d, and the platter rested on his lap, and his right hand, still
clenching the savoury bone, fell powerless at his side--Ringwood, in
his hard breathing, chanced to snuff up some ashes that caused him to
sneeze. Joe started at the sound, and after rolling his eyes round
once or twice and finding all right, raised the bone once more to his
mouth and set his jaws again in motion.

"Dod, man! are you going to chaw all night?" asked Sneak, awakened by
the motion of Ringwood, and looking up at the face of Joe in
astonishment.

"I had nothing to eat all day," replied Joe, fishing for a cracker
floating in the greasy platter.

"But ain't you a-going to sleep some?" asked Sneak, half
unconsciously, the final utterance smothered in a guttural rumble as
he again sank back on his canine pillow.

"Yes, when I've got my supper," replied Joe lazily, and indistinctly,
with one end of the bone in his mouth. But it was not long before he
again nodded, and his hand with the bone in it was once more lowered
softly down at his side. He was soon palpably fast asleep. And now the
kitten, having finished its nap, came with a noiseless tread to the
comfortable fire, humming its low unvaried song; and, rubbing its soft
side against the head of Jowler, finally crouched down before the
embers, with its feet drawn under it, and its eyes apparently watching
the brilliant sparks that ever and anon flew up the chimney. But ere
long it scented the well-flavoured viand that dangled in the vicinity,
and after casting a glance at the face of Joe, and being satisfied
that he was insensible to all external objects, stealthily began to
gnaw the end of the bone that rested on the hearth. As long as it had
in mind the fear of interruption, it was permitted to feast
moderately; but when its ravenous propensity urged it to more active
and vigorous operations, Joe once more opened his eyes, and after
looking slowly around, but not down, again attempted to raise the rib
to a is mouth.

"Hello!--augh! scat!" he cried, leaping up violently.

His first impression was that the Indians, about whom he had been
dreaming, were upon him; his next that a rattlesnake clung to his
finger; and finally, finding it to be the kitten bestowing some
scratches on the hand that sought to bereave it of its prize, he
uttered the latter exclamation, first in rage; but pleased that his
condition was no worse, soon after called the poor frightened pet to
him, and with one or two c