fire, and pounded down among numerous bones of the buffalo, already
simmering in the cinders. An anatomist only could have detected the
presence of a human skeleton.

"Now, Rube; the arrows?"

"If 'ee'll leave that to me an' Bill Garey, I think them two niggurs kin
fix 'em so as to bamfoozle any Injuns thur is in these parts. We'll hev
to go three mile or tharabout; but we'll git back by the time 'ee hev
filled yur gourds, an' got yur traps ready for skeetin'."

"Very well! take the arrows."

"Four's gobs for us," said Rube, taking that number from the quiver.
"Keep the rest. 'Ee'll want more wolf-meat afore we start. Thur's not
a tail o' anythin' else till we git clur roun' the mountain yander.
Billee! throw your ugly props over that Navagh mustang. Putty hoss too;
but I wudn't giv my old mar for a hul cavayard o' him. Gi's a sprig o'
the black feather."

Here the old trapper drew one of the ostrich feathers out of the helmet
of the Navajo chief, and continued--

"Boyees! take care o' the ole mar till I kum back, an don't let her
stampede, do 'ee hear. I wants a blanket. Don't all speak at oncest!"

"Here, Rube, here!" cried several, holding out their blankets.

"E'er a one 'll do. We needs three: Bill's an' mine an' another'n.
Hyur, Billee! take these afore ye. Now ride down the 'Pash trail three
hunred yards, or tharabout, an' then pull up. Don't take the beaten
pad, but keep alongside, an' make big tracks. Gallop!"

The young hunter laid his quirt to the flanks of the mustang, and
started at full gallop along the Apache trail.

When he had ridden a distance of three hundred yards or so, he halted to
wait for further directions from his comrade.

Old Rube, at the same time, took an arrow; and, fastening a piece of
ostrich feather to the barb, adjusted it on one of the upright poles
which the Indians had left standing on the camp-ground. It was placed
in such a manner that the head pointed southward in the direction of the
Apache trail, and was so conspicuous with the black feather that no one
coming in from the Llanos could fail to see it.

This done, he followed his companion on foot, keeping wide out from the
trail, and making his tracks with great caution. On coming up with
Garey, he stuck a second arrow in the ground: its point also inclined to
the south, and so that it could be seen from the former one.

Garey then galloped forward, keeping on the trail, while Rube struck out
again