ave killed them with stones," said Boone; and as Sneak drew
near, he continued, with a smile, "they are nothing more than a brace
of his terriers, that doubtless Bruin dispatched, and which may well
be spared, notwithstanding Sneak's seeming sorrow."

Sneak approached the place where Boone and Glenn were standing, with
the gravest face that man ever wore. His eyes seemed to be set in his
head, for not once did they wink, nor did his lips move for some
length of time after he threw down the dogs at the feet of Glenn,
although several men addressed him. He stood with his arms folded, and
gazed mournfully at his dead dogs.

"The little fellows fought bravely, and covered themselves with
glory," said Glenn, much amused at the solemn demeanour of Sneak.

"If there ain't more blood spilt on the strength of it, I wish I may
be smashed!" said Sneak, compressing his lips.

"What mean you? what's the matter?" inquired Boone, who best
understood what the man was meditating.

"I've got as good a gun as anybody here! And I'll have revenge, or
pay!" replied Sneak, turning his eyes on Glenn.

"If your remarks are intended for me," said Glenn, "rely upon it you
shall have justice."

"Tell us all about it," said Boone.

"When I heard that fool up the valley shoot off his forty-four
pounder, I ran to see what he had done, and when I came near to where
he was, his gun was lying up the hill behind him, and he setting down
whining like a baby, and a great gore of blood hanging to his nose. I
wish it had blowed his head off! I got tired of staying with the
tarnation fool, who couldn't tell me a thing, when I heard you
shooting, and the horn blowing for the men; and knowing the bar was
dead, I started off full tilt. I hadn't gone fifty steps before I
began to see where his bullets had spattered the trees and bushes in
every direction. Presently I stumbled over these dogs, my own
puppies--and there they lay as dead as door nails. I whistled, and
they didn't move; I then stooped down to see how the bear had killed
'em, and I found these bullet holes in 'em!" said Sneak, turning their
limber bodies over with his foot, until their wounds were uppermost.
"I'll be shot if I don't have pay, or revenge!" he continued, with
tears in his eyes.

"What were they worth?" demanded Glenn, laughing.

"I was offered two dollars a-piece for 'em as we came through
Indiana," replied Sneak.

"Here's the money," said Glenn, handing him the amount. Af