raid I am not brave."

"Oh, nonsense, Mr. Peabody! that is only your modesty."

"But I assure you," said the young Bostonian earnestly, "I am speaking
the truth. If I should see an Indian crawling near the camp I'm really
afraid I should faint."

"You won't know how brave you are till you are put to the test."

"But do you think there is any chance of my being put to the test? Do
you think there are any Indians near?" asked Lawrence Peabody, wiping
the damp perspiration from his brow.

"Of course there must be," said Tom. "We are passing through their
hunting-grounds, you know."

"Why did I ever leave Boston?" said Mr. Peabody sadly.

"You came, as I did, to make your fortune, Mr. Peabody."

"I'm afraid I can't keep awake, Tom; Mr. Fletcher tells me, if I don't,
that he will turn me adrift on the prairie. Isn't that hard?"

"I am afraid it is a necessary regulation. But you won't fall asleep.
Your turn will only come about once in two weeks, and that isn't much."

"The nights will seem very long."

"I don't think so. I think it'll be fun, for my part."

"But suppose--when you are watching--you should all at once see an
Indian, Tom?" said Peabody, with a shiver.

"I think it would be rather unlucky for the Indian," said Tom coolly.

"You are a strange boy, Tom," said Mr. Peabody.

"What makes you think so?"

"You don't seem to care anything about the danger of being scalped."

"I don't believe I should like being scalped any more than you do."

"You might have got off from standing watch; but you asked to be allowed
to."

"That is quite true, Mr. Peabody. I want to meet my fair share of danger
and fatigue."

"You can stand it, for you are strong and tough. You have not my
delicacy of constitution."

"Perhaps that's it," said Tom, laughing.

"Would you mind speaking to Fletcher, and telling him you are willing to
take my place?"

"I will do it, if you wish me to, Mr. Peabody."

"Thank you, Tom; you are a true friend;" and Mr. Peabody wrung the hand
of his young companion.

Tom was as good as his word. He spoke to Fletcher on the subject; but
the leader of the expedition was obdurate.

"Can't consent, my boy," he said. "It is enough for you to take your
turn. That young dandy from Boston needs some discipline to make a man
of him. He will never do anything in a country like California unless
he has more grit than he shows at present. I shall do him a favor by
not excusing him."

Tom repor