else to restore warmth to our bodies. Poor Boxer,
however, came off but badly, as we could only afford to give him a small
portion of the bacon and bread, being disappointed of the game we hoped
to shoot to feed him. As to building a hut, besides the difficulty of
obtaining materials, both Dio and I were so fatigued, that once having
sat down we felt no inclination to move about more than was necessary.
All we could do, indeed, was to collect a further supply of wood to keep
up our fire. On looking at my watch I found that it wanted scarcely
three hours to morning. I felt by this time an overpowering inclination
to sleep, and Dio, I saw by the way he uttered his words, was affected
in the same manner. As far as we could judge the snow continued to come
down as heavily as before, but as we were protected by the thick
overhanging limbs of the trees, very little fell on us. We could hear
our horses cropping the grass, where we had tethered them, and we hoped
they would obtain sufficient to enable them to continue the journey the
next day. To keep awake any longer I found was impossible, so, drawing
my blanket tightly round me, I lay down with my feet towards the fire,
as near as I could venture to place them without fear of being burned.
Dio was already asleep, and I dropped off immediately afterwards. I do
not know how long it was after I had closed my eyes, when I became
conscious that Boxer was crawling close to me, licking my face,
trembling and whining in a peculiar manner. I was, however, so heavy
with sleep, that I did not comprehend for some time the cause of this.
Finding that he could not rouse me, he rushed across to Dio, whose voice
I soon heard.

"Some ting de matter, Massa Mike. Wake up, wake up. Boxer know dat
red-skin not far off."

Boxer again came back to me and gave a pull at my blanket, which
effectually awakened me.

"Red-skins!" I cried out, sitting up and listening. "I can hear
nothing."

"Boxer does dough," answered Dio.

The fire had burnt low, a few glowing embers alone remained,
insufficient to cast a light to any distance, I sprang up, intending to
put some more wood on to kindle a blaze, when the sound of horses' feet
reached my ears. "Our animals have got loose at all events, and if we
are not quick about it, we shall have a hard job to recover them," I
exclaimed.

Without a moment's delay I dashed forward in the direction in which we
had left the horses tethered, followe