Ben reached over to where the pan stood and handed it to him. He took up his spoon and devoured all that was left, not deigning a word to the repeated demands of Jules that he should leave a little for him. His jaws never ceased their action until he had deposited the whole in his cavernous stomach. “Dere,” he said. “I veels petter. Unt so dat ish vrog, eh?” “I should think so,” said Jules. “You old cormorant!” “Vat ish dat?” “A bird that eats every thing he can get his claws on,” said Jules. “Why didn’t you leave some?” “I vas brought oop to love mine neighbor ash myself. I dinks it ish not right to eat vrogs. Put I dink so mooch more off my neighbor dat I vill not leaf vrog soup vor a demptation.” “Sacrifice yourself for the public good, you old hog?” said Jules. “Yaw. Dat ish drue. I sees dat if I does not eat him you vould do it, unt I dink so mooch off mine frent dat I vould not leaf it. Dat ish all apout it.” “Do you mean to eat any more if I make him?” demanded Jules. “Yaw. Venever you makes vrog soup I vill not leaf any of him vor you. Dat ish vat I dinks apout it.” “Perhaps you’ll get a good chance,” said the Frenchman. “And perhaps you won’t. But you’ve finished it. Perhaps you will go out with me and catch some more of them.” “Nein!” said Jan. “Why not? You eat them fast enough.” “Yaw. I alvays eat dem fast enough. I know vat ish goot for mine frent, unt I dinks vrog soup very pad vor him.” “That’s enough,” said Ben. “You’ve taught Jan to eat frogs, and he has taught you that if a Dutchman is slow, he is sure, and that you can’t fool him wuth a cent. Scatter the brands and pick up your dunnage. It’s time to be on the way.” “How far is it?” said Jules. “A matter of five miles or so,” said the trapper. “But we’ll get our pay for the long journey we’ve made ef we ar’ a little footsore at the end. Come on!” They shouldered their pieces and strode off into the hills, the Dutchman sauntering in the rear, leading his horse by the bridle. CHAPTER II. THE GRIZZLY BEAR. Ben Miffin strode on in advance of both the others, leading his horse, loaded with camp utensils, by the bridle. This man was known far and wide upon the prairies, as a skillful trapper, a bold hunter, and an Indian fighter of great renown. He had one quality which was his own, in common with many of his class--of boasting of his exploits. Perhaps this trait was a part of his frontier education, learned from the Indians. At any rate Ben exhibited the strange anomaly of a boaster who was at the same time a brave man. The scars upon his body were taken in many a bloody fight along the Yellowstone, by the Platte, on the Washington, and in the Sierras. His step was free and firm in spite of his fifty-five years, and the gray hairs sprinkled in his heavy beard and mustache.