ver that?'

'Certainly not; but we can remove them.'

'Do yer want to try it, younker?'

'I'm willing to help.'

'Do yer know that ar' somethin' less nor a hundred red-skins ahind
them, jist waitin' fur yer to try that thing?'

'Good heavens! can it be possible?'

'Ef you don't b'l'eve it, go out and look for yerself, that's all.'

The boy, for the first time, comprehends the peril in which he had
brought his friends by his own remissness, and his self-accusation was
so great, that, for a few moments, he forgot the fact that he was
exposed to the greatest danger of his life.

By this time Ethan and Mickey awoke, and were soon made to understand
their predicament. As a matter of course, they were all disposed to
blame the author of this; but when they saw how deeply he felt his own
shortcoming, all three felt a natural sympathy for him.

'There's no use of talkin' how we came to get hyar,' was the
philosophical remark of the trapper; 'it's 'nongh to know that we are
hyar, with a mighty slim chance of ever gettin' out ag'in.'

'It's enough to make a chap feel down in the mouth, as me friend Jonah
observed when he went down the throat of the whale,' said Mickey.

'How is it they don't shoot us?' asked Hopkins; 'we can't git out of
their way, and they've got us in fair range.'

'What's the use of doin' that? Ef they kill us, that'll be the end
on't; but ef they put thar claws on us, they've got us sure, and can
have a good time toastin' us while they yelp and dance around.'

All shuddered at the fearful picture drawn by the hunter.

'Jerusalem! don't I wish I was to hum in Connecticut!'

'And it's myself that would be plaised to be sitting in the parlor at
Ballyduff wid me own Bridget Moghlaghigbogh, listenin' while she
breathed swate vows, after making her supper upon praties and inions.'

'I think I'd ruther be hyar,' was the commentary of the trapper upon
the expressed wish of the Irishman.

'Why can't yees touch up the staammau, and make him hop owver them
shtones?' asked Mickey, turning toward the boy, whom, it was noted,
appeared to be in deep reverie again.

Not until he was addressed several times did he look up. Then he
merely shook his head, to signify that the thing was impossible.

'Any fool might know better than that.' remarked the Yankee, 'for if
he could jump over, where would be the wagon?'

'That 'ud foller, av coorse.'

'No; there's no way of getting the steam man out of here. He