e them into partnership, and so the thing was settled--
that's how it came about, no doubt of it!

There is a report that rattlesnakes live in these holes also; but we
cannot certify our reader of the truth of this,--still it is well to be
acquainted with a report that is current among the men of the backwoods.
If it be true, we are of opinion that the doggie's family is the most
miscellaneous and remarkable on the face of--or, as Henri said, in the
bo'-els--of the earth.

Dick and his friends were so deeply absorbed in watching these curious
little creatures that they did not observe the rapid spread of the black
clouds over the sky. _A_ few heavy drops of rain now warned them to
seek shelter, so wheeling round they dashed off at speed for the clump
of willows, which they gained just as the rain began to descend in
torrents.

"Now, lads, do it slick. Off packs and saddles," cried Joe Blunt,
jumping from his horse. "I'll make a hut for ye, right off."

"A hut, Joe! what sort o' hut can ye make here?" inquired Dick.

"Ye'll see, boy, in a minute."

"Ach! lend me hand here, Dick; de bockle am tight as de hosse's own
skin. Ah! dere all right."

"Hallo! what's this?" exclaimed Dick, as Crusoe advanced with something
in his mouth. "I declare, it's a bird of some sort."

"A prairie-hen," remarked Joe, as Crusoe laid the bird at Dick's feet;
"capital for supper."

"Ah! dat chien is superb! goot dog. Come here, I vill clap you."

But Crusoe refused to be caressed. Meanwhile, Joe and Dick formed a
sort of beehive-looking hut by bending down the stems of a tall bush and
thrusting their points into the ground. Over this they threw the
largest buffalo robe, and placed another on the ground below it, on
which they laid their packs of goods. These they further secured
against wet by placing several robes over them and a skin of parchment.
Then they sat down on this pile to rest and consider what should be done
next.

"'Tis a bad look out," said Joe, shaking his head.

"I fear it is," replied Dick in a melancholy tone.

Henri said nothing, but he sighed deeply on looking up at the sky, which
was now of a uniform watery grey, while black clouds drove athwart it.
The rain was pouring in torrents, and the wind began to sweep it in
broad sheets over the plains, and under their slight covering, so that
in a short time they were wet to the skin. The horses stood meekly
beside them, with their tails and heads equall