ich hung over his
shoulders--being only slightly grizzled, while his chin and face were
smooth shaved. He was dressed in a hunting-frock of buckskin, and
pantaloons of the same material ornamented down the seams with long
fringes. On his feet he wore mocassins of Indian make; his head was
covered by a neatly-made cap of beaver; an unusually large powder-horn
was slung over his shoulders, together with a rifle, carefully covered
up; while in his belt, in addition to a knife and tomahawk, he carried a
brace of pistols with long barrels, showing that he was accustomed to
travel amongst enemies, and was prepared to make a stout fight if he was
attacked. On seeing us, he enquired who we were, where we had come
from, and in what direction we were going.

We told him without hesitation.

"I guess the old hoss will go with you some of the way," he said. "Tell
Master Praeger that Ben Folkard will pay him a visit before long, I
can't say when. He knows me, and he knows when I say I'll do a thing I
intend to do it."

We promised to give old Folkard's message, and soon afterwards we parted
from him. Peter told us that he had heard his father speak of Ben
Folkard as one of the most noted and skilful trappers of the Rocky
Mountains, and that he never turned up without a large supply of skins
and peltries.

We were fortunate in obtaining some fine Mexican mules and all the
articles we required, though we had to pay somewhat highly for them.
Well satisfied, we set off to return to Mr Praeger's. The houses and
the stores were few and far between, the intermediate country being
still in a state of nature. As our laden mules could not travel fast,
we had to camp on the way. We chose a grassy spot near a wood, offering
sufficient attractions to our animals to prevent them from straying,
though of course we hobbled them as an additional security.

While Peter remained in camp, Story and I took our guns to get a turkey,
or any other game which might come in our way. We had not gone far when

Story called my attention to an animal standing on the fallen trunk of a
tree, and told me to keep back the dogs, which would be sure to suffer
if they were to attack it. I was about to fire, when I caught sight of
another animal of similar size with a long, thin body and sharp nose,
which I at once recognised as a marten. It had apparently been watching
the porcupine, who, unconscious of its approach, remained perfectly
still, its s