een far over the
river many miles eastward. Nor were any sounds heard save the
occasional chattering of the paroquet in the dense forest across the
river, a mile distant, and yet they appeared to be in the immediate
vicinity. The hounds lay extended on the ground with their eyes open,
more in a listless than a watchful attitude. The kitten was couched on
the threshold (the door having been left open to admit the pure air,)
and looked thoughtfully at the rising sun. The large blue chanticleer
was balanced on one foot with an eye turned upwards as if scanning the
heavens to guard against the sudden attack of the far-seeing eagle.
Nature seemed to be indulging in a last sweet morning slumber, if
indeed not over-sleeping herself, while the sun rose stealthily up and
smiled at all her charms exposed!

"Hillo! ain't you all up yit? Git up, Joe, and feed your hosses,"
cried Sneak, approaching the gate on the outside, and thus most
unceremoniously dispelling the charm that enwrapped the premises.

"Who's there?" cried Joe, springing up and rubbing his eyes.

"It's me--dod, you know who I am. Come, open the gate and let me in."

"What's the matter, Sneak? Are the Indians after you?" said Joe,
running out, but pausing at the gate for an answer before he drew back
the bolt.

"No--I thought-you had sense enough by this time to know no Indians
ain't going to come this time a-year. Let me in!" added he,
impatiently.

"What are you doing with them long sticks?" asked Joe, opening the
gate and observing two hickory poles in Sneak's hand. "Are you going
to try your luck fishing?"

"No, nor _ducking_ nother," replied he, sarcastically.

"Plague it, Sneak," said Joe, deprecatingly, "never mind that affair;
you were mistaken about my being frightened. The next chance I get
I'll let you see that I'm not afraid of any thing."

"Well, I want you to go with me on a spree this morning that'll try
you."

"What are you going to do?" asked Joe, with some curiosity in his
looks.

"I'm going a _snaking_," said Sneak.

At this juncture the dialogue was arrested by the appearance of Glenn,
whose brow was somewhat paler than usual, and wore an absent and
thoughtful cast; yet his abstract meditations did not seem altogether
of a painful nature.

"Joe," said he, "I want you to exercise the horses more in the
prairie. They are getting too fat and lazy. If they cannot be got on
the boat when we leave here, we will have to send them by lan