he 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 for the first time observed Crusoe
trotting close beside his master's horse.

"Ah! Master Dick," he exclaimed with a troubled expression, "that won't
do. It would never do to take a dog on an expedition like this."

"Why not?" asked Dick, "the pup's quiet and peaceable."

"I doubt it not, but he will betray our presence to the Indians, which
might be inconvenient."

"I've travelled more than a thousand miles through prairie and forest,
among game an' among Injuns, an' the pup never betrayed me yet," said
Dick, with suppressed vehemence; "he has saved my life more than once
though."

"You seem to have perfect confidence in your dog, but as this is a
serious matter you must not expect me to share in it without proof of
his trustworthiness."

"The pup may be useful to us; how would you have it proved?" inquired
Dick.

"Any way you like."

"You forgot your belt at starting, I think I heered ye say."

"Yes, I did," replied the trader, smiling.

Dick immediately took hold of Cameron's coat, and bade Crusoe smell it,
which the dog did very carefully. Then he showed him his own belt and
said: "Go back to the camp and fetch it, pup."

Crusoe was off in a moment, and in less than twenty minutes returned
with Cameron's belt in his mouth.

"Well, I'll trust him," said Cameron, patting Crusoe's head. "Forward,
lads!" and away they went at a brisk trot along the bottom of a
beautiful valley on each side of which the mountains towered in dark
masses. Soon the moon rose and afforded light sufficient to enable them
to travel all night in the track of the Indian hunter who said he had
seen the Peigans, and who was constituted guide to the party. Hour
after hour the horsemen pressed on without check, now galloping over a
level plain, now bounding by the banks of a rivulet, or bending their
heads to escape the boughs of overhanging trees, and anon toiling slowly
up among the rocks of some narrow defile. At last the moon set, and the
order was given to halt in a little plain where there was wood and
water.

The horses were picketted, a fire kindled, a mouthful of dried meat
hastily eaten, the watch was set, and then each man scra