p623-006 CHAPTER I.

ARRIVAL AT HAPPY VALLEY—A HOUSE BUILT—THE PALISADE
COMPLETED.

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At one of the sources of the Arkansas River—an inconsiderable
stream of limpid water, coming fresh and pure from the eastern
slope of the Rocky Mountains—a thousand miles beyond the permanent
habitations of the anglo-saxon race on the western continent,
an abode had been established by the little party whose adventures
are narrated in the ensuing pages.

The delta in which the settlement was located, had been accidentally
discovered; and it was in the vicinity of one of the hitherto
unexplored arid and desert regions, where the gloom of desolation
still abides, and where neither man nor beast may ever find the
means of subsistence.

But the delta itself was an oasis in the desert. When the eyes
of the devoted pioneer first rested on it, and as he gazed westward
from a lofty mound, he lifted up his hands and pronounced it “The
Happy Valley.” Standing as yet afar off, he dismissed the faithful
band of savages which had guided and guarded the party for many
weeks, and even months, in the wilderness.

In the dim distance, the huge mountain reared aloft its dark majestic
brow, indistinctly seen over the intervening forest which
shaded the translucent stream, as it brawled into the happy valley,
where all was peace and tranquility. But even the tops of the lofty
trees which surrounded the delta, and fringed the natural embankments
of the alluvial tract, teeming with luxuriant vegetation, seemed,
in the distance, to the weary traveller, as patches of dwarfed
shrubbery, repulsing rather than inviting the approach of weary

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wanderers. It was by means of his telescope, that the leader of the
party had distinguished them from the illusory landscapes of the
mirage; and when he had drawn near enough to obtain a view of
the valley, he felt convinced that his journey was completed, and
that he had found a refuge, which if not inaccessible to others of
his race, was at least one not likely to be discovered by idle intruders.

The delta, or rich level land of Happy Valley, was a thousand
yards in diameter, and the location in the centre, selected for the
erection of buildings, was beyond the reach of arrows from the shelving
and timbered embankments surrounding it on every hand, rather
as natural defences than as menacing positions for the assaults
of an enemy. At the upper or western end of the delta, the stream
from the mountain was parted by an immense pile of rocks, and
flowed to the right and the left around the rich tract, constituting it
a green island, and united again at the lower end of the luxuriant
area, where it rushed leaping and foaming, between perpendicular
rocky embankments, after which it fell into a small and placid lake
beyond.

The materials for the buildings were abundantly supplied by a
tower of rock and mica, left standing in the midst of the area by
the convulsions of nature, and which had been worn smooth and
round by the torrents that had evidently assailed it at a former period.
At the base of this isolated deposit the party had pitched
their tents, in a small grove of persimmon trees, and without hesitation
or further delay, proceeded to erect the necessary houses for
their abode.

The party consisted of five white men and two white females,
one beautiful Indian woman, and two white children; the remainder
were very black negro slaves, ten in number, including men,
women and children. Having several wagons, drawn by horses,
and mules and oxen, they were not only provided with the necessary
implements of labor, but had a store of cereal provisions for their
maintenance during the ensuing winter, and until they could reap
the products of their first harvest in the wilderness.

The old tower was mostly demolished, and in its stead there arose

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a substantial mansion impervious to attack. It consisted of a centre
building, thirty-five feet square, with wings of symmetrical but
of smaller dimensions. The wings were two stories high, while the
centre or main building had a third story, and was surmounted by
a round tower, resembling in some respects, while divested of its irregular
massive solidity, the one which had been placed there by
nature. Altogether there were twenty rooms in the building, besides
the hall of entrance. These, it is true, were mostly of rude
construction, although the soft rock easily yielded to the workmen;
but several were of better finish, and smoothly plastered with the
snowy lime made in the vicinity. The isinglass or mica, of perfect
transparency, sufficed for the windows, and the slate found at the
cliffs covered the roof. Finally, their habitation, after the incessant
labor of many weeks, was in a sufficient state of preparation for
their occupancy, and then they abandoned their tents, as they supposed,
forever.

The matter which claimed their attention next, was the palisade
for the enclosure of their cattle at night, and to guard against the
sudden inroads of savages and wild beasts. The forest at the upper
or western entrance of the delta, supplied the timber, and the
work was completed expeditiously, and without molestation. It was
circular in shape, equidistant from the mansion, the tower being the
centre, and was nine hundred feet in circumference, so that the
mean distance from the centre was fifty yards.

Jasper Roughgrove was the patriarch and leader of this little
band of wanderers. He was now past the meridian of life, and had
long mourned the woes inflicted by his fellow man in civil society.
He was an Englishman by birth, of good family, and had been educated
for the church; but being enamored of a lovely being at an
early period of his career, who subsequently fell a victim to one of
illustrious birth and position, the shock he experienced, resulted in
an abandonment of his previously conceived projects, and a determination
to spend the remainder of his days in a seclusion so remote
and impenetrable, that he should not again be within the vortex of
the evil temptations so rife and inextricable in the dense communities
which boast of their urbane refinements. Still adoring the

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object of his early affection, notwithstanding she was a homeless wanderer,
with two cherub children, he became her husband, adopted
the innocent twins, and removed to America. From the port where
he landed, he proceeded to the great West, and ascended the valley
of the “Mad Missouri,” until he found a peaceful abode, then considered
beyond the limits of civilization. Here, for a season, he
experienced the tranquility and bliss he had sighed for; the few
emigrants that came into the region were very kind, and for a long
time the Indians were quite friendly. But there being no Eden
without its serpent, his repose was doomed to interruption. The
Indians stole away little William, and his mother pined and died.
Mary, however, the remaining child of his adoption, was a solace
for many years, and he awaited with composure and christian resignation,
the time when it might please a beneficent Providence to
waft him to his beloved Juliet, in the mansions of eternal rest.

But in process of time William was rescued from the Indians,
among whom he had been made a high chief. He was followed by
a beautiful Indian maiden, of fair complexion, who loved him, and
they were married, with the reluctant consent of Roughgrove.
And soon after this, Mary was wooed and won by a young physician,
who had sought the seclusion of the western wilds, from motives
similar, in some respects, to those which had impelled the clergyman.
This young man, Charles Glenn, having inherited some
wealth in one of the Southern States of the Confederacy, induced
the rest to accompany him thither, promising the full fruition of the
tranquility they longed for under the protection of the laws of his
country.

But Roughgrove, in Virginia, thought only of the grave of Juliet,
in the far West; Mary, the bride of Glenn, dwelt in fancy on
the loved wild-woods of her infancy—her birds and her flowers;
William disdained the conventionalities of organized communities,
and La-u-na, his bride, and daughter of a mighty chief, mourned
for the running waters, the quivering leaves, and the fresh breezes
of her native forests.

Therefore, after the experiment of the sojourn of a few years in
Virginia, Glenn consented to return to the West, and hence the

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expedition to the base of the southern terminus of the Rocky Mountains.

The other individuals of the party consisted of little Juliet
Glenn, a beautiful child of seven years; Charles Roughgrove, the
son of William and La-u-na, of the same age; Biddy Rafferty, an
Irish nurse; Joe Beck, a young man of Irish extraction, who had
been Glenn's hired attendant in his first expedition; Sneak Punk, a
tall thin Vermonter, who had been found in the woods trapping and
hunting for gain, and had contracted to repair to Virginia with
Glenn, for a stipulated price. The remainder were slaves: Cæsar,
Pompey and Hannibal, their wives and children.

There were twelve horses, four mules, six oxen, eight cows, and a
few calves; two goats, eight sheep, and several pigs; a dozen chickens,
two hounds, one large spaniel, and one small mongrel; and the
living catalogue was completed with several kittens and a parrot.

The journey of more than a thousand miles by land, and nearly
as many by water, had been completed without serious accident, or
material detriment to the many articles which Glenn had provided
for their convenience in the wilderness. There had been no sickness;
and none of the stock had died or been lost. The Indians
who acted as guides and guards, had been selected by William,
among his old acquaintances in the forest, who still obeyed him as
their chief, and they were faithful to the end; stealing nothing, but
intimidating the prowling bands of the desert, who might have
otherwise compassed the destruction of the party. Daniel Boone,
now in the vale of years, whom they encountered on their way, had
journeyed with them several days, and acknowledged that he was
tempted, notwithstanding his age, to accompany them the whole distance
to the “undiscovered bourne,” they were in quest of. But
he intimated a purpose to find them at some future day.

Among the infinite variety of things transported beyond the desert,
was a pretty complete philosophical and chemical apparatus,
which Glenn deposited in the tower, over the centre building of the
mansion, which was to be appropriated as a laboratory, and had
been constructed partly with that design. It was likewise used as
a depository for their superfluous arms and ammunition.

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One of the best rooms had been reserved as a library, and several
hundred volumes were tastefully arranged round the walls.

Near the base of the tower, a spring of pure water had flowed,
forming a small rivulet that wandered away towards the running
stream on the south side of the green area but was lost in the grass
or evaporated by the rays of the sun. This vein of living water
was secured by excavation, for the uses of the family, and now formed
a pool or well, in front of the building.

The main entrance of the house was on the south side, where the
first beams of the morning sun streamed through the narrow windows,
and gladdened the inmates with its genial greeting. And,
indeed, from the first glance at the features of the country surrounding
the valley, the conformation of the mountains on the west, and
the concurrent hills and curtains of woods on the north and east, it
was apparent that “Happy Valley” must be ever shielded from the
bleak winds of winter, and that its vegetation in that latitude, must
be in a great measure perennial.

p623-012 CHAPTER II.

THE GAME TO BE SPARED—A DECREE—JOE AND SNEAK GOING
THEIR ROUNDS AS SENTINELS—A STRANGE, MYSTERIOUS DOG.

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The sun had disappeared behind the mountain, but the calm
twilight of an autumnal eve still lingered in the valley. The song
of the mocking-bird was yet heard among the plum and crab-apple
trees, tangled over with grape vines, that fringed the brooks on
either side of the palisaded enclosure. Even the chirp of the
katy-did was prolonged beyond what would be the usual limits of
its season in a more eastern and rigorous clime. And these were
evidences of a generous temperature in that region, which did not
escape the observation of our adventurers.

But the cattle had been driven within the gates, panting with
the burden of luxuriant grass which they had cropped from the
natural pasture; the fowls had gone to the roost provided for them;
and everything betokened a tranquil night after the labors of the
day which had completed the final precautionary arrangements for
the security of the party.

