutely redeeming, served in some measure to lessen the disgust which one might other-wise have felt for his character. The bee-hunter knew that there was a species of hardihood that belonged to border men as the fruits of their habits, and, apparently, he had all necessary confidence in Gershom's disposition to sustain him, should there be occasion for a conflict with his old enemies. ”

“ As for the bees, they followed their retreating enemies in a body, making a mistake that sometimes happens to still more intelligent beings; that of attributing to themselves, and their own prowess, a success that had been gained by others.
The bee-hunter and his friend now set themselves at work to provide a reception for the insects, the return of which might shortly be expected. The former lighted a fire, being always provided with the means, while Gershom brought dry wood. ”

“ Which way, then, do you think he's travelling?"
"Don't know — on'y guess — guess he on path to Blackbird."
"And where is Blackbird, and what is he about?"
"Two question, dat!" returned the Chippewa, smiling, and holding up two of his fingers, at the same time, by way of rebuke. "Blackbird on war-path; — when warrior on dat path, he take scalp if can get him."
"But where is his enemy? There are no whites in this part of the country, but here and there a trader, or a trapper, or a bee-hunter, or a voyageur."
"Take his scalp — all scalp good, in war time. An't partic'lar, down at Montreal. ”

“ The bears are in the thicket, but don't like to come out in the face of such a colony. I have heard of bears being chased miles by bees, when their anger was up!"
"Mortality! They have a good deal of dander (dandruff) for sich little vipers! But what are WE to do, Bourdon? for Doll and Blossom must taste that honey! Half's mine, you know, and I don't like to give it up."
The bee-hunter smiled at the coolness with which Gershom assigned to himself so large a portion of his property ”

“ Well, Bourdon, if you prefer that name; though stranger is a name I like, it has sich an up and off sound to it. When a man calls all he sees strangers, it's a sign he don't let the grass grow in the road for want of movin' ”