FRONTIER TYPES g 



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differ among themselves in their good and bad points even more mark- 

 edly than do men in civilized life, for out on the border virtue and wicked- 

 ness alike take on very pronounced colors. A man who in civilization 

 would be merely a backbiter becomes a murderer on the frontier ; and, on 

 the other hand, he who in the city would do nothing more than bid you a 

 cheery good-morning, shares his last bit of sun -jerked venison with you 

 when threatened by starvation in the wilderness. One hunter may be a 

 dark- browed, evil-eyed ruffian, ready to kill cattle or run off horses with- 

 out hesitation, who if game fails will at once, in Western phrase, "take to 

 the road," — that is, become a highwayman. The next is perhaps a quiet, 

 kindly, simple-hearted man, law-abiding, modestly unconscious of the 

 worth of his own fearless courage and iron endurance, always faithful to 

 his friends, and full of chivalric and tender loyalty to women. 



The hunter is the arch-type of freedom. His well-being rests in no 

 man's hands save his own. He chops down and hews out the logs for his 

 hut, or perhaps makes merely a rude dug-out in the side of a hill, with a 

 skin roof, and skin flaps for the door. He buys a little flour and salt, and 

 in times of plenty also sugar and tea; but not much, for it must all be 

 carried hundreds of miles on the backs of his shaggy pack-ponies. In one 

 corner of the hut, a bunk covered with deer-skins forms his bed; a kettle 

 and a frying-pan may be all his cooking-utensils. When he can get no 

 fresh meat he falls back on his stock of jerked venison, dried in long strips 

 over the fire or in the sun. 



Most of the trappers are Americans, but they also include some 

 Frenchmen and half-breeds. Both of the last, if on the plains, occasion- 

 ally make use of queer wooden carts, very rude in shape, with stout 

 wheels that make a most doleful squeaking. In old times they all had 

 Indian wives ; but nowadays those who live among and intermarry with 

 the Indians are looked down upon by the other frontiersmen, who con- 

 temptuously term them "squaw men." All of them depend upon their 

 rifles only for food and for self-defense, and make their living by trapping, 

 peltries being very valuable and yet not bulky. They are good game 

 shots, especially the pure Americans ; although, of course, they are very 

 boastful, and generally stretch the truth tremendously in telling about 

 their own marksmanship. Still they often do very remarkable shooting, 

 both for speed and accuracy. One of their feats, that I never could learn 

 to copy, is to make excellent shooting after nightfall. Of course all this 

 applies only to the regular hunters ; not to the numerous pretenders 

 who hang around the outskirts of the towns to try to persuade unwary 

 strangers to take them for guides. 



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