pet, and I've a notion to
catch it."

"What are you talking about? You know you're afraid of it," said
Sneak, tauntingly.

"I'll show you," said Joe, springing upon the animal. The polecat (for
such it was) gave its assailant a taste of its quality in a twinkling.
Joe grasped his nose with both hands and wheeled away with all
possible expedition, while the animal pursued its course towards the
river.

"My goodness, I've got it all over my coat!" exclaimed Joe, rolling on
the snow in agony.

"Didn't I say I'd pay you for spilling the cold water on me?" cried
Sneak, in a convulsion of laughter.

"Why didn't you tell me, _you rascal_?" cried Joe, flushed in the
face, and forgetting the Indians in his increasing anger.

"Oh, I'll laugh myself sore--ha! ha! ha!" continued Sneak, sitting
down on the snow, and laughing obstreperously.

"You long, lopsided scoundrel, you. My Irish blood is up now," said
Joe, rushing towards Sneak with a resolution to fight.

"I'll be whipt if you tech me with them hands," said Sneak, running
away.

"Oh, what shall I do?" cried Joe, sinking down, his rage suddenly
subdued by his sickening condition.

"If you'll say all's square betwixt us, I'll tell you what to do. If
you don't do something right quick, they won't let you sleep in the
house for a month."

"Well. Now tell me quick!"

"Pull off your coat before it soaks through."

"I didn't think of that," said Joe, obeying with alacrity, and
shivering in the cold air.

"Now twist a stick into it, so you can carry it up to the house,
without touching it with your hands, that is, if none of it got on
'em," continued Sneak.

"There ain't a bit anywhere else but on the shoulder of my coat," said
Joe, acting according to Sneak's instructions. Filling their buckets,
they at length started towards the house, Joe holding a bucket in one
hand, and a long pole, on which dangled his coat, in the other. When
they entered, the company involuntarily started; and Glenn, losing all
control over his temper, hurled a book at his man's head, and
commanded him not to venture in his presence again until he could by
some means dispense with his horrid odor.

"Foller me," said Sneak, leading the way to the stable, and taking
with him one of the spades he had brought in from the burial; "now,"
he continued, when they were with the horses, "dig a hole at this end
of the stall, and bury your coat. If you hadn't took it in the house,
like a dunce, t