ite lonely spots. But there
you are," continued the speaker, pointing with his piece, and then
administering another punch to the mule, who was beginning to smile
previous to making a bite.

"What are you pointing at?" asked Ned.

"Can't you see those birds skimming along just over the brush, my lads?"

"No," said Ned.

"Yes," cried Chris. "I see them--partridges."

"Something of that kind. Prairie hens, or cocks. They're good to eat
sometimes."

"Of course; we've often had them."

"Here, I must cut a good thick cudgel first chance on purpose for this
lovely playful insect here. We ought to christen him Mosquito. He's
always trying for a bite out of something--hungry beggar. I say, dessay
he wouldn't mind trying a bit of Indian."

"Give him another punch with your rifle."

"No!" cried Griggs emphatically. "Never again. I did that idiotic
thing twice over before I thought what a fool I was towards myself, and
teaching you two lads at the same time."

"How? What do you mean?"

"Doing what is sure to mean an accident some day. Can't you see, one
holds by the barrel and reaches down the butt?"

"Of course."

"Well, some day that means jarring the rifle off and sending its charge
into you who hold the barrel. Never try such a thing, whatever you do.
It's the work of an idiot, my lads. A man that does such a thing
oughtn't to be trusted with a gun."

"Then we ought to take Mr Nathaniel Griggs' rifle away from him, Ned,"
said Chris, with mock seriousness.

"Ah, you may laugh, my lads, but I deserve it," said the American
seriously. "It gave me a cold shudder just now when I thought of what a
mad thing I had done. There's more fooling about with guns than people
think. Every now and then a donkey comes into a room, sees a gun, picks
it up, and presents it, saying to some one, `I'll shoot you,' and pulls
the trigger, bringing some poor fellow down. If ever you see any one
aim at a person with a gun, knock him over, and save accident. A poor
boy or girl is shot, and then the idiot says, `Oh, I didn't know it was
loaded!' It oughtn't to have been, but at such times guns generally
are. I don't know how many accidents of that kind I've heard of. We're
always going to be carrying our pieces on this journey, and never ought
to have one out of our hands, so we should be the more careful. I don't
want to be buried out here in the desert, nor yet go home again without
a head. What would be the u