d
their ears.

'That's the long-legged Yankee!' instantly remarked the trapper; 'he
knows how to make my kind of noise.'

'What does it mean?'

'It means that all is right.'

'Where are the Indians?'

'They ain't fur off. I wish they war further, fur ef it warn't fur
them, we'd had half the yaller metal out of thar by this time.'

Young Brainerd had the reputation of possessing a remarkably keen
vision; but, peer as much as he might, he could detect nothing
unusual. The trapper, however, affirmed that numerous forms could be
seen creeping along-the edge of the prairie, and that these same forms
were more nor less than so many red-skins.

'What are they trying to do?'

'Duono.'

'Hadn't we better withdraw?' inquired Johnny, showing a little
nervousness.

'Not till we know they're after us,' was the quiet reply.

By and by the boy himself was able to get an occasional glimpse of the
shadowy figures moving to and fro.

'I think they are going to surround us,' he added, 'and I feel as
though we ought to get out while we can do so.'

The only reply to this, was by the trapper suddenly bringing his gun
to his shoulder and firing. An agonizing screech, as the savage threw
himself in the air, showed that the shot had not been in vain.

Rather curiously at the same moment the report of a gun in the ravine
reached their ears, followed by the same death-shriek.

'They ain't sleepin' very powerful down thar,' was the pleased remark
of the trapper, as he leisurely reloaded his piece, while the boy
remained in that nervous state, awaiting the permission of Baldy to go
spinning away over the prairie at a rate that would very quickly carry
him beyond all danger.

But the trapper was in no hurry to give the ardently desired
permission. He seemed to have a lingering affection for the place,
which prevented his 'tearing himself away.'

The boy's timidity was not in the least diminished, when several
return shots were fired, the bullets pinging all around them.

'My gracious, Baldy, let's get out of this!' he instantly pleaded,'
starting the man himself.

'Go about fifty feet,' was the reply, 'but not any further.'

It may be said that the steam man fairly leaped over this space, and
somewhat further, like a frightened kangaroo, and even then it would
not have halted had not the trapper given peremptory orders for it to
do so.

The sky was now clear and the moon, riding high and nearly full,
illumined the prai