like fiends, as if they wished to intimidate him;
but as Joe stood like a statue, with his arms crossed, and a grave
expression of contempt on his countenance, they quickly desisted, and,
drawing near, asked him where he came from, and what he was doing there.

Joe's story was soon told; but instead of replying, they began to shout
vociferously, and evidently meant mischief.

"If the Blackfeet are afraid to speak to the Pale-face, he will go back
to his braves," said Joe, passing suddenly between two of the warriors
and taking a few steps towards the camp.

Instantly every bow was bent, and it seemed as if our bold hunter were
about to be pierced by a hundred arrows, when he turned round and
cried:--

"The Blackfeet must not advance a single step. The first that moves his
_horse_ shall die. The second that moves _himself_ shall die."

To this the Blackfoot chief replied scornfully, "The Pale-face talks
with a big mouth. We do not believe his words. The Snakes are liars,
we will make no peace with them."

While he was yet speaking, Joe threw up his hand; there was a loud
report, and the noble horse of the savage chief lay struggling in death
agony on the ground.

The use of the rifle, as we have before hinted, was little known at this
period among the Indians of the far west, and many had never heard the
dreaded report before, although all were aware, from hearsay, of its
fatal power. The fall of the chief's horse, therefore, quite paralysed
them for a few moments, and they had not recovered from their surprise
when a second report was heard, a bullet whistled past, and a second
horse fell. At the same moment there was a loud explosion in the camp
of the Pale-faces, a white cloud enveloped it, and from the midst of
this a loud shriek was heard, as Dick, Henri, and Crusoe bounded over
the packs with frantic gestures.

At this the gaping savages wheeled their steeds round, the dismounted
horsemen sprang on behind two of their comrades, and the whole band
dashed away over the plains as if they were chased by evil spirits.

Meanwhile Joe hastened towards his comrades in a state of great anxiety,
for he knew at once that one of the powder-horns must have been
accidentally blown up.

"No damage done, boys, I hope?" he cried on coming up.

"Damage!" cried Henri, holding his hands tight over his face. "Oh! oui,
great damage--moche damage, me two eyes be blowed out of dere holes."

"Not quite so bad as that,