you carry two pretty fine
gold watches, while I've a bull's-eye as big as a half-dozen like them.
An Injun will sell his squaw and lodge for such trifles."

"Well, try it, then."

The Irishman arose to his feet when, as a matter of course, the black
eye of the old man was fixed upon him. He pointed to the gun overhead,
whereupon the Indian, with surprising quickness, caught it down and held
it with a nervous grasp, his squaw taking his seat beside him. Tim
offered the three knives which the party owned for it, opening and
flicking them to excite his cupidity. The eager look that came into his
face showed that he understood what was meant; but he only hugged his
property more tightly and shook his head from side to side.

"I knew he wouldn't part with it," said Elwood.

"Howld on a minute," replied Tim; "I'm only throwing out me skirmishers;
I'll fetch him yet. He's larned how to make a bargain."

The Irishman now produced his watch--an immense affair that would have
made a load for a small child. He pried open its gigantic case and
showed the dazzling array of brass wheels and the glittering coil of
steel. It could not but be attractive to a savage mind, and the Indian's
eyes sparkled as he looked upon it.

"Keep yours and let me offer mine," said Howard.

"Howld on, I tell yees, howld on; maybe you'll both have to offer 'em
afore he'll bite. My repater is like myself--it took too much salt water
for its good and hasn't been well for a few months. If the ould thing
would only tick a little he couldn't resist it; it has a beautiful voice
when it starts--like a thrashing machine."

Equally to the surprise of Tim and the boys, the savage arose and handed
the gun to the Irishman, who was only too glad to put his watch and
three knives into his possession.

"I only wish he had a couple more," said Howard, "so that we could each
get one. We ought to be able to take care of ourselves then."

Tim in the meantime was turning the rifle over in his hand and examining
it with an appearance of great pleasure.

"That come from San Francisco," said he.

"How did it reach these parts?"

"Aisy enough, as me uncle said when he fell off the house. Some trader
has let him have it for about five hundred dollars' worth of furs and
peltries."

"Don't forget the ammunition," admonished Elwood, "or the gun will do us
little good."

"Worrah! it's meself that came nigh doin' the same. That's a fine
powdther-horn that he has. I