a worry in the heart of Dr. and Mrs. Whitman, for to some extent they knew his words were true.
Sometimes the conversation fell on politics. Then Ermatinger fired:
"If the Hunited States tries to drive hus from the country the Hudson's Bay Company will harm 'er height 'undred mixed bloods, and with their knowledge hof the mountain fastnesses we can 'old Horegon hagainst the world. Ham hi not ha marvellously proper man to go a-soldiering? "The little man drew himself up, and his big nose shone. Of course everybody laughed, "It is only Ermatinger."
Even Dr. McLoughlin would laugh, "Bow-wow-wow! It 's only Ermatinger."
"Ho, no, this country can never be settled," said Ermatinger, slyly taking the missionaries through the most difficult goat-trails over the mountains. "'Ow could wagons hever get through these jungles? "Over sharp-cut rocks he led them, through dense woods, and over mountain patches of snow where never man or beast had trod before.
Long since, the Indians had revealed to Dr. Whitman wide, comfortable trails that the company had hoped to keep secret. But Ermatinger, leading the new-comers a thorny chase, laughed, laughed, laughed because he had fooled the missionaries.
"Be silent, exclusive, secret," said the company, " lest the furry folk be frightened away. We shall be undone if colonies of people supplant our colonies of beaver. Mill-dams break up beaver-dams; they never flourish in the same water."
"Why have you never taught the Indians agriculture? "inquired Dr. Whitman.
"Hoh, beaver is hour business. Why meddle with the plough?" was Ermatinger's careless answer.
