struggling in the water. We rushed forward to
secure our prey. Having put them out of suffering, I carried the fawn
to a dry spot, and Tim followed with the deer, which was as much as he
could well stagger under. While we were looking about for a long pole
by which we might suspend the animals, so as to carry them with greater
ease to the camp, we heard a rustling sound made by some person or
animal approaching. We, of course, had both reloaded our rifles, but
fully expected to see one of our party, attracted to the spot by our
shots. Our surprise, therefore, was great to see instead, standing
close to us, an Indian in the usual light hunting costume worn by his
people, composed of skins embroidered in the ordinary fashion. His
face, however, was painted in a way which gave him a far from
prepossessing expression.

"Who are you, Mr. Redface?" asked Tim, instinctively handling his rifle
ready for action.

"A friend!" answered the Indian. "You come kill my deer. What you want
here?"

"Arrah, sure, do you call it your deer?" asked Tim. "A deer in this
country belongs to the man who kills it, I've a notion; and it was not
your bullet which brought either of the animals to the ground. Mr.
Maurice here kilt one, and I the other; an' your bit of lead tumbled
into the water, a foot away at least from either of them. Sure, if
ye'll be afther lookin' for it, you'll find it in the mud."

"Ugh!" ejaculated the Indian, who saw that he was not likely to get much
change out of Tim, and knew from the distance he had fired that his aim
was uncertain. "Where are your people?"

"Come along, and you shall see," said Tim; "they'll be glad to have a
talk with you about some matters, and you'll find it to your advantage
to tell them what you know."

The Indian understood probably only a part of what Tim said, but
nodding, he said, "Spotted Wolf will go with you."

"Oh, is that your name? Come along, then, Mr. Spotted Wolf; we'll take
care no harm happens to you."

The Indian laughed scornfully, as if he considered that he could take
very good care of himself; and as by this time we had hung the deer to
the pole, Tim told him we were ready to move. "I'll trouble ye,
however, Mr. Spotted Wolf, to lead on ahead; you know the way out of
this hummock, maybe, better than we do. An' see that you lead us right,
if ye please."

He then turned to me, and in a lower voice said,--"It's as well to keep
this sort of gentleman in