Of course we
shall stick by you if we have to lose our heads fur it. But don't you
think they'll pay us a visit?'

'Like 'noughtin',' was the indifferent reply of the hunter, as he laid
his head back again, as if tired of listening to the tumult.

'Can't we do anything to get you out of danger!'

'Can't see that you kin; you two fellers have done me a good turn in
gittin' me ashore, so jist leave me yere, and it don't make no
difference about me one way or t'other, Ef I hear 'em comin' I'll jist
roll into the water and go under in that style.'

'May the Howly Vargin niver smile upon us if we dissart you in this
extremity,' was the reply of the fervent-hearted Irishman.

'And by the jumpin' jingo! if we was consarnedly mean enough to do it,
there ain't no need of it.'

As the Yankee spoke, he ran down to the river, and walking out a short
distance, caught a log drifting by and drew it in.

'Naow, Mr. Baldy, or Mr. Bicknell, as you call yourself, we'll all
three git hold of that and float down the river till we git beyond
fear of the savages.'

The plan was a good one, and the hunter so expressed himself. With
some help he managed to crawl to the river bank, where one arm was
placed over the log, in such a manner that he could easily float,
without any danger of sinking.

'Keep as close to shore as you kin,' he said, as they were about
shoving off.

'We can go faster in the middle,' said Hopkins.

'But the reds'll see us, and it'll be all up then.'

This was the warning of prudence, and it was heeded.

CHAPTER VI. THE MINERS.

IT WAS late in the afternoon when the explosion occurred, and it was
just beginning to grow dark when the three friends began drifting down
the Yellowstone.

This fact was greatly in their favor, although there remained an hour
or two of great danger, in case the Indians made any search for them.
In case of discovery, there was hardly an earthly chance for escape.

The log or raft, as it might be termed, had floated very quietly
down-stream for about half an hour, when the wonderfully acute ears of
the trapper detected danger.

'Thar be some of the skunks that are creep-in 'long shore,' said he;
'you'd better run in under this yar tree and hold fast awhile.'

The warning was heeded. Just below them, the luxuriant branches of an
oak, dipped in the current, formed an impenetrable screen. As the log,
guided thither, floated beneath this, Mickey and Eth