"Good morning, Mr. Jones. I suppose we may call this Indian summer--may we not?" and the missionary--for it was he--shook hands with the hunter. "Scarcely time for it yet," replied the latter. "But this is fine weather, though." "Shall you be busy to-day? I wish to find a good quarter section of land on which to put up a house. I have been thinking that as I have never pre-empted, and have therefore a right to do so, I may as well do it." The hunter laughed scornfully, and said,-- "Good many folks about here pre-empt more than once." "But that is illegal," replied the minister. "They don't stand about that." "But they are obliged to take oath at the Land Office that they have never availed themselves of the privilege." "And they take it." "But they perjure themselves in doing so." "Yes." "Well," said the clergyman, with a sigh, "I can't understand how a person can break the laws and take a false oath for the sake of a little land." "Nor can I," replied the hunter, almost fiercely; "and I makes no pretensions to _piety_, either. I pre-empted once, and afterwards sold out; and I hev moved about considerable sence; but I have never cheated government out of a cent yet--nor anybody, as to that. I don't own nothing here; this is government land that my cabin sets on, and if it was put up for sale to-day, by the proper authorities, I couldn't say a word if it was sold, improvements and all. I have to take my risk, and I'm contented to, rather than own the biggest farm out doors, and get it by lying under oath. No; they calls Joseph Jones a worthless dog, and _I_ don't say he isn't; but let me tell you, neighbor, that I haven't it on my conscience that I went into the Land Office and lifted up my right hand, solumly promising to speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, and then, when I knows that I have pre-empted once, or maybe a number of times, swear that I never hev--as some of your praying, psalm-singing folks has!" "Do I understand you to say, Mr. Jones, that professing Christians living about here have done this?"