it up carefully, that it
might burn until I came back, and hurried down to the river. I was
doubtful whether trout were to be found in water into which hot streams
were constantly pouring; however, as most of them became cold before
they reached the main current, I thought it possible that I might be
successful. In the expectation of catching fish, I had omitted to set my
traps; or rather, occupied by the wonderful scenes around me, I had
forgotten all about the matter. In vain I threw in my line, baited with
an active grasshopper; not a fish would bite. I went higher up the
river, where fewer hot springs ran into it, but I was equally
unsuccessful.

The shadows beginning to spread over the valley, warned me that I must
return to my camping ground and content myself with a few thistle roots
for supper; and I had just wound up my line, when my ear caught the
sound of what appeared to be a shot fired at some distance up the
valley. It was so faint, however, that I thought it might possibly be a
sound emitted by some geyser or fire-hole. Just then a deer came
bounding along, a short distance off. On seeing me it swerved slightly
out of its course, and as it did so I perceived a stream of blood
flowing from its side.

"That _was_ a shot, then!" I exclaimed; "and my friends must have fired
it."

My first impulse was to run in the direction from whence the shot came,
but on looking at the deer I perceived that it was slackening its pace;
and after a few more bounds, down it sank to the ground, not one hundred
yards from me.

CHAPTER XII.

I KILL THE DEER--MORE WONDERS--MEET MANLEY AND SERGEANT CUSTIS
AT LAST--A PLEASANT EVENING--PARCHED WITH THIRST AMIDST
SPARKLING STREAMS--OUR HAZARDOUS JOURNEY OVER THE
MOUNTAINS--SAFE ARRIVAL AT FORT HARWOOD--WELCOMED BY THE
COMMANDANT--AN EXPEDITION ORGANIZED TO DRIVE THE INDIANS FROM
THE COUNTRY--MANLEY COMMANDS IT--I ACCOMPANY HIM--MEET BARNEY
AND KLITZ, STILL BOUND FOR CALIFORNIA--BARNEY GIVES AN ACCOUNT
OF THEIR ESCAPE--THEIR JOURNEY STOPPED--THEY RETURN WITH US--WE
MEET PIOMINGO AND HIS SQUAW--TELLS US THAT HE HAS BURIED THE
WAR-HATCHET--HEAR AN ALARMING ACCOUNT OF BARTLE--ASCEND THE
MOUNTAIN TO WHERE WE LEFT UNCLE JEFF--FIND HIM AND CLARICE
WELL--HE HAS OBTAINED A LARGE SUPPLY OF PELTRIES--OUR RETURN TO
WINNEMAK'S CAMP--MAYSOTTA ACCOMPANIES CLARICE TO ROARING WATER.

Although I had not forgotten the fri