Tea was over in the large dining-room, on the left of the hall,
and the servants had partaken of a bounteous repast in the
kitchen.

“Now,” said Mr. Roughgrove, leaning back in his homely chair,
where he still sat at the table, and from which none had yet risen,
“my little Juliet's petition must not be forgotten.”

“No, grandpa,” said the sweet little girl, who sat at Mary's
elbow, “don't forget the poor birds, and antelopes, and ponies!
For if they shoot the poor things, and make them suffer and die,
how can it be the `Happy Valley?”'

Glenn and Mary, William and La-u-na, smiled at the child's innocent
conceit, while little Charles, who had been playing with a
miniature cross-bow, looked archly at his cousin, and shook his head
dissentingly.

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“This is the proper time to attend to that matter,” continued
Roughgrove; “for sport will follow laborious duties in the wild-woods,
as certainly ad day will succeed the night. Let the men in
the kitchen be called hither, so that all may hear the law which
this little child has dictated.”

“Go, Joe, and call in the negroes,” said Glenn.

“Oh, yes, lay down the law to them,” said Joe, rising from the
bench which he and Sneak were in the habit of occupying.
“Cæsar, Pompey, Hannibal!” cried he, from the door, with a loud
voice, “come here and have the law laid down to you—and see
that you obey it!”

“Joe,” said Sneak, who had followed him, “I have a notion the
law is more for us than the tarnation niggers, and I want you to
help me oppose it.”

“What do you mean, Sneak?” asked Joe. “I hope you don't
suppose they're going to put us down on a level with the niggers?”

“No, not 'zactly that—but I'm afeard they're a goin' to elevate
'em up to our high level. They've given 'em guns to shoot game
with, and that's a beginnin'; and now they're a goin' to tell them
over our heads, but for our ears, that nobody's to shoot anything in
the valley. I heard 'em whisperin' about it. 'Taint child's play,
though little Jule did start it!”

“Sneak! that would spoil our fun,” said Joe, in a lower tone.
“They promised to take the vote on any thing, you know. Now
let's you and I electioneer with the niggers before they go in, and
get 'em to vote down that proposition. I despise a nigger, and
above all, nigger equality; but if they can be made useful, why
not use them?”

“That's it, Joe; but let me manage 'em. Do you go in. They'll
believe me quicker than an Irishman.”

“Yes, maybe they like a Yankee better than a gentleman,” said
Joe, stepping back.

“What do you mean?” cried Sneak, looking after him. “Never
mind; I'll make him answer some other time,” he added, finding
Joe was out of hearing, and seeing the slaves approaching. After

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whispering with them a few moments, he led them into the dining-room.

“Now, my children and friends,” said old Mr. Roughgrove, “I
want to observe to you that as God has been pleased to spare us
through so many perils, and up to this moment of time, it is fitting
that we should, besides continually returning thanks for such great
mercies, manifest our gratitude by some instance of forbearance,
and by some act of mercy to the creatures over which we have
been given dominion. And as we have been taught that we must
become as one of these little children,” and he placed his hands on
the heads of little Jule and Charley, “before we can enter the
Kingdom of Heaven—so, it seems to me, we may safely act upon
their guileless thoughts and promptings with a perfect confidence
that it will not be displeasing in the sight of Him who marks even
the fall of a sparrow.”

“But,” said Joe, interrupting him, “it was a sparrow-hawk I
wanted to shoot at—and he was after the chickens.”

“Massa!” said Cæsar, “he was too big for dat; and der's a big
owl, with eyes as big as your spectacles, comes arter de chickens in
de night. Let me kill 'im, massa, I vote agin not shootin'.”

“Hold your peace!” said Glenn.

“My children and friends,” continued Roughgrove, “you all
remember reading that when our first parents bestowed names on
the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, they did not fly at
the approach of man; that was because man had not yet sought to
deprive them of life.”

“Powder and guns was'nt invented then,” said Sneak.

“No,” said Roughgrove, “and there was no necessity for such
inventions. Man could then lay hold on the victim for sacrifice;
but as man became wicked, even the beasts feared him, and kept
afar off, and so it became necessary to invent contrivances to reach
them.”

“Sneak,” whispered Joe, “don't say anything more, or he'll
keep us here all night. He'll begin at the beginning of creation,
and branch off and follow every subject from that day to eternity.”

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“But I will not detain you with long references to matters so
remote,” said Roughgrove; “nevertheless there is instruction in
them; for the beasts would not run away, nor the birds fly from
us, if they knew we would not injure them. Then let us not injure
them in this happy valley. Let us set apart one place where
all may be in peace and security. Let us agree that we will not
shoot buffalo, or deer, or antelope, or horse, or hare, or any of the
feathered tribes, within the limits of this beautiful island, or on
the borders thereof; far beyond the line of forest which fringes
these precints, and frames us in like a fair landscape on canvas,
an abundance of game of every description may be found. Is it
not so, William?”

William smiled, and answered in the affirmative.

“But the varmints!” said Sneak, his large eyes dilating into
still larger dimensions; “are you going to spare the varmints,
too?”

“No, Sneak,” continued Roughgrove; “if panther, or wolves,
or bear, or foxes, should come into the valley, it is not proposed to
spare them. By shooting or worrying only such mischievous and
destructive beasts, the other animals will become more gentle and
confiding; and in time, having experienced the good effects of our
protection, they will no more strive to avoid us than our domestic
animals. I want to see the antelope and the wild horse lick salt
from the tiny hands of Jule and Charley.”

Jule and Charley clapped their hands in delight.

“But the other varmints, Mr. Roughgrove,” said Sneak. “I
came out here to catch beavers, otters, musk-rats, minks, coons,
and sich like.”

“Oh, you may catch them; but there will hardly be any necessity
for shooting them. I hope we shall never be startled by the
report of a gun in this valley.”

“Joe,” said Glenn, who observed the frequent whispered conferences
with the slaves, “I shall vote for them.”

“If massa Charles 'll vote for us, dat 'll do!” said Cæsar.

“Yes, I will vote for you when it is necessary to vote at all,”
said Glenn. “But there are questions upon which no vote will be

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taken, and this is one of them. What Mr. Roughgrove has stated
is not a mere proposition, but a law. William and I, and La-u-na
and Mary, as well as the little children, have sanctioned it. Beyond
the shelving embankments of the stream enclosing this green
island, William and I have ascertained there is game of every description
in abundance—which must suffice. Therefore, the exemption
from molestation in the valley is a decree. Now listen to
the penalty for any violation of the law. For the first offence, the
gun of the offender shall be taken away from him for such length
of time as the ladies and the little children may decide, after a fair
hearing. For the second offence, extra labor in the field, or whatever
else the jury may decide upon.”

“But, massa Charles,” said Cæsar, speaking for Pompey and
Hannibal likewise, “is we to lose our guns, too? We is'nt to have
'em only Saturday arternoon hollidays?”

“If you offend, Cæsar, you must suffer the penalty,” said Glenn,
“whatever it may be. Your best course is not to offend.”

“I won't break de law, massa.”

“Dar now,” said Pompey; “Spose de enemy come in de night
when we's on duty at de picket?”

“If he be really an enemy,” said Glenn, “you will be excused
for firing.”

“A man aint a wild beast, you fool!” said Joe, disgusted at the
tame acquiescence of the negroes.

“But he's like 'em, sometimes,” said Sneak; “one time in Missouri,
I shot at a wild hog in the night and killed a Indgen.”

“I remember it,” said Roughgrove, smiling. “But now we understand
the rule adopted in this peaceful retreat; and I hope there
will never be any necessity for the shedding of human blood, or the
blood even of the wild animals, in this green valley.”

“Go, now,” said Glenn, to the slaves, “and see that your arms
be in order. To-morrow we shall commence our explorations
around the valley. And you, Joe, and Sneak, to your posts. This
is your night to watch, until relieved by William and myself.”

Soon after the negroes were all sound asleep in their apartments,
and Joe and Sneak were silently promenading round the quiet

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dwelling, within their allotted limits, ever and anon peering out
through the loop holes in the palisade. The semi-circle beat of
Joe was on the north, and Sneak's on the south side of the enclosure;
and when they met on the east and on the west, they lingered
a few moments, and conversed in whispers.

“I like this place better than the other, Sucak,” said Joe, when
they came together on the west side, and after gazing out in silence
at the mountain in the distance, which resembled a rising stormcloud
under the bright rays of the full moon.

“What other place?” asked Sneak.

“Glenn's place on the mad Missouri.”

“I'm not sure that I agree with you,” said Sneak. “No doubt
it's a better place for beaver and other—but who's to buy the
skins?”

“Glenn is bound to buy 'em,” said Joe; “I'm a witness to his
obligation.”

“Yes, Joe, he promised to buy 'em all. But how kin we agree
about the price? If I won't take what he offers, who else will
give me my price? That's the trouble.”

“Trouble, your granny! What's the use of having any trouble
about it?”

“That's my business.”

“Yes, it's your business and your nature, too, to be snappish.
Always thinking about bargains, and making money. Now what
can you do with money out here?”

“I kin lay it up for a rainy day. I kin count it, and look
at it.”

“I thought so!” said he, contemptuously. “And so can little
Jule and Charley look at their tops!”

“And don't they please 'em? You're a fool, Joe!”

“And you're a philosopher, Sneak. Pleasure is pleasure with
you—and the filthy lucre makes you happy just to look at it, as the
toys do the little children. Now listen to me: I'm thinking about
real happiness, and I'm going to have it out here in the wilderness.
I've got a mighty project!”

“What is it, Joe?” asked Sneak, with interest.

[figure description] Page 013.[end figure description]

“It is this—no, I won't tell you, upon second thoughts.”

“You're bound to tell me, now; what is it?”

“It's my secret, and I'll keep it.”

“No, don't, Joe. You know Mr. Glenn made us swear to be
friends, even if we did differ in opinion and quarrelled every day.
Now, why not, like good friends in earnest, share together that real
mighty project, you're a going to git?”

“Why not? I have reasons for it. It can't be shared by you,
and that's enough.”

Saying this, Joe turned away, and strode the length of his semi-circle
in double-quick time. But Sneak was even with him, and so
they met again on the eastern side of the enclosure.

“Why do you like this place better than the other?” asked Sneak,
reverting to Joe's remark at their first meeting.

“Because, Sneak—and you mus'nt laugh at me, for I'm not
afraid—this place is out of reach of arrows. You remember
Glenn's first house was between two hollows, where the Indians
could hide and rain down burning arrows on us.”

