164 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 



individuals are all characteristic of sterling common 

 sense — the manner modest, 3^et full of self-reliance — the 

 language strong and forcible, from superiority of mind, 

 rather than from education — the dress studied for com- 

 fort, rather than fashion — on the whole, you become at- 

 tached to them and court their society. The good hu- 

 mor — the frankness — the practical sense — the reminis- 

 cences — the powerful frame — all indicate a character, 

 at the present day anomalous ; and such, indeed, is the 

 case, for your acquaintance will be one of the few re- 

 maining people, now spoken of as the " Last of the keel- 

 boatmen." 



Thirty years ago the navigation of the Western wa- 

 ters was confined to this class of men ; the obstacles 

 presented to the pursuit of commerce in those swift- 

 running and wayward waters had to be overcome by 

 physical force alone ; the navigator's arm grew strong 

 as he guided his rude craft past the " snag " and 

 " sawyer," or kept it off the no less dreaded " bar." 



Besides all this, the deep forests that covered the 

 river banks concealed the wily Indian, who gloated over 

 the shedding of blood. The qualities of the frontier 

 warrior, therefore, associated themselves with those of 

 the boatman, while these men would, when at home, 

 drop both these characters in that of cultivator of the 

 soil. 



It is no wonder, then, that they were brave, 

 hardy, and open-handed men : their whole lives were a 



