p, and turned to flee. But he was too valuable
a prize to be let run away in this manner, and ere he could turn round,
or the Newfoundland could reach him, Tim had sent a bullet through his
head that tumbled him over and over as if he had been hit by a
cannon-ball.

Hurrying up to him, they found they had been fortunate enough to secure
a good large mountain sheep, a species of animal that run wild in
California, and at certain seasons of the year are in prime condition.
This was found only tolerable, but he was fully appreciated by our
friends. Tim O'Rooney had managed to conceal a second knife about his
person when bargaining with the Indian--one made on the liberal ideas
that was displayed in the construction of his watch, and far more useful
than the ornamental trifles that the boys carried.

With the help of this and the anatomical knowledge he possessed, he was
not long in dressing the sheep, and everything was made ready for
cooking him. The sticks were placed together, the choice steaks were
suspended on cross pieces, and the leaves heaped up, only awaiting
ignition.

"I declare!" exclaimed Howard, "how are we going to kindle it?"

Every face looked blank, for the thought had never entered their minds
until that moment.

"Haven't yees a match about you?" he asked, turning to the boys.

Naturally enough the two searched every pocket, and having finished
searched them over again, even turning them wrong side out, and then
turning them in and turning them wrong side out again; but all in vain,
there was not a lucifer in the party.

"Too bad!" exclaimed Elwood, "we are all as hungry as we can be, and we
shall have to remain so for the want of fire."

"If we wait a while we'll not need the match."

"Why not?"

"It isn't very hard to git hungry enough to ate the same without waiting
for the benefit of cooking."

"I can't do that," added Elwood, with an expression of disgust.

"Nor can I," added Howard.

"I've done it, and found it tasted good," said Tim, "and so would
yez--but howld on! One of yez whack me over the head!"

"For what?" they demanded in amazement.

"For being an owld fool, and be the same towken it's yourselves that is
the same."

"We do not understand you," they said, in some perplexity.

"Yez are talking about fire when we has it here at hand."

They looked inquiringly around, but did not understand the allusion
until he began loading the gun, when a new light broke upon them, a