, it would not do to trust to
that."

Slugs, to whom this remark was addressed, lowered the axe with which he
was about to fell a neighbouring tree for firewood.

"That's true," said he, looking round him in all directions; "hold on,
comrades, yonder's a mound with a bare top, we'd better camp there.
Makin' a big blaze on sitch a place'll show the red reptiles we don't
care a gun-flint for them, and they'll not dare to come near, so we
won't have to watch."

"Arrah! an' a purty spot it'll be for the blackyirds to shoot us all
aisy as we're sottin' at supper," exclaimed Larry O'Dowd.

"Doubtless there's a hollow on it," rejoined Slugs, "for the top is
flat."

"Humph! maybe," growled Larry, who still seemed to object; but, as the
rest of the party were willing to adopt the suggestion, he said no more,
and they all went to the top of the little mound, which commanded a
clear view of the surrounding country.

As Slugs had surmised, there was a slight hollow on the summit of the
mound, which effectually screened the party from any one who might wish
to fire at them from below; and as there was no other mound in the
immediate neighbourhood, they felt quite secure. Huge logs were cut and
carried to the top of the mound, the snow was cleared out of the hole,
pine branches were spread over it, the fire was kindled, the kettle put
on and filled with snow, and soon Larry O'Dowd was involved in the heat,
steam, smoke, and activities of preparing supper, while his comrades
spread out their blankets and lay down to smoke with their arms ready
beside them.

The fire roared up into the wintry sky, causing the mound to resemble
the cone or crater of a volcano, which could be seen for miles round.
Ever and anon, while supper was being eaten, the Black Swan or Slugs
would rise, and going stealthily to the edge of the mound would peep
cautiously over, to make sure that none of their enemies were
approaching.

Immediately after supper, they all lay down to sleep, but, for a time,
each motionless form that lay rolled tightly in its blanket like an
Egyptian mummy, sent a series of little puffs from its head. At last
the stars came out, and the pipes dropped from each sleeper's lips.
Then the moon rose--a circumstance which rendered their position still
more secure--and the fire sank low. But Slugs was too cautious a hunter
to trust entirely to the alleged cowardice of the savages. He knew well
that many, indeed most of the reds