of victory, which but for the injured one had never been
achieved. So, he went and stripped the head of the slain savage of its
scalp, which, with its long braided lock and tuft of feathers, he tied
securely to the back of the war-dog's neck just behind the ears. This he
did with the assurance that although they had won the trophy conjointly,
yet in consideration of the gallant services which he--Grumbo--had that
day rendered their almost hopeless cause, would he, the Fighting Nigger,
resign all claim thereunto in his comrade's favor, and allow him to
enjoy the undivided honor thereof, as he so richly deserved. Then the
"captain explained to his lieutenant"--for with these titles the white
hunters often coupled them--how matters stood between them and their
Indian prisoner, but for whose humanity they had never found their
little master alive. Having enlarged upon this point, the captain wound
up his apology--for such the explanation was, in fact--with the promise,
backed by the Fighting Nigger's inviolable word of honor, that as soon
as they had squared the debt of gratitude under which this young
barbarian had laid them, then would they go on doing up business in the
good old orthodox fashion as before. More than this, that hereafter,
whenever any of the red "varmints" should fall into their hands,
he--Grumbo--should be allowed to throttle and tumble, tousle and tug
them to his heart's content. All this, so gratifying to a warrior's
pride, seemed to have the desired effect in appeasing the wounded
dignity of his dogship, as was apparent, first by his bending his nose
to smell, then stooping his head to taste, and at last by his coming
bodily to the ground and falling tooth and nail upon the juicy roast
before him, which now he could venture to do without great risk of
burning his mouth.

By this time the dewy half of the morning was well-nigh spent, and if
they would reach the shelter of the distant station by the going down of
that day's sun, it was high time they were up and away on their homeward
tramp. But Big Black Burl could not think of quitting the spot without
taking with him every thing--weapons, accouterments of war, scalps,
prisoners of war, not to mention the rescued captive--that might bespeak
a battle fought and victory won, and that could set off and give edge to
the triumphal entry he anticipated making that evening into Fort
Reynolds. The whole settlement--nay, the whole Paradise from end to
end--sh