“But they did'nt hit us,” said Sneak. “Joe, sometimes I used
to think you was'nt a coward, and then agin sometimes that you
was.”

“What do you think now?” demanded Joe.

“I hav'nt made up my mind yet.”

“Well, you'll make it up some of these days,” said Joe, shaking
his head.

“May be so,” said Sneak, “and then I'll tell you what it is.
But I'm afeard I shant like this place as well as t'other. I'm
afread the dod-rotted Indgens won't attack us here, and I shall soon
be spiling for a fight.”

“You can brag,” said Joe, “but the first time I saw you, you
were hiding from the Indians in a buffalo's belly.”

“That's a lie, Joe, and you know it is—hold back your arm—
you can call me a liar when I tell a lie, and I aint to hit you.
That's our agreement. I was hiding from the fire in the prairie—
and not from the Indgens.”

[figure description] Page 014.[end figure description]

“But the Indians were not so bad as the fire—and so I would'nt
brag any more about it. And you're mistaken, Sneak, about no
Indians being able to find us here. Mr. William, who knows more
about 'em than any one among us, except the squaw—”

“Dod rot it! don't call Mrs. La-u-na a squaw! She's a Christian
now, or soon will be one, and she'll be an angel in heaven.”

“Well—I mean his wife—and he says this place is well known
to the chiefs of the Camanches and the Apaches—the fiercest
warriors in the plains.”

“How does he know that?”

“Know it? Can't he read the figures on the rocks? The sides
of the big cave over yonder, he says, is written all over with the
histories of many tribes—and some of the marks, he's quite sure,
were made hundreds and hundreds of years ago.”

“I should like to know how he kin tell that,” said Sneak.

“Don't you think the Indians date their writings as well as we
do? Well, he says, from their writings, that this place has always
been kept as a neutral ground between the tribes.”

“And now I see where little Jule got her notion from about
sparing the game here. And perhaps its the reason you like this
place better than t'other on the old Mad Missouri.”

“It's no such thing, Sneak; for Mr. William says, that although
the heads of the nations agreed never to let their warriors fight
each other on this neutral patch, that would'nt prevent all of 'em
from agreeing to fight against us.”

“Good—I like that, Joe! for I shall get the blue devils, if thar's
to be no fighting here.”

“Yes, and you'll get blue pills if there is. That is'nt the happiness
I'm after.”

“Well, what is your project? If it's better than mine, why not
let me have a sheer of it?”

“You don't know what you're talking about!”

“That's it, Joe; but I want to know—and I must know—for
you've raised my curiosity.”

“Well, find it out.”

[figure description] Page 015.[end figure description]

Saying this, Joe wheeled round, and retraced his steps to the
opposite side of the enclosure.

“Where's Pete, Joe?” asked Sneak, when they met again.

“Which Pete? You know the pony's dead.”

“Of course I do—then what other Pete can I mean but your
dirty, little fice dog? You had no right to call a mangy little dog
arter a horse.”

“I had a right to do as I pleased. But where is he, sure enough?
Is'nt that his bark?” he continued, listening to some slight yelping
in the direction of the great cave on the northern bank of the
stream.

“If it is'nt, it's as like it as two peas,” said Sneak. “And it
can't be anything else, for I know the sounds of all the wild animals.
Over yonder in the west, I hear a painter, and in the south,
a whole pack of wolves. I hear constantly catamounts, coons,
otters, and now and then the grunt of a bear; I know 'em all, as
well as my a, b, c's; and none of 'em, no critter, beast of the
woods, the mountains, or the valleys, can make so nasty a noise as
that ugly little fice, Pete!”

“I'll make him bite you for that,” said Joe. “Pete! Pete!
Here, Pete!” cried he, turning his face towards the house. But no
Pete came. “Sneak,” he continued, “it must be Pete! But how
did he get out?”

“He? He can git through a dozen places. He's not bigger than
a common sized cat. Listen! Now it's like two tarnation Petes.”

“It's a fact,” said Joe, listening intently. “It's precisely as if
two were barking at once—and not in anger either—for I know
when Pete's mad, by his bark.”

“And when he's mad,” said Sneak, contemptuously, “I wonder
what it amounts to? His bite's like a flea-bite.”

“But he can make more noise than big Ponto.”

“Yes, dod rot him, he's made me lose many an hour's sleep,”
said Sneak; “I shot at him once, and I'm sorry I missed him.”

“Sneak,” said Joe, placing his hand on his comrade's shoulder,
“did you ever shoot at Pete?”

[figure description] Page 016.[end figure description]

“I did, Joe; but it was purely accident. Mr. Glenn saw me
when I done it—and he saw Pete, too—and like me, he thought
he was a otter.”

“Otter! Well that's an explanation.” Then Joe turned away
again and strode round to the other side, looking through the loop-holes
as he proceeded, and listening for the bark of the dog, which,
however, had soon ceased to be heard.

This time Joe was ahead of Sneak; and when the latter came
up he found Joe in a most interesting attitude. He was gazing intently
through the loop-hole, his feet and hands apart, and his body
bent down and motionless

“Dod rot it! What do you see?” exclaimed Sneak.

Joe made no answer for some time; but presently he turned his
face, now quite pale, towards his companion, and every limb seemed
to be trembling.

“What is it—an Indgen?” continued Sneak.

“Sneak,” said Joe, in a mournful voice, “do you believe in apparitions?”

“In what?”

“Apparitions—ghosts—supernatural things!”

“Super what? Ghosts? Yes, I do. But dod rot 'em, they never
hurt any body. I seed one once in a swamp, and it was like a ball
of fire sailing through the air; and as I tried to ketch it, it vanished,
and I fell up to my neck in muddy water.”

“That aint what I mean,” said Joe; “but I've seen an apparition—
and, Sneak, although I don't care so much for flesh and
blood, I'm frightened at this thing. I confess I am.”

“You need'nt confess it, unless you've a mind to—for I can see
it by moonlight. You're as pale as chalk. But what is it? Let
me see.” Thrusting Joe aside, he applied his eye to the orifice.

“Don't you see?” asked Joe.

“I see your tarnel Pete, that's all,” said Sneak. “No—stop—
yes—dod—why, Joe, there's two Petes! Where did the other
come from?”

Joe was silent. And in truth, it was quite enough to stun him.
There was his darling Pete, playing in the grass with another little

[figure description] Page 017.[end figure description]

dog, of the same brown color, cropped ears, and short tail; and
they were so much alike he could'nt tell “which from which,” as
he declared, when he whistled and called Pete. Both seemed to
recognize his voice, for both looked up at the loop-hole, and wagged
their tails precisely alike.

“Go out and ketch 'em,” said Sneak, pointing to the nearest
gate, “and I'll watch.”

“Hold my gun, Sneak,” said Joe, giving his musket to his companion,
and unbarring one of the entrances, through which he
passed. “Here, Pete,” cried he, as he timidly approached the
place where the dogs were playing, and where the grass had been
much cropped by the sheep and goats. Both dogs came to him,
and both wagged their short tails.

“Now pick up your Pete,” said Sneak, through the loop-hole.

“I don't know which he is,” said Joe, “they're both so much
alike. Here, Pete!” he continued, stooping down. Then they
wagged their tails more energetically than ever, and approached
within a few inches of him. “I've got one, anyhow,” he exclaimed
the next moment, as he seized it by the back of the neck.

“Now snatch the other,” said Sneak, “and come in; it's agin
the rules for you to be out.”

“Confound you! what do you mean?” demanded Joe, still holding
his captive by the neck. “Sneak,” said Joe, “I'm afraid I've
got the wrong Pete. My Pete never showed his teeth at me. He
never was so ungrateful.”

“If that's the wrong Pete you've got, the other must be the right
one—and why don't you snatch your'n?”

“Come here, Pete,” said Joe, to the other. It came and licked
the hand held out to caress him—while the other struggled and
growled menacingly.

“Now, if you can't bring 'em both in,” said Sneak, “you kin
bring the right one, and let the wrong one go.'

“I'm afraid he'll bite me,” said Joe. “These little dogs are as
quick as lightning. Sneak, I'm afraid to let him go.”

“You're always afraid of somethin'. Don't you see it's only a
dream, and he can't hurt you? You know we brought here only

[figure description] Page 018.[end figure description]

one Pete, and there aint another white man in a thousand miles of
us. That's proof this is a dream. Pinch yourself and see. If it
hurts, it'll be only 'magination in your sleep. But waking or dreaming,
you must come in, or you may lose your scalp.”

“My scalp! Oh, Sneak!” said Joe, looking round, “do you see
or hear any signs of Indians?”

“I hear every kind of wild animal and varmint in creation,”
said Sneak, “and you know the Indgens can imitate 'em all. I
would'nt swear they were'nt Indgens!”

“I won't stay here,” said Joe, rising up with his own Pete under
his left arm, and holding the other by the neck with his right hand.
“Go to the d—l!” said he, and he hurled the counterfeit Pete some
twenty feet away. He then ran with all his might towards the
narrow gate in the palisade; but before he could get in, the little
dog he had so roughly used, sprang after him and nipped him on
the calf of the leg. “Where's my gun? give me my gun, Sneak,”
cried he, passing through, and rushing towards the loop-hole. But
Sneak, laughing very heartily, was so tall that he could easily hold
the gun above the reach of Joe.

“Give me my musket. I'll shoot the confounded dog. He's bit
me, Sneak; give me my musket,” he continued, releasing his
own Pete, and intent on killing the other.

“Well, take it,” said Sneak, after casting a glance out and seeing
the little dog vanish in the distance; “but don't make sich a dod
rotted fuss about it, or you'll alarm the house.”

Joe seized the old musket and thrust the barrel through the
loop-hole.

“Why don't you shoot?” asked Sneak.

“It's vanished!” said Joe.

“It was only a shadow,” said Sneak. “Don't you see the moon's
shining brightly, and of course Pete could'nt frolic about on the
grass without being follered by his shadow.”

“That's confounded nonsense, Sneak,” said Joe, standing his
gun against the palisade, and then rolling up his breeches. “See
here!” he continued, turning to where the unobstructed moonlight
fell upon his calf, and exhibiting the marks of the dog's teeth.

[figure description] Page 019.[end figure description]

“That looks 'zactly as if you had been nipped by some real
rascally little fice dog. Does it smart, Joe?”

“Smart? It hurts like fury! Could a shadow do that? Besides,
did'nt I hold him by the back of his neck, while he was
trying all the time to bite my hand? Could a shadow do that?
And when I let him go, and ran off with Pete in my arms, will
any body try to persuade me it was his shadow that followed and
bit me on the leg?”

