164 THE HIVE OF THE BEE-HUNTER. 
individuals are all characteristic of sterling common 
sense—the manner modest, yet 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 
