t agin."

"Done eatin'?"

"Yes, of course."

"Thought it was about time."

"We will not reach home to-night," said the Rifleman, speaking to
Edith. "I'm sorry, for they'll be worried about us."

"I am sorry, too, for I dislike to remain in the woods so long."

"This fellow will be of little use to us, as he doesn't appear to know
any thing. I can't understand how he has come this far. He's been
lucky, I s'pose, but whether we're going to be, with him along, is more
than I can tell."

"Of course you won't turn him off. It would be cruel," said Edith,
sincerely commiserating the helpless situation of the young man.

"As long as he behaves himself, and it doesn't make it any more
dangerous for you, he can stay with us; but he mustn't open that big
mouth of his as wide as he did just now."

"Hello! how long afore you're goin' to start?" called out Zeke, as our
two friends stood talking together.

"Follow behind us, and make no noise, if you want to save your
top-knot."

"Hope there ain't no danger of that happening, after I've come as far
as this all right."

The three moved forward once again, the movements of the Rifleman
characterized by his usual caution, while Zeke Hunt straddled along at
a most awkward gait, kicking up the leaves, and breaking and bending
the undergrowth in such a manner as to make the care of the hunter
entirely useless. In this manner they traveled until nightfall, when
they reached the banks of a small brook, beside which it was decided to
encamp for the night. During the latter part of the day it had been
steadily growing colder, so that, after some deliberation, Dernor
concluded to start a fire.

"You don't s'pose the Injins will see it, do you?" asked Hunt.

"I'm sure I can't tell. Why do you ask?"

"'Cause, if _they_ are goin' to see it, I want to get out the way. I
don't s'pose you've traveled the woods much, have you?"

"Probably as much as you have."

"You have, eh?"

There was something in the tone in which this was uttered that made the
hunter turn and look at Zeke Hunt. As he did so, he saw an expression
of his greenish, gray goggle-eyes that made him feel certain, for the
minute, that he had seen him before. It may have been a fancy, for the
expression was gone instantly, and succeeded by the same blank,
half-idiotic look.

This was the second time the same unpleasant suspicion had entered the
mind of the Rifleman, and he was resolved, at the least, to keep an e