“I don't say it was a real shadow done all that, Joe,” said
Sneak; “but you know Mr. Glenn calls dreams merely shadows;
and it's my opinion this is a dream.”

“It's no such thing,” said Joe; “I'll swear to it! My leg aches
like blazes!”

“You think so, Joe; but's only fancy,” said Sneak, smiling.
`In the morning, when we wake up there'll be no marks of teeth
on your calf. But we mus'nt stay here. You go your beat, and I'll
go mine.”

“Stop, Sneak,” cried Joe; “if it's really a dream, what's the
use of keeping sentry?”

“Why, can't people be killed in their sleep, you gump, you?”
aid Sneak, indignantly. “It's the very time to be most watchful.”

“Go ahead,” said Joe, shouldering his gun, and muttering half
conceived maledictions as he traversed his round, and stopping
every ten or fifteen paces to peer through the loop-holes. And
when the watchers were yet some paces apart, Joe was startled by
a shrill whistle outside, and dropping his gun, sprang rapidly,
although he had limped before, towards Sneak. Sneak only laughed
at him. It was a buck which had been browsing near the palisade,
and had lifted his head near the loop-hole just when Joe looked
through it. Joe, saying now it was only a dream, returned for his
gun, and continued his walk.

p623-025 CHAPTER III.

MORE ABOUT THE MYSTERIOUS DOG—THE FLOWERS AND FRUITS.

[figure description] Page 020.[end figure description]

At the hour when Joe had his adventure with the mysterious
Pete, beyond the enclosure, the same dog was the subject of remark
in the house. The children had been taken to their chamber
by Biddy Rafferty, the nurse, and the rest of the family were assembled
in the best furnished apartment in the second story, before
a cheerful fire of purest anthracite coal, which abounded in the
cliffs round the valley.

“He is not an Indian dog,” said La-u-na, who, by dint of application
after her union with William, had mastered the English language.

“I think not,” said William. “Were you close to him?”

“I was,” said Mary. “La-u-na and I were returning from the
great cave when we first saw him. He was playing with Joe's
Pete, who had followed us. When I called, he wagged his tail, as
did the other, and it was impossible to know which was Joe's dog,
for they were similar in color and size.”

“It is very strange!” said Roughgrove.

“Certainly there can be no other white people in this vicinity,”
said Glenn.

“Nor Indians, either,” said William. “This valley is so situated
that white men can never find it, unless it be by accident; and,
so far, I have not been able to discover any recent traces of Indians.
I don't think any have been at the cave since spring. But it is
visited by them periodically, for there is a spirit within it, or supposed
to be, to whom they make yearly offerings. Do you not construe
the paintings so, La-u-na?”

“Oh, yes. When I was a little girl they used to take me to a
cave in our country, and leave bread and dried meat for one of the
guardian spirits. But it was not so large a cave as this.”

“This cannot be the same one,” said William.

[figure description] Page 021.[end figure description]

“Oh, no!” said La-u-na. “It was not so far away. But my
father and the prophet always put marks on the walls of the cave,
like those we saw to-day.”

“The little dog was fat, too,” said Mary. “Perhaps he lives on
the food kept there for the spirit.”

“Perhaps he's the spirit, Mary,” said Glenn, smiling. “Joe
will solve the mystery. I think, however, it is a stray dog which
belonged to the trappers. Or his owner may have perished in the
wilderness. We shall find out more about him soon. Did he go in
the cave?”

“No,” said La-u-na;” he swam the brook, and chambered up
through a narrow chasm to the summit of the cliff, where we saw
him last. He looked down at us from under a stunted cedar, and
wagged his tail in friendly adieu.”

“To-morrow,” said Glenn, “we shall begin our explorations
round the valley and in the woods. No doubt we shall make many
interesting discoveries, and I think I will have use for my crucibles
in the winter. I have no doubt there is gold in the hills, from the
volcanic deposits everywhere.”

“I fear there is!” said Roughgrove with a sigh; “and if so,
and the fact should become known, our happy valley will ultimately
become the scene of many changes, and of a mercenary and sinful
population. But God's will be done! And it may be his will to
people this interminable waste with the teeming millions of Europe,
else why these deposits of treasure?”

“We can keep the secret,” said Glenn. “Sneak is the only one
who would be disposed to make a fortune by such discoveries, and
you know I have bound him by contract to sell everything he makes
or finds, to me. He cannot abandon us, at least for many years, as
no one would think of traversing the desert alone. But there are
other objects of interest. I have already found salt springs, sulphur,
and saltpetre—besides the extraordinary fields of mica, and
precious stones. Then the soil and climate! It is remarkable how
late the vegetation remains green, and how rapidly our buckwheat
has grown! I should not be surprised if two crops of corn could
be produced here. It is now late in November, and there has been

[figure description] Page 022.[end figure description]

no frost. Perhaps cotton and sugar can be grown. We shall have
abundance of useful employment, as well as pleasing amusement.”

“I never tasted better grapes,” said Mary, “than we found on
the banks near the smoking stream.”

“Yes, we have a smoking stream, too,” said Glenn, “pouring
out of the rocks near the cave. I tested it with the thermometer,
Mary, and ascertained that it will boil our eggs.”

“But the grapes, Charles!” continued Mary. “There were
blue ones and white ones, the largest I ever saw, growing wild—
and the most delicious. Then the haws—the plums—the persimmons—
the largest I ever beheld!”

“And the flowers!” said La-u-na; “they were brighter and
more abundant, William, than those I brought you on the banks of
the “Mad Missouri.” This is the “Happy Valley.”

“I thank God for it!” said William. “And, among the other
delights, I have discovered speckled trout in the stream; and I
know Glenn has a store of fishing tackle.”

“But before you catch the fish,” said Mary, “you must fulfill
your promise to little Juliet.”

“I will try,” said William. He had promised to capture an antelope
for her. “But it may be a long time before I succeed. And
little Charley reminds me every day of my promise to catch him a
colt or pony. Undoubtedly, from the indications, great numbers of
wild horses and buffaloes come hither at certain seasons; but at
what season, or rather at what time the season changes in this peculiar
region, none of us can have any other means of ascertaining
than to wait and see. I find trees, and bushes, and vines here,
that I never beheld before.”

“And the most beautiful, and the most gigantic specimens of the
cacti!” said Glenn.

“To-morrow will reveal more,” said Roughgrove. He then produced
his book; and after prayers, the families dispersed to their
various chambers.

p623-028 CHAPTER IV.

THE FIRST HUNT—JOE KILLS A WOLF—SLAUGHTER OF DEER—
TWO GRIZZLY BEARS, AND A BATTLE WITH THEM—THE WILD
HORSES.

[figure description] Page 023.[end figure description]

“Let me see your leg, Joe,” said Sneak, as he and Joe rode out
of the gate of the enclosure, early the next morning, in the rear of
Glenn and William.

“There,” said Joe, rolling up his pantaloons, “look at that!”
The marks of the dog's teeth were plainly visible.

“If it was a dream, Joe,” said Sneak, “your own Pete must have
bit you in your sleep.”

“That's nonsense!” said Joe. “It was no dream. But where
are we going?”

“We're going to ride all round the valley in the outer edge of
the timber, where we can shoot without breaking the law.”

“I'm glad of that, Sneak, for I want to kill something in revenge
for this hurt on my leg. Yonder's a buck's tail, now!”

“Don't shoot—or you'll lose your gun,” exclaimed Sneak, as
Joe threw his musket up to his shoulder, and seemed to be taking
aim at the deer as it leaped leisurely through the long grass.

“I was tempted,” said Joe;” and I pulled the trigger, but it
wasn't cocked. If it had been cocked, that doe would have fallen,
and I would have been the first law-breaker. I hope you fixed my
lock for me, Sneak, as you are our gun-mender.”

“Yes, I made it easier. If it had been cocked, you'd 'ave found
it out. But why don't you take one of the rifles, and throw that
old cannon away? It makes twice as much noise as any other
gun, and don't do half as much execution.”

“It makes a good report, Sneak, and I like it for that, because
everybody knows who's shooting; but the other observation of yours
about it's not doing half execution, is simply a lie.”

“What?”

[figure description] Page 024.[end figure description]

“A lie, but not a fighting lie, you know—for we're both in too
good humor to quarrel. But to prove it's a lie, you have only to remember
the execution it's done in former days and nights, among
the Indians, the wolves—yes, and your puppies.”

“Dod rot it, Joe, don't make any allusion to 'em, or we'll fight,
sartin. Else I'll kill your Pete.”

“You may kill the phantom Pete, as Mr. Glenn calls him, and
welcome. But I love my old musket, Sneak, and won't give it up.
I love it for its many reminiscences, as Mr. Roughgrove calls
'em.”

“What's that?”

“Oh, only the slaughter it has made—and some good-natured
kicks it gave us. You havn't forgot how it knocked me over one
night when you peeped over my shoulder, and the back of my head
broke your tooth?”

“Is that it?” said Sneak, indignantly, lifting his hand to his
mouth and exposing the fractured tooth. “Dod rot the old good
for nothing gun! No, I hav'nt forgotten it, and never shall, as
long as the old consarn's in my sight. I'll smash it some of these
days. Don't talk to me about those remniscences.”

“If you do, Sheak, of course you'll be prepared for war. We'll
fight, then; and I'll not stop as long as you have a tooth in your
head.”

They maintained a distance of some twenty or thirty paces in the
rear of Glenn and William, who determined to ride the entire circuit
of the island within the limits of its boundary of running
waters. On the level side of the laughing stream, they met with
a great variety of luscious fruits, and among the rest were astonished
to find, occasionally, apple and pear trees in full bearing. It
was conjectured that the seeds must have been dropped by pigeons
or other birds of passage. The grapes were in the most surprising
abundance, and of excellent flavor. Wild raspberry bushes, still
in bearing, blackberry, gooseberry, and whortleberry bushes, were
scattered in promiscuous profusion round the entire circuit of the
island.

With the exception of a few places, there were no means of

[figure description] Page 025.[end figure description]

egress on the opposite side of the stream, and these were only afforded
by exceedingly narrow and precipitous ascents, through half
concealed fissures in the otherwise nearly uniform embankment of
rocks, which rose never less than twenty, and often as high as fifty
feet above the water. At the lower end of the delta, where the
water dashed through a cañon, there could be no possible ingress
for man or beast, for the stream leaped down an almost perpendicular
descent, which only the most active of fishes could ascend.
Through this avenue, however, the party, as they paused to contemplate
its grandeur, could distinguish a vast number of water fowl in
the little lake beyond. Among these were swans, geese, brant, and
several varieties of ducks; while upon the margin, stalked the long
legged crane, and ran the plover, as well as the smaller snipe.
These had evidently enjoyed a long exemption from the murderous-aim
of man, as none of them seemed alarmed at the proximity of
the party, now within thirty yards of them. On the contrary, they
looked at the strangers with great curiosity, and some approached
them for a closer inspection.

