tonished.

"Yes," cried Bart, "it must have been that."

"Yes," said the Doctor. "The wretches must have dropped a burning wad,
or something of that kind."

"But it was very horrible," cried Bart.

"Yes, horrible," assented the Doctor.

"But it saved all us as was left, Master," said Joses, gruffly. "They'd
have found us out else, and served us the same as they did poor old Sam
and old Juan. What beasts Injun is."

"Yes, it saved our lives, Joses, and it was as it were a miracle. But
there, don't let's talk about it. We must take steps to bury those poor
creatures, and that before my child comes out. Do you think the enemy
will come back?" he continued, turning to the interpreter.

"The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth says no: not for days," was the reply; and,
willingly enough, the Indians helped their white friends to enlarge the
hole ploughed out by the explosion of the powder keg, which was easily
done by picking out a few pieces of rock, when there was ample room for
the dead, who, after some hour or two's toil, were buried beneath the
stones.

The remains of the two poor fellows, Juan and Sam, were buried more
carefully, with a few simple rites, and then, saddened and weary, the
Doctor turned to seek Maude.

Bart was about to follow him, when Joses took him by the sleeve.

"I wouldn't say anything to the master, but I must tell you."

"Tell me what?"

"About the explosion, Master Bart."

"Well, I saw it," said Bart.

"Yes, but you didn't see how it happened."

"I thought we had decided that."

"Well, you thought so, but you wasn't right, and I didn't care to brag
about it; but I did it, Master Bart."

"You fired that powder, and blew all those poor wretches to eternity!"
cried Bart, in horror.

"Now don't you get a looking like that, Master Bart. Why, of course I
did it. Where's the harm? They killed my two poor fellows, and they'd
have killed all of us, and set us up to shoot at if they'd had the
chance."

"Well, Joses, I suppose you are right," said Bart, "but it seems very
horrible."

"Deal more horrible if they'd killed Miss Maude."

"Oh, hush! Joses," cried Bart excitedly, "Tell me, though, how did you
manage it."

"Well, you see, Master Bart, it was like this. I stood looking on at
their devilry till I felt as if I couldn't bear it no longer, and then
all at once I recollected the powder, and I thought that if I could put
a bullet through the keg it would blow it up, and them