o' use to try to
throw dust in _his_ eyes, seein' that his winkin' powers wos sich as to
enable him to keep it out, no matter how thick or fast it should come."

"Ah, that's yer sort! I calc'late you're floored there, March," said
Waller gravely. "The fact is, boy, that it won't do; you've got
somethin' in the background, that Mr Bertram talks sich a heap about.
You ought to be fair an' above-board with comrades, ye ought."

"Oui," added Gibault. "Of course, you have lived somewhere, an'
somehow, all dis time. It am not posseeble for live nowhere on noting."

"Well, I tell you I have lived with a hunter, who treated me very well,
and told me I'd find you here; having learned that, as I understand,
from the Wild Man o' the West himself."

"Very true," said Bounce; "but where does the hunter live?"

"In the mountains," replied March.

"So does the Blackfeet, an' the Peigans, an' the Crows, an' the foxes,
an' wolves, an' grisly bars," retorted Bounce dryly.

"I'll tell ye what it is," cried the exasperated March, "the curiosity
of you fellers beats the squaws out an' out. Now, I'll be open with ye,
an' then ye must hold your tongues. This man that I've been stayin'
with is a very fine fellow, an' a very wonderful fellow, an' his name's
Dick--"

"Dick what?" inquired Bounce.

"Dick nothing," said March.

"Ay! that's a odd name."

"No, I mean he's only called Dick, an' he wouldn't tell me his other
name, if he has one. Well, he said to me I was not to tell where he
lived, as he don't like company, an' so he made me promise, an' I did
promise, d'ye see? so I mean to stick to my promise, and that's all
about it. I would like to tell ye about him, comrades, but you wouldn't
have me break my word, would you?"

"Cer'nly not, by no means," said Bounce. "Does he live all by his
lone?"

"No--eh--ah! Well, I fancy it's not breakin' my word to tell ye that--
no, he's got a little gal, an adopted daughter, livin' with him."

"Is she good-lookin'?" inquired Bounce quickly, with a sharp glance at
the youth.

March looked a little confused, and, in a hesitating manner, admitted
that she was.

"Ah! I thought so," observed Bounce gravely, shaking his head and
looking unutterably profound, while Gibault gave a low whistle and
winked to Big Waller, who returned the mystic signal with the addition
of a knowing nod, all of which movements were observed by poor March,
who became very red in the face and felt very