“Don't fire,” said Glenn, seeing Joe aiming his musket in that
direction.

“I don't mean to, sir,” said Joe, lowering his gun; “I was only
seeing how many I could kill if I was to shoot. I've got buck shot
in, sir; but if I had duck shot, I think I could knock over a dozen
of 'em every time. But, sir, is it agoing to be against the law to
kill 'em in the pond?”

“From this side, Joe,” said Glenn. “The object is to keep the
game in the island as gentle as possible.”

“And I don't see what good that is going to do,” said Joe, in an
undertone to Sneak. “The niggers have the hardest time of it,
though; for they have been compelled to make those high fences
round the field, just to keep out the gentle game.”

“And the hosses and the bull, Joe,” said Sneak;” that Tom, the
black bull, can walk through any common fence.”

“Yes, and he can whip any wild animal they can fetch against
him.”

“But the fences won't keep out the coons,” said Sneak, “and I
shall have sport catching 'em. I see signs of 'em everywhere.”

[figure description] Page 026.[end figure description]

Glenn and William then, with some difficulty, crossed the stream
at one of the very few places on the north side which admitted
egress from the valley. The ascent was steep, and before the party
had proceeded far up the hill, Joe slipped off his horse behind.

“Stop,” cried he. “Catch Dick! Plague take the horse.”

“Dick's higher than your little pony,” said Sneak, seizing the
reins; “and if you hadn't fell on your feet, it mought've been a
mighty hard tumble. But don't blame the hoss; it was the hill,
and it's as much as I kin do to keep on my hoss' back, and I'm a
good rider.”

“Good rider!” said Joe, mounting again. “Say good walker—
for your long legs can touch the ground. I'm as good a rider as
you.”

“Hold up your gun!” cried Sneak, in alarm. “Dod rot it, don't
you see it's cocked?”

“No, I didn't see it, Sneak,” said Joe. “It must have been
done by the bushes—and it was pointing right at you. I wouldn't
kill you for the world, Sneak,” he added, uncocking his musket.

“And I wouldn't be killed for a dozen worlds, Joe, even by accident.
But spur up; they're getting too far ahead, and the ground's
leveller here.”

There was heavy timber on the hill sides next the valley, but the
growth became smaller as they receded from the water; thus, when
they had reached the summit, they were even with the tops of the
highest trees, and surrounded by stunted oaks and bushes. Beyond,
and as far as the eye could reach, there was a succession of hills
or steppes, mostly barren of vegetation. But when they drew near
the head of the valley, they entered the grand forest of noble trees
which extended, apparently, all the way to the mountain.

As they entered this forest, Glenn and William, who waited till
Sneak and Joe came up, announced that the restriction was removed
from the use of their guns, and that a prize should be awarded the
one who achieved the first success.

“But I'm afraid of getting lost,” said Joe, “if we scatter off by
ourselves.”

“That's impossible,” said William. “The forest is not exceeding

[figure description] Page 027.[end figure description]

a half mile in breadth, and you have only to turn to the right or
left, and you emerge into the prairie. Then, following the timber, it
will certainly lead you into the valley.”

“But suppose I take the wrong end of it,” said Joe, “won't it
lead me to the mountain?”

“If you don't know a mountain forty miles off, from a green valley
in sight of you,” said Sneak.

Then the hunters dispersed in different directions, Joe spurring
his horse through a patch of spice bushes. But before the rest of
the party had separated far, Joe's gun was heard. It was known
to be his gun, because the report was different from any other ever
heard before. It was like the blasting of rocks. The next moment
his horse came dashing over the bushes, his ears thrust back, his
nostrils distended, and his eyes flashing fire. He snorted, he pawed
the earth. He was riderless; and this attracting the attention of
the other hunters who had instinctively turned and looked in that
direction upon being startled by the astounding report, they rode back
briskly to look for Joe. They found him lying on his back, and his
musket balanced horizontally on the bushes, some twenty feet distant.

“What's the matter, Joe?” asked Glenn, dismounting.

“His dodrotted gun's kilt him agin,” said Sneak.

“He moves,” said William.

“I was stunned a little,” said Joe, rising slowly into a sitting attitude.

“A little!” said Glenn.

“Where's my horse?” asked Joe, looking round somewhat wildly.

“Here he is,” said Sneak. “I led him back, poor fellow!”

“Led him back? How did he get away? Where's my gun?”

“See thar!” said Sneak, pointing to it.

“How came it there?” asked Joe. “Oh, I remember! Mr.
Glenn,” he continued, now rising to his feet, “may I whip Sneak?”

“Whip Sneak?”

“Don't let him do it, Mr. Glenn,” said Sneak; “and I know he
could do it now, for I'm as weak as a baby. I shall never be strong

[figure description] Page 028.[end figure description]

agin, till I can find a clean place to lay down and laugh in, a whole
hour by myself.”

“The peace must be maintained, Joe,” said Glenn; “nevertheless
there must be an end of such practical jokes as these—and you
can bring the matter before us to-night.”

“Sneak,” said Joe, “didn't you promise to draw the load out of
my gun, when you mended the lock yesterday?”

“I did promise—but I couldn't perform it, the screw wouldn't
take holt of the piece of old hat you had rammed down.”

“Why didn't you say so, you rascal? I thought the gun was
empty, and loaded it again.”

“That's the explanation,” said Glenn—“and indeed the gun explained
itself by its tremendous report.”

“And it ain't busted,” said Sneak, examining the musket which
he had taken down from the bushes. “Throw the dod rotted thing
away, Joe,” said he, as he placed it in the hands of the owner.

“I shall do no such thing,” said Joe. “Mr. Boone used to say
it was a safe gun, because it had been so often tested by overloading
and by double loading. I'm not afraid of its bursting, and I'll
stick to it, because its a safe gun.”

“If you consider it a safe gun,” said William, smiling, “no one
else has any right to object to it.”

“Yes, I have,” said Sneak; “look here!” and he exposed his
fractured tooth, with whose history all were familiar. And Joe himself
laughed at the remembrance.

“But what did you shoot at?” asked Sneak. “We all know who
suffered most.”

“Do you?” said Joe, re-charging his gun very composedly. “Mr.
Boone used to say, no matter what was hit or missed, every hunter,
after firing, ought to load his gun again, before moving from his
tracks. Now I'll show you what I fired at,” he continued, when he
had finished, leading the way among some wild-rose bushes a few
paces to the left. “And I shall claim the premium; there it is—
dead enough.”

“What is it?” asked they, following close.

[figure description] Page 029.[end figure description]

“An old he wolf,” said Sneak, bestriding the animal, which was
found to be completely riddled by the double load of buckshot.

“I claim the prize,” said Joe.

“You can't,” said Sneak, “its not game. An old gray he-wolf,
too poor and weak to git out of the way—and maybe it had laid
down to die with old age—and who knows it wasn't dead before he
shot it—”

“Stop, Sneak,” said Glenn. “It is you, now, who are disposed
to quarrel with Joe. There is fresh blood, and abundance of it, to
prove the wolf was living. I know it is hard for a great hunter
like yourself, to be second to any one; but the prize is Joe's this
time; there was no exception of wolves—and indeed the killing of a
wolf is entitled to a premium in the States as well as in the wilderness.”

“I won't dispute it, sir,” said Sneak; “but rot me if I'd shot
such a mean and contemptible old decripid varmint as that. Even
the skin ain't good for nuthin'.”

“Because I riddled it,” said Joe, now in high spirits, and remounting
his appeased horse. “It was a great shot, Sneak! I'll
tell you all about it some other time. It was running when I pulled
the trigger—and I took deliberate aim, because I did'nt dream
of the two loads, and never thought of being kicked.”

Amicable terms being restored between Sneak and Joe, Glenn
and William left them to pursue their vagaries as they pleased, and
rode out towards the prairie. The wind came from the west, and
hence the smoke of Joe's gun was wafted to the valley instead of
the mountain. The game, therefore, whose curiosity as much as
their fear is always excited by novel sounds, had not been thrown
into consternation. On the contrary, Glenn and William, as they
had anticipated, beheld various animals converging towards the
scene of Joe's achievement, or disaster, as if to ascertain the cause
of the startling uproar in the woods.

Selecting the finest bucks, Glenn and William each killed one,
and then desisted from the destruction. But while they were dressing
the fat venison, and hanging the bodies above the reach of
prowling wolves or panthers, they were startled again by the report

[figure description] Page 030.[end figure description]

of Joe's musket on the other side of the woods. This time the explosion
was not so astounding; but it was shocking enough. And
it was followed soon after by the sharp crack of Sneak's rifle, in
the same vicinity.

“Joe missed the mark that time,” said William.

“And Sneak hit it,” said Glenn.

“Yes,” said William, “Sneak don't often miss.”

“There goes Joe again!” said Glenn, as another booming sound
reverberated on the ear. “What can it mean? Perhaps they've
treed a flock of turkeys. But I told them not to fire at birds.”

“And there's Sneak's rifle again,” said William. He wouldn't
shoot a turkey, and it is not often that he fires a second time at the
same object.”

William and Glenn secured their bucks, which was effected by
bending down two elastic saplings, and tying the animals to the
stoutest boughs. When the trees were released they lifted the
bucks up some ten feet from the earth. By the time this was accomplished,
Joe and Sneak were firing alternately in quick succession.

“Let us hasten over there,” said Glenn, and see what all this
bombarding means.”

“Very well,” said William; “for I can't understand it. It cannot
be the Indians, however; for, although they might not have
other weapons than bows and arrows, still they never go into battle
without the war whoop. And, besides, we should not have been
wholly neglected by them.”

They rode off in the direction of the firing, and were not a moment
too soon. First, they came across the horses of Joe and Sneak
browsing on a little grass plot, very composedly. A little beyond,
they found a dead doe, pretty completely riddled with buckshot, in
irrefragable testimony of another triumph of Joe. But, beyond
this, they found a buck, which Sneak's rifle ball had penetrated in
the fatal spot behind the shoulder. Both had their throats cut, and
Joe's knife lay beside his victim, showing very plainly that he had
been interrupted in the process of dressing the meat.

