.

"Might be a stage-coach running now and then, p'r'aps."

"My good lad, there isn't even a road. Perhaps there is a trail. There
is sure to be that, of course, for the Indians would go to the Fort with
their pelting."

"With their what?" said Esau.

"Pelts--skins, to sell to the company's agent."

"Oh," said Esau.

"But the river," I said suddenly. "We could go up that by a boat,
couldn't we?"

Gunson laughed.

"Yes, there is a river," he said; "but, like all mountain streams, boats
cannot go up very far for the torrents and falls and rocks. Have you
any arms?"

"Of course," said Esau.

"I mean weapons."

"No," I said.

"Humph! Perhaps better without them--at your age."

"You have," I said, as I glanced toward his hip-pocket.

Gunson nodded.

"Got a gun too?" said Esau.

"A rifle or two," replied our companion, rather reluctantly; and he rose
then and left the room, as if to avoid being questioned.

"Hunting and shooting, that's what he's after," said Esau triumphantly,
as soon as we were alone.

And at that moment I could not help thinking that he was right, and that
we had hit upon a very satisfactory companion, for part of our journey
at least, if it did not turn out that Gunson had some designs of his
own.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN.

A SERIOUS TROUBLE.

Esau took it all coolly enough. I believe he thought hard sometimes,
but it was soon over; and to him the most serious things in life seemed
to be making a big meal and having a good sleep.

Now for my part I could not help thinking a great deal, and worrying so
much about the future that my thoughts would not let me sleep.

My thoughts generally took this form--"Suppose--" And then I used to be
supposing: suppose Mrs John were taken much worse and died; suppose the
party were attacked by Indians; suppose they never got across all that
great stretch of country; suppose Esau and I were lost in the woods, to
starve to death, or drowned in the river, and so on, and so on; till
toward morning sleep would come, and I began dreaming about that
long-haired dark Yankee loafer, who had got hold of me, and was banging
my head against the ground, and trying to kill me, till I opened my eyes
the next morning and found that it was Esau.

"I say," he cried, grinning, "don't you ever call me a sleepy-headed
chap again. Why, I've been shaking you, and doing everything I could to
rouse you up."

"Oh," I exclaimed, "I am so glad! I was dreamin