Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1833 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV. A LODGE IN THE WILDERNESS. It does not follow that Sophia had lost her senses because she talked of shooting money, --- of replenishing the funds of the little company by means of rifle and powder. It only follows that their money was not made of gold and silver. 'I think, Paul, ' said Taddeus, 'you change your arms as often as a court-lady varies her dress. The last time we met, you were carrying a lance twice as long as yourself, and to-day you have a bundle of arrows., ' According to our game should be our arms. When we begin to hunger for bear, s flesh, I carry a lance, and bring old Alexander with me to teach the creature to squat on its hind legs, convenient for a thrust. I tell him he will be qualified to lead one about the streets of Warsaw by the time we get back. To-day, I come out for skins, --sables if I can get them; and am my wife, s pupil for the occasion. She made these arrows, --blunt, you see, so as not to injure the skins, and she is to bring down the first we see. She carries ray rifle, however, that we may not lose the chance of other game by the way., ' Are your sable-skins for sale or exchange ?' ' O, for sale, to be sure. Our money system mtist extend very much before we shall want so valuable a medium. The inhabitants of a poor hamlet can get on a long time with copper and silver before they begin to want gold: and mouse, ounce, and hare skins may serve us at present as well as sables could do. But how do your neighbors take to your plan of exchange by a medium ? Do they see that it is more convenient than barter ?, ' Many do; and this is the reason why we are in want of more skins, as Sophia told you. The man who was vexed with us for not taking a whole sheep, when we really did not want to have more th
