acant room at your fireside to-night?"

"Certainly, and something to eat--you will be welcome, provided you
don't quarrel too much with Joe," replied Glenn.

"Oh, Joe and me understand each other--the more we quarrel the more we
love one another. We'll never fight--do you mind that--for he's a
coward for one thing, and I won't corner him too close, because he's
broad-shouldered enough to _lick me_, if he was to take it into his
head to fight."

Glenn called the hounds after him and set out in quest of the fox, and
Sneak turned to the dead body and mused in silence.

CHAPTER VII.

Boone--The interment--Startling intelligence--Indians about--A
skunk--Thrilling fears--Boone's device.

Ere long Joe was on his way back to the cave-spring, with several
spades on his shoulder, accompanied by Boone, (who had just crossed
the river on a visit to Glenn,) and Roughgrove, with his two oarsmen.

"Is Glenn at the spring with Sneak?" asked Boone, in a very thoughtful
and grave manner.

"Yes, sir, I left him there, and I now hear him with the hounds
chasing a fox," replied Joe, in true native style.

"If he is with the hounds, he is certainly not at the spring,"
remarked Roughgrove.

"I meant that he was there, or _thereabouts_" replied Joe.

"Who found the dead man?" inquired Boone.

"I did--that is, when the dogs scented him--and it almost frightened
me when I dug out his foot," said Joe.

"No doubt!" observed Boone.

The party now moved along in silence, still permitting Joe to lead the
way, until they suddenly emerged from the thicket in the immediate
vicinity of the spring, when an unexpected scene attracted their
notice. Sneak was composedly seated on the body of the dead man, and
very deliberately searching his pockets!

"Well! that beats all the mean actions I ever beheld before!" said
Joe, pausing and staring indignantly at Sneak.

"You're a fool!" replied Sneak.

"What for? because I wouldn't rob the dead?" retorted Joe.

"Do you call this robbing the dead? Hain't this traitor stoled this
lump of gold from the Injins?" said Sneak, displaying a rough piece of
the precious metal about the size of a crow's egg.

"Is it gold?" asked Joe, with some anxiety.

"Sartainly it is," answered Sneak, handing it to him to be examined;
"and what good could come of burying it agin? I'll leave it to Mr.
Boone to say if I ain't right in taking it myself."

"Oh, any thing worth this much ought to be taken," sa