fe. `Is he bringing the blankets?'

"`Yes,' said I, knowingly, `and a good load besides.'

"At that moment was heard the creaking of wheels, and the great tilt of
white canvass was seen, far out, reflecting back the blaze of the fire.
Frank leaped to his feet, and, clapping his hands with delight, cried
out,--

"`Mamma! mamma! it is the wagon!'

"Then was heard the loud voice of Cudjo in a joyous `Wo-ha!' and the
moment after, the horse and ox stepped up to the fire as lightly as if
the pull had been a mere bagatelle; and they could have stood it an
hundred miles farther without flinching. We were not slow in relieving
both of them from their traces, and giving them a full swing at the
grass and water.

"As it was now late in the night, and we were all very tired, from the
fatigues we had undergone, we determined to lose no time in going to
rest. Mary went to prepare a bed in the wagon,--for this was our only
tent, and a very excellent tent it was, too. At the same time, Cudjo
and I set about skinning the antelope, so that we might have it in fine
order for our breakfast in the morning. The dogs, too, were interested
in this operation,--for they, poor brutes, up to this time, had fared
worse than any of us. However, the head, feet, and intestines, fell to
their share; and they soon had a supper to their hearts' content.
Having finished skinning the antelope, we tied a rope to its legs, and
slung it up to the branch of a tree--high enough to be out of the reach
of wolves, as well as our own dogs, during the night.

"Mary had by this time completed the arrangements for our sleeping; and
but one thing more remained to be done before retiring to rest. That
was a duty which we never neglected when circumstances admitted of its
being performed. Mary knew this, and had brought out of the wagon the
only book which it contained--the Bible. Cudjo turned up the pine logs
upon the fire; and, seating ourselves around the blaze, I read from the
Sacred Book those passages which were most appropriate to our own
situation,--how God had preserved Moses and the children of Israel in
the Desert Wilderness.

"Then, with clasped hands and grateful hearts, we all knelt, and offered
thanks for our own almost miraculous deliverance."

CHAPTER TWELVE.

THE BIGHORNS.

"Next morning we were up by the earliest break of day, and had the
pleasure of witnessing a beautiful phenomenon in the sunrise. The whole
country to the