[figure description] Page 031.[end figure description]

The firing was still kept up, several hundred paces distant from
this place.

“It's a grizzly bear,” said William; “I heard him scream at the
last crack of Sneak's rifle, and he must be wounded; but twenty
rounds won't kill him. “Let us be careful! They are the most
desperate and dangerous animals in the woods. I hope Joe and
Sneak have escaped unhurt.”

“On! on!” said Glenn, “or we may be too late! They are not
mounted and cannot escape! And they have ceased firing, now.”

This was true. But if the reports of guns did no longer resound
in the woods, the voice of Joe was very distinctly heard calling for
help.

“Yonder they are,” said William, galloping forward to the rescue.

Sneak and Joe were posted on the apex of an Indian mound in
the edge of the woods, and were assailed by two enormous grizzly
bears, that ran round them, and ever and anon endeavored to leap
up the steep ascent. They were both wounded, and evidently weak
from loss of blood. When this awful spectacle burst in view of
Glenn and William, both Sneak and Joe were fighting desperately
with long heavy clubs they had torn from the tree that stood on the
summit of the mound. It seemed that their guns were either out
of order, or that they did not now have time to load them.

“Oh, Mr. Glenn—oh, Mr. William Roughgrove, save us!” cried
Joe.

“Shet your mouth!” said Sneak, “and save your wind for the
bars!” And as he said this, he sent the foremost one, who charged
up the hill, down again with a tremendous blow on the snout.

“Take that,” said Joe, aiming his long club at the other, which
took effect on his head and stunned him. “Shoot, Mr. Glenn!”
continued Joe, “or they'll kill us both to a certainty.”

Thus repulsed, the furious animals rested in a small depression at
the base of the mound, so thickly overgrown with brambles, that
neither Glenn nor William could see them.

“They'll come up again in a minute,” said Joe, “they're only

[figure description] Page 032.[end figure description]

getting their breath. I see 'em. Their red glaring eye-balls are
upon us! We're doomed, if you don't save us.”

“Dod rot it, keep your mouth shet,” said Sneak. “Be still, I
say, or I'll pitch you down on 'em. Just give me time to fix another
flint.”

“Joe,” said Glenn,” if you see them, why don't you shoot?”

“I can't,” cried Joe. “I rammed down the bullets first, and the
powder on top of 'em. The gun won't go off.”

“Why don't you fire again, Sneak?” asked William.

“I lost my flint,” said Sneak, “trying to help Joe fix his dod rotted
musket. The briars pulled it out. I've got another, but it's too
big—I'm trying to fit it though—if Joe'll only keep his mouth shet,
and not aggravate the tarnal bars.”

“Oh, Lord!” cried Joe. “Here they come again. Don't shoot
for Heaven's sake; you'll hit us,” cried he, seeing William and
Glenn lift their guns to their shoulders.

“Perhaps we had better reserve our fire,” said Glenn, taking
down his rifle. There is danger of aiming too high.” William
thought so too.

“Whar's my sticker?” cried Sneak, dropping his gun and resuming
his club. “Now, Joe, let's hit the tarnation monsters on
the teeth.” The attack this time was more feeble than the last, and
the assailants were easily repulsed under the redoubtable blows of
the men fighting for their lives.

“Let us finish them now,” said Glenn.

“Yes, before they have time to recover,” said William. They
spurred forward until they were within a few feet of the ditch. The
wounded and bleeding animals glared at them, and were evidently
meditating an attack, when the well-directed balls of the skillful
marksmen gave them the coup de grace. Both the huge animals
now lay in the agony of death; and a few moments after, Sneak
was bestride them, exhibiting their formidable claws.

“I'm the conqueror!” cried Joe, dancing round. “Mr. Boone
told me once that when any one killed a grizzly bear, he was made
a head chief, and he always wore the bear's claws. Huzza for my
musket!”

“You'se a dod rotted fool,” said Sneak. “They minded your

[figure description] Page 033.[end figure description]

buckshot jest about as much as hogs minds the acorns that fall on
their backs.”

“I know better, I know better,” said Joe, in great glee, as he
pointed out the immense number of holes in the sides of the animals,
from which the blood was oozing. Acorns don't make the
blood run. You shot only five or six times, and here's at least forty
holes. I did the business; I killed 'em both.”

“You've spoilt both their hides,” said Sneak—and that's all.”

“Don't quarrel, or William and I will claim to have killed them
both,” said Glenn.

This being spoken with some severity, and decision of manner,
put a temporary end to the dispute.

“What shall be done next?” asked William, looking at the prostrate
animals, with interest. “It is still early.”

I'm jest in tune now,” said Sneak. “Not a bit worried. I'm
keen as a razor to go on. Let Joe go back, if he's tired or afeard
of anything.”

“Me?” said Joe, who had succeeded in extracting the wads from
his gun, and in charging it with the powder in the right place.
“Me tired? I hav'nt got my blood half up, yet. I feel like a
wood's colt. I'm greedy for more triumphs over Sneak. I can out
run him, throw him down, and beat him shooting.”

“Why don't you say braggin, and hollerin when there's danger,”
retorted Sneak.

“Then we will go on,” said Glenn; and ascending the mound he
sounded three loud blasts of his horn, which was the signal for Cæ
sar, Pompey and Hannibal to bring up the wagon and convey the
game to the house. The signal was understood, and was answered
by three blasts from the field where the negroes were at work.

The party then lost no time in dressing the huge animals, and as
their skins were stripped off, it was more apparent than ever, that
Joe's musket had done a large share of the work of destruction.
Sneak said the buckshot only destroyed the hides, but William informed
him that he had learned a remedy for such small rents, when
he dwelt among the Indians.

Then Joe and Sneak narrated the manner of their encounter

[figure description] Page 034.[end figure description]

with the bears. It was when they were cutting the throats of the
deer that the first grizzly had made his appearance. He was not
the first to begin the battle, however, but merely circled round the
deer at a respectful distance, and would have gone off, if Joe had
let him alone. But Joe. not wishing to let him alone, and quite ignorant
of the danger, blazed away in spite of the remonstrances of
Sneak. This precipitated matters; for the bear, although knocked
down by the heavy discharge, soon recovered his feet; and, as is
his invariable custom, charged upon his assailant. Of course Joe
ran away, for his gun was not yet recharged; and he ran directly
towards Sneak; this brought the bear to a pause; but soon his comrade
joining him, the charge was continued. Sneak, who had been
more expert than Joe, fired not without effect at the second bear,
and this produced another hesitation on the part of the animals.
But before waiting to see what their ultimate decision might be,
both Joe and Sneak ran, with all their might, for the mound. There
the combat was continued, until both guns were disabled, when
clubs were substituted in the hand to hand engagement that ensued,
which terminated as we have seen, in the victory of the men
over the wild beasts of the forest.

The wagon came up by the time the animals were dressed, and
the negroes who had learned something of wood-craft during the
long journey from the east, were informed where all the deer might
be found. They were directed to take them home, and to return
for another load, if the signal should be given, as it was determined
to make a day's hunt of it.

Glenn and William continued to advance on the right side of the
woods, skirting the prairie, while Joe and Sneak kept on the left.

“I see chalcedony and other pretty stones in the chasms,” said
Glenn, as they rode along the edge of the forest, and occasionally
leaped their horses over the gullies worn in the soil by the rains,
now dry, and leading towards the centre of the woods, through
which the mountain stream perpetually flowed.

“Oh yes,” said William, smiling; “there are many precious
stones in the wilderness, and the Indians know the value the white
men place upon them.”

[figure description] Page 035.[end figure description]

“Then I marvel they do not make them an article of trade,”
said Glenn.

“It is not marvelous,” said William.” They do not wish the
whites to be hunting pebbles in their country. Some of the tribes
make the penalty death, if any one sells a stone. The kings or
chiefs take possession of all that are found. La-u-na, and a few of
the special favorites, were permitted to keep some and to wear
them. They likewise know where gold may be found; but it is
death to reveal the secret. They have the sagacity to prefer the
forests and hunting grounds to the neighborhood of civilization—for
such neighborhood never fails to demoralize them. The coins of the
white man, and the spirituous liquors, produce, invariably, degeneracy
and degradation. But even in degradation and dependency;
not many of the tribes have revealed the localities of their gold
mines; and now they are lost, in the east, for many of the nations
are extinct. These things I learned from the old men when I lived
among them.”

“But I have seen too many evidences of the presence of gold in
this vicinity, for the treasure long to escape the cupidity of the
white man,” said Glenn.

“Then, alas for the poor Indian,” said William. “There,” he
continued, as his horse leaped over the dry sand of an exhausted
rivulet.

“What did you discover there?” asked Glenn, who reined in his
horse simultaneously with William. They turned and rode back,
for they had been going at a brisk pace. William dismounted and
beckoned Glenn to do the same.

“Look at that,” said William, pointing to the print of a man's
foot in the sand.

“Of course we must suppose the Indians frequent these fine
hunting grounds,” said Glenn.

“It is not the foot-print of an Indian,” said William. “This is
another thing I learned among the Indians. He wore a moccasin,
as all do in the wild woods, but the toes are out, and the heel made
too deep an indentation for an Indian.”

“Such knowledge as this may be useful,” said Glenn.

“Of course,” said William; and if the Indian is incapable of

[figure description] Page 036.[end figure description]

comprehending the utility of the infinite variety of studies in the
acquirement of an education in civilized communities, depend upon
it, there are thousands of useful things learned in the wild-woods, of
which civilized man has no knowledge. Now, he continued, stooping
down and examining the ground, “I know not only that this
person was a white man, but that he was an old man.”

“An old man!” said Glenn. “How can you tell that?” “From
his short, unsteady step,” replied William, “and the employment of
a cane. There is the mark of his stick; and all these tracks indicate
that he was not lame. I could, if it were necessary, track him
for miles, even through the grass.”

“An old white man!” repeated Glenn. “Perhaps a solitary wanderer,
escaped from the Indians, who may have captured him.”

“It is possible,” said William; “for a great many white men,
supposed to be lost or dead, are either captured, or voluntarily take
up their abode among the Indians. But it is not often, surely, that
old men wander thus far from the precincts of civilization.”

“It may be,” continued Glenn, “that this man was the master of
the little dog seen by our wives, and also by Joe and Sneak.”

“It must have been so,” said William. “Here is the foot print
of a small dog,” he continued, still following the track.

