milarity of tastes soon brought about a mutual friendship,
and the Creole was observed to treat the other with marked deference and
regard.

I may set myself down as Number 6 of the party. Let a short description
of me suffice. I was then but a young fellow, educated somewhat better
than common; fond of wild sports; not indifferent to a knowledge of
nature; fond almost to folly of a good horse, and possessing one of the
very best; not ill-looking in the face, and of middle stature; costumed
in a light hunting-shirt of embroidered buckskin, with fringed cape and
skirt; leggings of scarlet cloth, and cloth forage-cap, covering a flock
of dark hair. Powder-flask and pouch of tasty patterns; belt around the
waist, with hunting-knife and pistols--revolvers. A light rifle in one
hand, and in the other a bridle-rein, which guided a steed of coal
blackness; one that would have been celebrated in song by a troubadour
of the olden time. A deep Spanish saddle of stamped leather; holsters
with bearskin covers in front; a scarlet blanket, folded and strapped on
the croup; lazo and haversack hanging from the "horn"--_voila tout_!

There are two characters still undescribed. Characters of no mean
importance were they--the "guides." They were called respectively,
Isaac Bradley and Mark Redwood. A brace of trappers they were, but as
different from each other in personal appearance as two men could well
be. Redwood was a man of large dimensions, and apparently as strong as
a buffalo, while his _confrere_ was a thin, wiry, sinewy mortal, with a
tough, weasel-like look and gait. The expression of Redwood's
countenance was open and manly, his eyes were grey, his hair
light-coloured, and huge brown whiskers covered his cheeks. Bradley, on
the other hand, was dark--his eyes small, black, and piercing--his face
as hairless as an Indian's, and bronzed almost to the Indian hue, with
the black hair of his head closely cropped around it.

Both these men were dressed in leather from head to foot, yet they were
very differently dressed. Redwood wore the usual buckskin
hunting-shirt, leggings, and moccasins, but all of full proportions and
well cut, while his large 'coon-skin cap, with the plume-like tail, had
an imposing appearance. Bradley's garments, on the contrary, were
tight-fitting and "skimped." His hunting-shirt was without cape, and
adhered so closely to his body that it appeared only an outer skin of
the man himself. His l