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Chapter 6

           Eventherifle,hisreliableweaponthechieftoolofhistradelookedlikearoundedbarofiron,withapieceofbrownunpolishedwoodattheend,formingitsstock;stockandbarrel,whenthebuttrestedontheground,reachinguptothelevelofhisshoulder.

           Theindividualthusclothedandequippedwasapparentlyaboutfiftyyearsofage,withacomplexionincliningtodark,andfeaturesthat,atfirstsight,exhibitedagraveaspect.

           Onclosescrutiny,however,couldbedetectedanunderlyingstratumofquiethumour;andinthetwinkleofasmallgreyisheyetherewasevidencethatitsownercouldkeenlyrelishajoke,or,attimes,perpetrateone.

           TheIrishmanhadpronouncedhisname:itwasZebulonStump,or"OldZebStump,"ashewasbetterknowntotheverylimitedcircleofhisacquaintances.

           "Kaintuck,bybirthanraisin’,"ashewouldhavedescribedhimself,ifaskedthecountryofhisnativityhehadpassedtheearlypartofhislifeamongtheprimevalforestsoftheLowerMississippihissolecallingthatofahunter;andnow,atalaterperiod,hewasperformingthesamemétierinthewildsofsouth-westernTexas.

           Thebehaviourofthestaghound,asitboundedbeforehim,exhibitingaseriesofcaninewelcomes,toldofafriendlyacquaintancebetweenZebStumpandMauricethemustanger.

           "Evenin’!"laconicallysalutedZeb,ashistailfigureshadowedthecabindoor.

           "Goodevening’,MrStump!"rejoinedtheownerofthehut,risingtoreceivehim.

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