ere ain't much time left to do it in. Let's go back an'
see if there's a game runnin'. I might as well let somebody else pay th'
expenses of this trip."

Tom nodded and followed his companion into the cabin set apart for men
and sat down at a table with two trappers, from where he could watch the
game at close range, for he realized that the time for the gamblers to
get the merchant's money also was getting short. Under the conditions
almost anything might occur and he felt that he owed a debt to his
friend for the part he had played during the fight with Schoolcraft.

Uncle Joe joined Stevens and a companion, who were idly playing and who
seemed to be impatiently and nervously waiting for his appearance; soon
a tense game was in progress. At a table in a corner from where the
players could be closely watched Ephriam Schoolcraft, his face still
badly bruised, was talking in sullen undertones to the little Mexican
and another companion, while hunters, traders, trappers, and men of
various other callings kept up a low hum of conversation throughout the
cabin.

From one group came fragments of fur trade gossip: "Th' American Fur
Company's talkin' about abandonin' Fort Van Buren. Thar's been a lot o'
posts let go to grass th' last two years. Th' business ain't what it was
ten year ago."

"On th' other hand," replied a companion, "Fox an' Livingston air goin'
fer to put up a post at th' mouth o' th' Little Bighorn, which evens up
fer Van Buren; an' Chardon's aimin' fer to put one up at th' mouth o'
th' Judith. Th' trade's all right, only th' American's got more buckin'
agin' it."

"'Tain't what it onct was, though," said a third trader. "Thar's too
many posts an' private parties. Ye can't go nowhere hardly in th' Injun
country without comin' slap up ag'in a post o' some kind. Thar's Zack:
hey, Zack! Come over hyar!"

Zack, a mountain hunter and a free one, swung over and joined the group.

"Jest been palaverin' with some Canucks," he said. "Fur's I could git
th' hang o' thar parley-vouz thar goin' up ter help open Fort William,
at th' mouth o' th' Yallerstun, fer Fox an' Livingston. They sez Pratte
an' Cabanne had took over Fort Platte, up nigh th' Laramie. How fur ye
goin' on this packet, Smith?"

"Bellevue," answered Smith. "I'm headin' up th' Platte a-ways, if th'
danged Pawnees let me git past. Pardner's waitin' near th' mouth with a
bullboat. Reckon we kin count on enough water, this time o' year, fer
ter floa