gazed serenely up at the twinkling
stars, two days after their escape from the Indian village.

They spoke little; they were too tired for that; also, they were too
comfortable. Their respective suppers of fresh antelope steak, shot
that day, had just been disposed of; their feet were directed towards
the small fire on which the said steaks had been cooked, and which still
threw a warm, ruddy glow over the encampment. Their blankets were
wrapped comfortably round them, and tucked in as only hunters and
mothers know _how_ to tuck them in. Their respective pipes delivered
forth, at stated intervals, three richly yellow puffs of smoke, as if a
three-gun battery were playing upon the sky from that particular spot of
earth. The horses were picketted and hobbled in a rich grassy bottom
close by, from which the quiet munch of their equine jaws sounded
pleasantly, for it told of healthy appetites, and promised speed on the
morrow. The fear of being overtaken during the night was now past, and
the faithful Crusoe, by virtue of sight, hearing, and smell, guaranteed
them against sudden attack during the hours of slumber. A perfume of
wild flowers mingled with the loved odours of the "weed," and the tinkle
of a tiny rivulet fell sweetly on their ears. In short, the
"Pale-faces" were supremely happy, and disposed to be thankful for their
recent deliverance and their present comforts.

"I wonder what the stars are," said Dick, languidly taking the pipe out
of his mouth.

"Bits o' fire," suggested Joe.

"I tink dey are vorlds," muttered Henri, "an' have peepels in dem. I
have hear men say dat."

A long silence followed, during which, no doubt, the star-gazers were
working out various theories in their own minds.

"Wonder," said Dick again, "how far off they be."

"A mile or two, maybe," said Joe.

Henri was about to laugh sarcastically at this; but, on further
consideration, he thought it would be more comfortable not to, so he lay
still. In another minute he said--"Joe Blunt, you is ver' igrant.
Don't you know dat de books say de stars be hondreds, tousands,--oh!
milleryons of mile away to here, and dat de is more bigger dan dis
vorld?"

Joe snored lightly, and his pipe fell out of his mouth at this point, so
the conversation dropped. Presently Dick asked, in a low tone, "I say,
Henri, are ye asleep?"

"Oui," replied Henri, faintly. "Don't speak, or you vill vaken me."

"Ah! Crusoe, you're not asleep, are yo