“That accounts for Joe's apparition,” said Glenn. “The old
man is probably dead, or the dog has lost his master. Can you tell
how long it has been since the track was made.”

“No—not exactly. Only I can perceive it was made since the
last rain. When that was, none of us have any knowledge.”

“It is a mystery,” said Glenn, pondering, “which perhaps no one
may solve.”

Soon after, they remounted and pursued their way towards a high
mound, which had attracted their attention. Many deer were seen
by them; but they resolved to reserve their fire until after they had
taken the extensive view of the country which the mound promised
to afford them. Arrived at its summit they beheld on the right,
and embracing all the region from east to west, as far as the eye
could reach, a hilly prairie country, and in many places arid and
barren wastes. But in the depressions between the hills—which
were thrown in succession like vast billows on the ocean—where

[figure description] Page 037.[end figure description]

there was some degree of moisture, a luxuriant growth of vegetation
was observable. In these green places, numbers of buffalo,
elk, and deer were seen.

“If Joe were with us, now,” said Glenn, “he would hold up both
hands and open his mouth.”

“His eyes?” asked William.

“No—his mouth. He always opens his mouth in astonishment.
His eyes are always open, when not sleeping. And now I have ascertained
one thing,” continued Glenn, “There are winters in this
climate and in this proximity to the mountain. Here is a fading
mullen.”

“Oh yes, there will be winter,” said William. “There are thousands
of proof. No doubt it will be very cold in exposed places,
and there may be deep snows. But we shall not suffer in the valley.
It is not only sheltered from the wind, but it has the best
Southern exposure of any valley I have ever seen. And if the Indians
do not frequent it, you may be sure the buffalo do. It is enriched
by them—and they are compensated by its abundant crop of
grass.

“Beautiful!” exclaimed Glenn, gazing at a number of wild
horses through his pocket glass. “They are fat and saucy.”

“Yes, I see them,” said William. “They are the same, domestic
or wild;—the most beautiful of the quadruped creation, and often
the most playful of animals. They range over a wide extent of
country, and there is a superstition among the Indians that there is
one among them, and the leader of them all—a large and magnificently
white horse, that never dies. It is certain he has never been
captured or killed.”

“Can that be so?” asked Glenn.

“There is some apparent foundation for it, in the fact that all
droves of wild horses have their leaders, the most formidable and
sagacious specimens of their kind; and these chiefs are frequently
white. They are not taken, because they are the fleetest of their
race; and rarely shot, because they are the most watchful. From
this example is derived the custom among the Indians, in their

[figure description] Page 038.[end figure description]

battles, to place their commander-in-chief on a white horse, and I believe
civilized nations are adopting the same habit.

“Yes, I believe so,” said Glenn; “and truly much may be learned
in the wilderness, as well as in the teeming haunts of civilization.
Why should not horses have a king, as well as bees their
queen. Even the swans and geese which fly over us now, have their
leaders. And lo! I see the white horse. There, a little to the
right of the others, and nearer the mound than the rest.”

This was true. The large and majestic animal came in view by
ascending to the summit of a slight elevation in the prairie between
the mound and the green pasture in which the rest were collected.
He stood with his breast toward the men, his neck arched, and his
long mane and tail lifted horizontally by the gentle breeze. His
ears were thrust forward, and his gaze fixed with steadiness upon
the strangers or intruders in his dominions. After standing thus
some minutes, he turned his head over his back and neighed loudly;
this brought most of the family to the high prairie, and all seemed
to gaze in the direction of the mound.

“It is curiosity, more than alarm,” said William. “I doubt
whether they have ever been pursued by man. However, most animals
seem to know when they are within reach of the missiles of
man's invention, and these horses are a quarter of a mile distant.”

“They are beautiful,” said Glenn. “I see them of every hue;
but the speckled or spotted ones, predominate. And they are fat,
too.”

“Certainly,” said William, “in such pastures as these. No doubt
they frequent our valley in the winter, where I am satisfied the
green grass is perennial. If we adhere to the rule adopted, and accustom
them to see us often with impunity, in process of time they
will come to regard us as protectors, rather than as enemies.”

“The rule must be observed, if possible,” said Glenn, animated
at the thought of being able to see such numbers of beautiful wild
horses from the tower of the mansion. “And I will do more; I will
have salt sprinkled on the earth expressly for them; and if our corn
matures before the frost whitens the valley—if it ever whitens it—
they shall be fed at certain places as near the enclosure as possible.”

[figure description] Page 039.[end figure description]

“It will be a successful experiment,” said William; “and surely
we can at any time kill enough game in these woods, without being
under the necessity of disturbing the visitors to the valley. Still,
we must not be too sure. For the animals, quick to learn where
danger exists, may abandon the forest and congregate in the place
where there is an exemption from wounds and death. But, in proof
that they have not yet acquired that knowledge, just listen to Sneak
and Joe.”

p623-045 CHAPTER V.

JOE AND SNEAK MEET WITH A KING BUFFALO BULL—AND A BIG
ELK—AND A BUCK—AND A SKUNK—AND A DOE.

[figure description] Page 040.[end figure description]

“Sneak,” said Joe, as they rode along on the left of the forest,
and in sight of the apparently limitless prairie, “these pine and
cedar bushes, and the green grass between 'em, reminds me of
some rich gentleman's lawn.”

“It does, does it? Well, there's no poor gentlemen here, and
the lawn's our'n. When I was a boy, and my father was a farmer in
Varmount, he got broken up by paying, or not paying, I don't
know which, some nasty notes in bank. He was the unhappiest
man I ever saw, when the little printed notices came in, saying at
what hour tremenduous sums must be paid in bank, whether he
had any money or not. I thought if I ever got to be a man, they
would'nt ketch me in that way—and they can't. I'd like to see
'em send any of their disagreeable notifications out here. Joe,
we are happy men.”

“That's true, Sneak. And I intend to be the happiest man in
the world. I have a mind to tell you my secret—”

“Well, go ahead; I'm listenin'.”

“No—hang me if I do. I did'nt think of one thing”

“What thing?”

“Why, if you knew all about my project, you might get ahead
of me, and be the happiest man yourself, and make me the miserablest.”

“Dod rot it, what do you mean? What's your project?”

“I won't tell you, because I'm afraid you'd be a rival.”

“Rival? What's that? There's no squaw for us to be arter.”

“Squaw! You may have 'em all to yourself. I never saw but
one that was handsome—and I don't believe she's a full blooded
Indian. No—I will not even think of a squaw.”

[figure description] Page 041.[end figure description]

“Then who is it? The Irish gal?”

“Look there!” cried Joe, who was a little in advance of his
companion, as his horse snorted and stopped suddenly.

In a small plat of ground on the left, where there were not even
any bushes, but a most luxuriant crop of grass, there stood an
enormous buffalo bull.

“Don't shoot, Joe,” cried Sneak, when his companion threw his
musket up to his face.

“Why, Sneak?” asked Joe.

“'Case you might as well spatter your buck-shot agin the face
of the cliff, down at the cave, as to fire in that bull's face. Don't
you see thar's a bushel of clay and dry mud on the long hair between
his eyes?”

“But I can shoot at his breast,” said Joe.

“What good'll that do? The spot where lead can enter between
his ribs from the front, aint bigger than your hand; and if
you could hit it, your shot would'nt go through the hide and gristle.
Nothing but a rifle ball will do.”

“I know better,” said Joe; “you only want to kill him first,”
and he raised his gun again.

“'Pon my honor, I don't,” said Sneak. “Don't fire, I beg of
you, Joe. If you do, we're dead men, and our horses 'll be dead
horses. He'll pitch the critters as high as the trees yonder, and
he'll trample us under the earth. Look at his furious red eyes.”

Joe looked again and quaked. The huge bull, who had been
deliberately chewing his cud, ceased the rumination; and, standing
as motionless as a tower, glared madly at the strangers, while a low
but deep sound of warning came forth from his mouth. The men
were not more than twenty paces distant, Joe still a little in advance.
Their horses trembled, and seemed inclined to fly.

“It's a king bull,” said Sneak, his eyes larger than ever, and his
neck wonderfully elongated.

“Well, if he is, said Joe, striving to evince a proper degree of
courage after his encounter with the grizzly bears, “my horse is
Devil Dick, and knows how to kick and bite, both.”

“I wish he was not so close to us,” said Sneak.

[figure description] Page 042.[end figure description]

“It is rather close,” said Joe, steadily pulling the reins. But as
Dick backed slightly, the bull made one step in advance, and then
scraped up the earth with his right foot, the sod flying in the air,
and falling all over his back.

“Don't back out, or he'll dash right at us,” cried Sneak. “Jest
look him straight in the eye; that's the only hope, now.”

“I can't, Sneak,” said Joe, “it frightens me.”

“I can,” said Sneak, “and that'll frighten him. Don't you
know a man's eye will frighten a lion sometimes?”

“No, and I don't believe it, either,” said Joe, striving to fix a
steady gaze at the eyes of the monster. “I wish you'd make haste
and frighten him, Sneak, for I'm tired of waiting. Are you sure
he'd run after us if we were to retreat?”

“Sartain; and he'd run over us, and make mince meat of us.
But if we ketch his eye awhile, and then go towards him, he'll turn
tail and run.”

“Then do you come in front of me, for I don't understand how
to manage him.”

“Be steady. Let me pass without moving our eyes,” said Sneak,
and at the same time urging his horse a few paces forward. The
bull lifted his head and looked over his shoulder. “Now,” said
Sneak, “holler like the d—l, and foller me.” Uttering a most unearthly
whoop, he spurred his horse violently towards the animal;
and, as he expected, the bull wheeled round and ran across the
prairie. “Stop,” he cried, when Joe, after a pause, fired off a
volley of discordant whoops, and cantered his horse after the bull,
now several hundred yards in advance; “what're you hollering for
now?”

“I want to frighten him so bad he won't come back again,” said
Joe; “or if he does, he'll know he must run when he hears my
voice; and I'll spatter some shot on him.” He threw up his gun
and fired—and, being unsteady in the saddle, the rebound lifted
him out of it, and the next moment he was standing on his feet
near his horse's tail—Dick having stopped suddenly upon hearing
the report of the gun.

[figure description] Page 043.[end figure description]

“Are you hurt, Joe?” asked Sneak, who joined him soon
after.

“No, Sneak—it did'nt kick much—but my foot got out of the
stirrup. I think that bull will keep out of my way in future.”

“I think,” said Sneak, “if you aint a fool you'll keep out of
his way in futer. Why did'nt you dash up toward him when I
did?”

