have rain, I think."

"Ha! and that means snow higher up. Hoo-roar! as the lads say. A nice
light coating of fresh snow, and every bear footprint showing clearly.
We mustn't miss one. Bear ham is good, and then there are the skins.
We shall want 'em in the winter for warm rugs."

"You mean to stay the winter, then?" said Bracy, laughing.

"We shall have to; see if we don't."

"We shall get no bearskins," said Roberts. "The Colonel will stop our
going on account of his uneasiness. I heard him say that we should be
running upon some prowling body of the enemy one of these times, and
never be heard of any more."

"He doesn't know what he's talking about. Just as if it were likely.
They sneak along in the lowest valleys; they never go up among the
snowfields. No one does but the hunters. It's the same as it was in
Switzerland; you never caught the people climbing the mountains till the
English taught them, and bribed them to come as carriers. They'd never
have made the ascent of any of their mountains. I tell you that in our
shooting-trips up yonder we're as safe as we are here. Safer, for the
beggars keep away from there, while here they're lying up in every hole
and corner all around."

"He's about right," said Roberts thoughtfully; "and, now you're strong
enough again, I don't like to lose our trips. We don't get much
pleasure up here. Let's make our hay while the sun shines."

"Even if it is in the snow," said Bracy. "Very well; I'm glad enough to
go, for the mountain air seems to send fresh vigour through me every
time I climb."

The result of this was that whenever the way up into the mountains was
clear, and the Dwats who acted as guides to the different hills came in
with news, the young officers had their excursions, and generally
returned with their men pretty well laden, while the three friends
became masters of the district among the heights in a way that suggested
years of active residence in that silver land.

There were plenty of alarms, plenty of little encounters with the
parties who were always on the lookout to harass the occupants of the
fort; but a little extra work for the Doctor and excitement for the men,
to keep off the stagnation which threatened them, was all that ensued.

In the interim the Colonel sent off five more messengers with
despatches, in the hope that they would get through the enemy and bring
back letters; but they were seen no more; and the Colonel's face gre