band of about thirty horsemen, clad in the leathern
costume, and armed with the long rifle of the far west. Some wore
portions of the gaudy Indian dress which gave to them a brilliant,
dashing look. They came on straight for the block-house, and saluted
the Varleys with a jovial cheer as they swept past at full speed. Dick
returned the cheer with compound interest, and calling out, "They're
trappers, mother, I'll be back in an hour," bounded off like a deer
through the woods, taking a short cut in order to reach the block-house
before them. He succeeded, for, just as he arrived at the house, the
cavalcade wheeled round the bend in the river, dashed up the slope, and
came to a sudden halt on the green. Vaulting from their foaming steeds
they tied them to the stockades of the little fortress, which they
entered in a body.

Hot haste was in every motion of these men. They were trappers, they
said, on their way to the Rocky Mountains to hunt and trade furs. But
one of their number had been treacherously murdered and scalped by a
Pawnee chief, and they resolved to revenge his death by an attack on one
of the Pawnee villages. They would teach these "red reptiles" to
respect white men, they would, come of it what might; and they had
turned aside here to procure an additional supply of powder and lead.

In vain did the major endeavour to dissuade these reckless men from
their purpose. They scoffed at the idea of returning good for evil, and
insisted on being supplied. The log hut was a store as well as a place
of defence, and as they offered to pay for it there was no refusing
their request--at least so the major thought. The ammunition was
therefore given to them, and in half an hour they were away again at
full gallop over the plains on their mission of vengeance. "Vengeance
is Mine, I will repay, saith the Lord." But these men knew not what God
said, because they never read His Word, and did not own His sway.

Young Varley's enthusiasm was considerably damped when he learned the
errand on which the trappers were bent. From that time forward he gave
up all desire to visit the mountains in company with such men, but he
still retained an intense longing to roam at large among their rocky
fastnesses, and gallop out upon the wide prairies.

Meanwhile he dutifully tended his mother's cattle and sheep, and
contented himself with an occasional deer-hunt in the neighbouring
forests. He devoted himself also to the tr