hen there was game afoot,
and the time went on--and on--and on.

CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE.

THE OLD HOUSE AT HOME.

The little mule-train, very lightly laden, and with harness,
pack-saddles, and loads looking ragged, patched, sun-bleached, and
repaired in every conceivable way, moved slowly along through the rich
greenery, led and followed by its sun-tanned escort, three before and
three behind. The ponies looked in admirable condition save that a
change of diet seemed necessary to do away with a swollen-out aspect due
to constant feeding upon green-stuff instead of corn. But the saddles
and bridles were as bad as those of the mules, though every bit and
buckle glistened in the sunshine through constant rubbing with sand.
The less said about the patched garments of the escort the better.

But there were no rags. Patches of divers materials, principally furry
skins, were plentiful, and the moccasins which had taken the place of
boots were either Indian and very neat, or home-made and quite the
reverse.

But here too there was something worthy of remark--each man's weapons
were admirably cared for and ready for instant use, while the occupants
of the saddles, though horribly dilapidated in the way of clothes, were
also in that grand state of vigorous health which also made them appear
ready for immediate use in any way, from hunting or shooting to obtain
the day's provision, to fighting for dear life against the enemies of
the white men who roamed the plains.

Not that these six wanderers could fairly be called white, for the sun
had burned them to a dull brick-red; but the term men is advisedly used,
for though when the party last passed that way, going in the opposite
direction, they were made up of four hale vigorous men and two boys, the
latter had been left in the desert lands through which they had been
wandering for two years--left, that is to say, by degrees, every bit
that had been boyish having physically died out, for its place to be
taken by something more manly, till on this particular day they rode
back with their feet much nearer the ground and their sturdy mustangs
appearing stunted, though quite well able to carry a far heavier load
than had been in the habit of climbing into the saddles when they
started from the plantations at the above-named distance of time.

It was only about a couple of hours before, when the party left the
shelter of a patch of great spruce-firs where they had camped for t