“My horse would'nt go—and so it was'nt my fault. But I
whooped louder than you did.”

“Whooped! It was bellering. If it had'nt been for me, he'd've
taken you for another bull, and made fight. You're not up to the
mark yet, Joe.”

“Now, Sneak, don't slur at my bravery. The day's gone by for
that. Did'nt I intend to fire right into his front, when we stood
face to face?”

“You did'nt know any better.”

“And you had'nt the nerve to do it. That was the reason you
would'nt let me shoot. I believe I would've killed him—and we
shall want buffalo robes this winter.”

“Whew! But I'm not sure there's any winter here. The bucks
aint runnin' and scrapin' much yit, and its gitting late in November.
Are you loaded? If so, mount your horse. Yonder's an
elk.”

The elk was at a considerable distance beyond the opening in
which the buffalo had been found, and was grazing very quietly,
with his great horns standing out like young trees.

“You may shoot him, Sneak,” said Joe; “I did'nt hold my
musket tightly against my shoulder, when I shot the buffalo, and it
gave me a smart kick. I did'nt feel it at the time, but it's a little
sore now. Besides, it's your time to shoot, as I'm one ahead.”

Sneak paused, and merely smiled contemptuously. Then spurring
his horse, and making a slight detour, so as to approach the
animal unobserved, still followed closely by Joe, he soon attained
the necessary proximity for execution. Letting the reins fall on
his horse's neck, he took deliberate aim and fired. The elk leaped
up in the air—but did not fall as Sneak anticipated. And instead

[figure description] Page 044.[end figure description]

of running away, it came directly towards the hunters. With these
animals, as with deer, they never seem to have any idea from what
direction the report of a gun proceeds; and if they do not see or
scent the person firing at them, they are just as likely to run towards
him as away from him. And the rapid approach of a heavily
antlered buck elk is by no means a pleasing spectacle. This was
the opinion of Joe, and so he wheeled his horse and fled out into the
prairie, closely followed by the wounded elk, while Sneak, who was
concealed behind a pine bush, remained an immovable, but not a
silent spectator.

“Shoot, Joe; dod rot it, why don't you shoot? Don't let the
tarnation thing rip open your horse's bowels.”

“Soon both Joe and the elk were out of hearing, and also out of
sight, for a rise in the prairie intervened. But before Sneak had
reloaded his rifle, preparatory to pursuing them, they came in sight
again, having made a short circuit, in another direction. The elk
seemed intent on revenge, and all Joe could do was to endeavor
to keep out of his way.

“Don't shoot, Sneak,” cried Joe, seeing Sneak about to raise his
gun. “Don't shoot,” he repeated, as well as he could, “or you'll
hit me;” and as he uttered these words he turned towards the place
occupied by him when Sneak had fired, and where the latter still
remained. On he came, hotly pursued by the elk, which bled profusely
at every leap—and, finally, the wounded animal fell and expired
within twenty feet of the one who had shot him. Sneak gave
the signal blast for the wagon, and then proceeded to dress the animal
in silence.

“I was'nmt afraid of him, Sneak,” said Joe, after a protracted
silence; “I saw he was killed and knew he would soon fall, and I
did'nt want to waste my ammunition.”

“You be dod rot!” said Sneak. “Dead or livin', if he'd got
one fair job at you, he'd have let day light through both you and
your horse.”

“Then the next time you make such a slovenly shot at an elk,”
said Joe, “I would thank you not to let him run after me again.”

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“My gun hung fire that time,” said Sneak, “and I hit him a
little too low. But whose bar was it run arter me? Every body
must take care of themselves in sich hunts as these.”

The operation of preparing the game for the wagon was soon
performed, and then, according to the rule suggested by Glenn, all
other game was to be conveyed on horses to where the largest animal
had fallen. So it was determined to kill enough to fill the
wagon—and Sneak and Joe remounted, and separated temporarily,
in quest of further sport. Sneak's rifle was heard soon after.

“I mus'nt let him get ahead of me,” said Joe, peering in every
direction among the bushes. “I must keep up the good name I've
earned this day,” he continued; “and yonder's something now,”
he added, seeing the gray hair of an animal beyond a patch of rank
grass. “He's lying down, and don't see me,” said he, “and I'll
get down, too, and make sure work of it.” He dismounted noiselessly,
and crept softly towards his fore-doomed victim, with his
gun in readiness to fire if it should run. “It don't see me yet,”
continued he, mentally, “and, as I'm so close he can't escape me,
I'll see how near I can get.” Thus he proceeded, until he was within
a few feet of it, and then taking deliberate aim, he made the
woods roar with the report, for he had put in a large charge after
encountering the buffalo bull. The muzzle flew up, turning a somerset
over his shoulder, and Joe's back struck the earth.

“Confound it!” said he; “but it was my own fault. The bull
made me put too much in; and I'm glad I was'nt on Dick. Besides,
I fell in a soft place, and it did'nt hurt. Now for the deer,”
said he, leaping up.

It lay just where it was when he fired, literally torn to pieces.
It was a mere fawn, lean and diseased, and did not weigh twenty
pounds.

“Plague take it!” said Joe; “the thing's not worth the powder
and lead, let alone the tumble; and the meat and skin are both
spoilt. My goodness! what a powerful shooting gun my old
musket is. I would'nt swap it for two of Sneak's rifles, for it's
a safe gun. It's a buck any how,” he continued, lifting up what
remained of the poor fawn. “But I'm ashamed to take it in

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Sneak's sight—and he'll be there at the elk with his big buck, no
doubt. What shall I do? Ha!” he exclaimed, looking behind,
whence a cry not unfamiliar to his ears proceeded. “My gracious!
it's a skunk! and it's coming right at me.” He let the fawn fall
and ran towards his horse—seizing the bridle and looking back, he
beheld the little animal in full pursuit. “And my gun's not loaded.
Oh, Mr. Boone, I forgot your advice! But I must run;” so mounting
Dick he put spurs to him and galloped away towards the dead
elk, where Sneak had arrived a few moments before, with a fat
doe.

“Run, Sneak, run! Run, Sneak, run!” cried Joe, spurring and
whipping through the bushes.

“What is it? Another dod rotted bar?” asked Sneak, as Joe
dashed past him; and all Joe responded was “run, run!” Not
doubting it was a bear, a buffalo, or a panther, Sneak sprang upon
his horse and followed Joe at full speed, and overtook him in the
prairie. Then Joe drew rein, and looked back for the first time
since his exit from the woods.

“Is he coming, Sneak?” he asked, seeing the large eyes of his
companion indicated great trepidation, or some other unusual emotion.

“Now tell me what it was,” said Sneak, seizing the bridle of
Dick.

“Have'nt you seen it yet?” asked Joe.

“No. Did you? Or did you jest think you heard it?”

“I did—I'll swear to it.”

“Don't swear to it, or I'll not b'lieve you. How close did it
come to you?”

“I did'nt let it get nearer than twenty yards; but it was coming
at me before I mounted—”

“Stop! You was on the ground?”

“Where do you think I was? Where were you?”

“Cutting the throat of my fat doe.”

“And I was cutting the throat of my—buck.”

“Let me see your knife.”

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“You are very inquisitive,” said Joe, drawing his knife, which
he had stained afresh in anticipation of such a catechism; “but
there's the proof.”

“I heard you shoot, Joe,” said Sneak; “but I did'nt think you
could kill a buck by yourself, unless you got him to stand behind
your gun.”

“Sneak, do you mean to insult me?” asked Joe, willing, on reflection,
to evade the subject of the cause of his affright, and meditating
a lie to get out of the difficulty. But it occurred to him, if
he were to say it was a panther, or bear, or buffalo, or Indian,
Sneak would never be satisfied until he had inspected the “sign”
of him, i. e., his tracks.

“No—I don't mean to make you mad, Joe—but I can have my
joke.”

“And can't I have mine?” asked Joe, quickly.

“Sartinly. Now, you've got your breath, tell me what it was
made you run so.”

“Say us, Sneak.”

“Well, us, then—and I b'leive it's the first time I ever did run
without knowing what I was running from—and I don't half
like it.”

“Let us go back a little,” said Joe, turning his horse; “but
keep a good look out.”

“What was it—can't you tell me?” said Sneak, with his great
eyes fixed on the place where they emerged from the bushes, and
his rifle in readiness to fire.

“Wait till I finish loading,” said Joe, ramming down the last
wadding, and priming his gun.

“Why did'nt you load before you cut your buck's throat?” asked
Sneak.

“I forgot it.”

“You got the buck-ager after killing the buck—new hunters are
dead sure to do it. But whar did you hit him?”

“All over,” said Joe; “every shot struck him.”

“No wonder he fell,” said Sneak. “I 'spect you found him
asleep, and put your gun agin him, and spoilt the meat and hide

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both. But what did you run from? I don't see anything,” he
continued, as they returned towards the edge of the woods, “'cept
that tarnation little cat.”

“Where?” cried Joe—“yes—there it is—and it's coming right
at us,” said Joe, in new alarm, and turning to fly.

“Dod rot it!” said Sneak, “it's only a pole-cat. Joe, is that the
thing you run from?”

“Say we, Sneak—did'nt you run, too?”

“I did'nt see it.”

“I did. I would scorn to run from anything I did'nt see.”

“Blast your skin!” said Sneak, in a burst of anger.

“It was a good joke, Sneak—but I did'nt intend to make you
mad.”

“I suppose I must swallow it,” said Sneak, half aside, “but it
goes agin the grain. Why did'nt you run arter the pole cat?”

“Because he ran after me.”

“Of course he did, when you retreated—they always do. But
they always retreat when you make a dash at 'em, like the black
snakes. Try it, make a splurge at that feller, and you'll see how
quick he'll turn tail and run.”

“I'd rather not, Sneak. I hav'nt forgot the scrape you once got
me into with one of the same sweet family—and this affair of running
is but a slight retaliation.”

“Re- what? You are always larning big words. Taliation, I
guess, means something about the pole-cat's tail, and I'm not afraid
of it. See,” and he dashed towards the little animal, which was
still advancing; but seeing himself menaced, he turned and fled
for his life. “That's the way, Joe, to get rid of 'em. He won't
come in striking distance of us again.”

They were now before the elk again, and the wagon was approaching.
Cæsar was in advance of it, and Joe whispered something
in his ear.

“Go, and bring your buck,” said Sneak, approaching Joe and
Cæsar.

“No—not yit,” said Joe, “let 'em load these first, and they can
drive to the buck afterwards.”

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