hundred paces of him. "If that
ain't _my_ sow! She's gone, that's dead sure; and if I don't pepper
the red rascal that killed her I wish I may be split. That Indian 'll
find I'm not such a fool as he took me for. Just wait till he gits
close enough. I ain't to be deceived by my own sow's dead skin, with a
great big Osage in it, nohow you can fix it." Sneak's conjecture was
right. The Indian that Joe had killed was a chief, and the apparent
sow was nothing more than a savage enveloped in a swine's skin. The
Indian, after reconnoitering the premises with some deliberation,
evidently believed that his stratagem was successful, and at length
moved in the direction of his dead comrade, with the manifest
intention of bearing the body away.

"I'll let you have it now!" said Sneak, firing his rifle, when the
seeming sow began to drag the fallen chief from the field. The
discharge took effect; the savage sprang upright and endeavoured to
retreat in the manner that nature designed him to run; but he did not
go more than a dozen paces before he sank down and expired.

"That's tit for tat, for killing my sow," said Sneak, gazing at his
postrate foe.

"Come here, Sneak," said Boone, from the opposite side of the
inclosure.

"There was but one, and I fixed him," said Sneak, when they asked him
how many of the enemy were in view when he fired.

"They heard the gun," said Glenn, applying his ear to the chink, and
remarking that the Indians had suddenly ceased to work under the snow.

"Be quiet," said Boone; "they will begin again in a minute or two."

"They're at it a'ready," said Sneak, a moment after, and very soon
they were heard again, more distinctly than ever, cutting away with
increased rapidity.

"Suppose the match does not burn?" observed Glenn, in tones betraying
a fearful apprehension.

"In such an event," said Boone, "we must retreat into the house, and
fasten the door without a moment's delay. But I do not much fear any
such failure, for the dampness of the snow cannot so soon have
penetrated through the dry reeds to the powder. Still we should be
prepared--therefore, as there is no necessity that more than one of us
should be here now, and as I am that man, withdraw, all of you, within
the house, and remain there until your ears and eyes shall dictate
what course to pursue." Boone's command was promptly obeyed, and when
they reached the house and looked back, (the door was kept open,) they
beheld the renowned