142 NARRATIVES 



finally disposed of the valuables lie carried off, or. whether he 

 drew them about for the rest of his life, is left for conjecture. 

 I have long since abandoned the woods, and my trapper's 

 life seems like a dream of the past; and yet I look back to it 

 as a long and pleasant dream, despite of its many hardships 

 and privations. In entering the woods I seemed to leave 

 behind the jostlings and heartaches of crowded society — the 

 great " torn " in which mankind are tumbling and chafing — 

 and went forth into the fi-eedom and peace of undisturbed 

 Nature. 



