close at hand, so as
to be ready for instant use.

Mr Tidey, Dan, and I had started on horseback one morning just before
daybreak, agreeing to meet at noon at a certain spot about ten miles
from the farm, by the side of a stream near a wood, where we could light
our fire and cook any game we might have shot. I had had a successful
morning's sport, having shot a fawn, a couple of turkeys, and several
small birds; and at the hour agreed on I arrived with my horse well
loaded at our proposed camp. Finding that the Dominie and my brother
had not yet reached it, I collected sticks and lighted a fire, so that I
might have dinner ready for them.

While I was so employed, occasionally taking a look round in the
expectation of seeing either the Dominie or Dan approaching, I was
startled by discovering an Indian who had suddenly emerged from the wood
about twenty paces off. My first impulse was to seize my rifle which
lay on the ground near me, but a second glance showed me that although
he had a bow in his hand, there was no arrow in the string.

"You are not as cautious as you should be, young pale-face," he
observed, as he came up to me. "This is the second time I have caught
you off your guard; an enemy approaching as I did might have shot you
before you had discovered him."

As he spoke I recognised our friend Kluko. We shook hands, and he
seated himself by the fire, when I offered him some of the food I was
cooking, which would, I knew, suit his taste, though not sufficiently
roasted to please our palates.

"I heard the sound of your rifle several times, and I tracked you here,
as I wanted to bring you good news," he said.

"I thank you, pray speak on," I answered; "I know that it will give
Kluko as much pleasure to tell good news as it will afford me to hear
it."

"When I saw you last, I warned you that a party of Blackfeet, instigated
by a white man, had undertaken the destruction of your farm: I have now
to tell you that they quarrelled with their white friend, and, following
his trail as he journeyed westward, they have attacked his camp, and cut
him and his people to pieces, carrying off their scalps as trophies."

"Do you speak of Silas Bracher?" I asked.

"That was the name of the white chief; I have no doubt about the matter,
although I could not remember it," answered Kluko. "As the red-men
obtained all the booty they could carry off, many times more than the
amount of the reward they expected to