one time
been a hunter, but had married and settled down on a farm. Two sons,
nearly grown-up, walked by his side. He had been chosen as leader by the
rest as being the only one of the party who had any previous knowledge
of the plains and their dangers and difficulties.

"Well, mate," Abe said, "I told you two days ago that I thought that we
should go on with your lot, and here we are. I don't say as how we shall
go all the way with you; that will depend upon circumstances; at any
rate we will stay with ye for a bit. Now my proposal is this: you shall
hitch our three baggage-horses on behind your waggons, and tell off one
of the boys to look after them; we shall hunt as we go along, and what
meat there is will be for the service of the camp, but if we supply you
with meat it will only be fair that you supply us with flour and tea."

"That's a bargain," the man said. "You bring us in meat, and we will
supply you with everything else; and I needn't tell you how glad I am to
have you with me. Five extra rifles may make all the difference if we
are attacked. We have got about twenty rifles in camp; but that ain't
much, as, with women and children, we count up to nigh sixty souls, and
none of us here except myself have had any experience of Indian ways."

"That's fixed, then," Abe said. "At any rate you need not be afraid of a
surprise so long as we are with you."

The addition to their party gave great satisfaction to the whole
caravan. Of flour and bacon they had ample stores to last them upon
their long journey, and the prospect of a supply of fresh meat was
exceedingly welcome; still more was the thought that the hunters would
be able to warn them against any surprise by the Indians, and would, in
case of the worst, aid them in their defence.

The hunters were equally satisfied. Their supplies were quite
insufficient for the journey, and they were now free from the necessity
of accommodating their pace to that of the baggage-horses. Their
progress would, indeed, be slower than it would have been had they
journeyed alone, but time was a matter of no importance to them. Even in
the matter of Indian surprises they were better off than they would have
been had they been alone. In case of meeting these marauders, they must
have abandoned their baggage-animals; and their prospects, either of
flight or defence, would have been poor had they met with a large body
when alone, whereas the force with the caravan could defend