e
blame. Now, this petting and humoring had spoiled the Fighting Nigger
not a little, making him arrogant and overbearing with his humbler self,
even to the extent at times of a threat to kick him bodily out-of-doors.
But Burlman Reynolds, the best-natured fellow in the world, perfectly
understood what all this fuming and puffing meant, and only laughed in
his sleeve thereat, knowing as well as anybody that after all the
Fighting Nigger was very much of a big humbug.

Hardly had they recovered their wonted balance after this, the mere
shade of an adventure, when the Fighting Nigger and Burlman Reynolds
were again brought to a stand by an apparition of quite a different
complexion. Less than twenty yards above them, on the side of a hill
they were now ascending, stood a dense thicket of low bushes, the ragged
edge of which showed in dim relief against the sky. Suddenly had risen
and vanished, and now suddenly rose and vanished again, what appeared to
be the plumed crests of three Indians, who were watching the black
hunter's approach, by fitful glimpses, from behind their place of
ambush. Dodging to one side behind a tree, the black giant cocked his
gun and planted himself firm and square on his moccasins, this time as
strong and sturdy from head to foot as a black-jack oak. These real
dangers, that might be met and vanquished with powder, lead, and steel,
had far less terrors for the Fighting Nigger than such empty shades of
the night as but now had sprung out at him from the foggy fancy of
Burlman Reynolds. But quickly bethinking himself again of his dog, his
touch-stone in every emergency where his own senses were at fault, he
cautiously peeped out from behind the tree. Perceiving again that Grumbo
was waiting for him with wonted composure, as if there was nothing in
the wind to sniff at, the Fighting Nigger was reaessured, convinced that
the eyes and fancy of Burlman Reynolds had played him another trick.
What he had seen proved in reality nothing more than a leafy shrub,
swayed up and down by the night winds.

For many minutes past, the unseen trail had been leading them up the
brushy side of a long, slow hill, to whose summit a few more weary steps
now brought them. Here, for the first time since the chase had begun,
the brindled dog came to a halt of his own accord--stopping short, with
a deep, heavy growl, scarce louder than the purr of a panther. Burl
looked before him and caught from afar the glimmer of a camp