mutton.

After the breakfast Bart and the Doctor learned that the chief Beaver,
as it was settled to call him, had been off really on purpose to get an
interpreter, knowing that he could find the trail of his friends again;
and this he had done, following them right into the mountains, and
coming upon them as we have seen.

Conversation was easy now, and Bart learned that their friends had had a
severe fight in the plains a short time before the first meeting, and
that the Beaver had felt sure that he would die of his wound, and be
left in the wilderness the same as they had left fifteen of their
number, the odds against them having been terribly great.

Later on came questions, the Beaver being anxious to know why the
Doctor's party were there.

"You have not come upon the war-path," the Beaver said, "for you are
weak in number, and you have brought a woman. Why are you here?"

Then the Doctor explained his object--to find a vein of either gold or
silver somewhere in the mountains; and as soon as it was all
interpreted, the chief laughed outright.

"He does not set much store by the precious metals, Bart," said the
Doctor, "and when I see the simplicity of their ways, it almost makes me
ashamed of our own."

Just then the Beaver talked earnestly for a few moments with the warrior
who interpreted, and returned to the Doctor.

"The Beaver-with-the-Sharp-Teeth says you gave him life when all was
growing black, and he thought to see his people never more; and now he
says that he rejoices that he can take his brother across the plains to
where a great river runs deep down by the side of a mighty mountain,
where there is silver in greater quantities than can be carried away."

"Does the chief know of such a place?" cried the Doctor, excitedly.

"Yes; he and I have seen it often," said the Indian.

"And will he take me there?"

"Yes; the Beaver will take his brother there, and give it all into his
hands."

"At last!" cried the Doctor excitedly. Then in a low voice, "Suppose it
should not prove to be silver after all?"

"I know it is silver," said the Indian, quietly. "Look," he cried,
taking a clumsily-made ring from his medicine-bag. "That came from
there, so did the ring upon the lariat of the chief."

"Ask him when he will take me there!" cried the Doctor.

"He says now," replied the Indian, smiling at the Doctor's eagerness and
excitement. "It is a long way, and the plains are hot, and there is
li