villains from
whom I escaped, and that seeming chief is no other than poor Noggin.
Tell your fellows not to hurt him, and I will have a talk with him
before long. If I can get him to draw off the Pawnees, we may easily
settle with the remainder of the Dacotahs, whom you have, I see, handled
pretty severely already." Saying this, the old hunter disappeared among
the tents, but speedily came back rigged out in the most fantastic
fashion, holding a long staff in his hand literally covered with rags
and tatters, which as he held it aloft streamed in the wind. We,
meantime, had been effectually keeping the enemy at bay. "I think this
will do for the nonce," he exclaimed; "give them one volley more, and
then let me see what I can do."

We followed his advice, and the moment we ceased firing, while the enemy
were still skipping about to avoid our shots, he rushed from among us,
crying out, "Noggin, old friend, tell your fellows that the mighty
medicine-man of all the Indians has come to get them out of a great
scrape, and that the sooner they take themselves away from this the
better."

The Indians, astonished at his sudden appearance, hung back, and no one
attempted to attack him, as I fully expected they would have done.
Noggin, on hearing the voice of his old friend, instantly called his
companions around him, we meantime taking care to reserve our fire for
our old enemies the Dacotahs. Presently we saw the Pawnees drawing off,
while the old hunter, indulging in all sorts of fantastic gestures, came
hurrying back to the camp, no one attempting to stop him. I asked him
why he had not brought his friend Noggin with him.

"Ah, he is an honest fellow," he answered. "He refused to come without
Mrs Noggin. The poor girl had trusted to him, had saved his life, and
he would not desert her. I honour him for it, but I do not despair of
seeing him and her yet. If he can induce her to come, he will bring her
as soon as he can make his escape from her tribe. He has no wish to
live the life of a red-skin for the remainder of his days. It is my
desire, and I think it will be his, to join my fortunes to yours. From
what I hear you are bound for California, and I should like to go and
try my luck in that country too. I may be of use to you, and you will
afford me that companionship which I begin to feel the want of in my old
age. I have no fancy again to run the risk of being scalped or roasted,
or having to lie down and d