of Peigans, for such I believe they are, and thirty shall remain to guard the camp. Are you ready?”
“Ready! ay, this hour past.”
“Mount then, lad; the men have already been told off, and are mustering down yonder.”
Dick needed no second bidding. He vaulted on Charlie’s back, and along with their commander joined the men, who were thirty as fine, hardy, reckless-looking fellows as one could desire for a forlorn-hope. They were chatting and laughing while they examined their guns and saddle-girths. Their horses were sorry-looking animals compared with the magnificent creature that Dick bestrode, but they were hardy and fitted for their peculiar work.
“My! wot a blazer!” exclaimed a trapper as Dick rode up.
“Where did you git him?” inquired a half-breed.
“I caught him,” answered Dick.
“Baw!” cried the first speaker.
Dick took no notice of this last remark.
“No, did you though?” he asked again.
“I did,” answered Dick quietly. “I creased him in the prairie; you can see the mark on his neck if you look.”
The men began to feel that the young hunter was perhaps a little beyond them at their own trade, and regarded him with increased respect.
“Look sharp now, lads,” said Cameron impatiently. “Night will be on us ere long.”
“Who sold ye the bear-claw collar?” inquired another man of Dick.
“I didn’t buy it. I killed the bear and made it.”
“Did ye though, all be yer lone?”
“Ay; that wasn’t much, was it?”
“You’ve begun well, yonker,” said a tall, middle-aged hunter, whose general appearance was not unlike that of Joe Blunt. “Jest keep clear o’ the Injuns an’ the grog bottle, an’ ye’ve a glor’ous life before ye.”
At this point the conversation was interrupted by the order being given to move on, which was obeyed in silence; and the cavalcade, descending the valley, entered one of the gorges in the mountains.
For the first half-mile Cameron rode a little ahead of his men, then he turned to speak to one of them, and observed Crusoe trotting close behind his master's horse.
“Ah! Master Dick,” he exclaimed with a troubled
