er-dog. Grumps, on the
contrary, held water in abhorrence, so he sat on the shores of the lake
disconsolate when his friend was bathing, and waited till he came out.
The only time when Grumps was thoroughly nonplussed, was when Dick
Varley's whistle sounded faintly in the far distance. Then Crusoe would
prick up his ears, and stretch out at full gallop, clearing ditch, and
fence, and brake with his strong elastic bound, and leaving Grumps to
patter after him as fast as his four-inch legs would carry him. Poor
Grumps usually arrived at the village, to find both dog and master gone,
and would betake himself to his own dwelling, there to lie down and
sleep, and dream, perchance, of rambles and gambols with his gigantic
friend.

CHAPTER FIVE.

A MISSION OF PEACE--UNEXPECTED JOYS--DICK AND CRUSOE SET OFF FOR THE
LAND OF THE RED-SKINS, AND MEET WITH ADVENTURES BY THE WAY AS A MATTER
OF COURSE--NIGHT IN THE WILD WOODS.

One day the inhabitants of Mustang Valley were thrown into considerable
excitement by the arrival of an officer of the United States army and a
small escort of cavalry. They went direct to the block-house, which,
since Major Hope's departure, had become the residence of Joe Blunt--
that worthy having, by general consent, been deemed the fittest man in
the settlement to fill the major's place.

Soon it began to be noised abroad that the strangers had been sent by
Government to endeavour to bring about, if possible, a more friendly
state of feeling between the whites and the Indians, by means of
presents, and promises, and fair speeches.

The party remained all night in the block-house, and ere long it was
reported that Joe Blunt had been requested, and had consented, to be the
leader and chief of a party of three men who should visit the
neighbouring tribes of Indians, to the west and north of the valley, as
Government agents. Joe's knowledge of two or three different Indian
dialects, and his well-known sagacity, rendered him a most fitting
messenger on such an errand. It was also whispered that Joe was to have
the choosing of his comrades in this mission, and many were the opinions
expressed and guesses made as to who would be chosen.

That same evening Dick Varley was sitting in his mother's kitchen
cleaning his rifle; his mother was preparing supper and talking quietly
about the obstinacy of a particular hen that had taken to laying her
eggs in places where they could not be found; Fan was co