thar camp."

"Straight custrut in, do 'ee?"

"Ov coorse; it 'ud be no use goin about the bush: they kin see him
a-comin' from ony side."

"I'll be durned ef they kin--thet I'll be durned. Wagh! they cudn't 'a
see me--thet they cudn't, ef ivery niggur o' 'em hed the eyes o' an
Argoose es hed eyes all over him--thet they cudn't, Billee."

"How?" I inquired. "Do you mean to say that it is possible for any one
to approach yonder camp without being observed? Is that what you mean,
Rube?"

"Thet ur preezactly whet I mean, young fellur. No--not adzactly thet
eyther. One o' _you_ I didn't say: whet I sayed wur, that this hyur
trapper, Rube Rawlins o' the Rocky Mountains, kud slide inter yander
campmint jest like greased lightnin through a gooseberry-bush, 'ithout
e'er an Injun seein 'im; an thet, too, ef the red-skinned vamints hed
more eyes in thur heads than they hev lice; which, accordin' to this
child's reck'nin', 'ud guv ivery squaw's son o' the gang as many peepers
es thur ur spots in a peecock's tail, an a wheen over to breed, I
kalkerlate. No plan to git inter thur camp 'ithout bein' seed! Wagh!
yur gettin' green, Bill Garey!"

"How can it be accomplished, Rube? Pray, explain! You know how
impatient--"

"Don't git unpayshint, young fellur! thet ur's no use whetsomdiver.
Yu'll need payshinse, an a good grist o' thet ur, afore ye kin warm yur
shins at yander fires; but 'ee kin do it, an in the nick o' time too, ef
yu'll go preezactly accordin' to whet old Rube tells ye, an keep yur eye
well skinned and yur teeth from chatterin': I knows yu'll do all thet.
I knows yur weasel to the back o' yur neck, an kin whip yur weight in
wild cat any day i' the year. Now? D'yur agree to follur my
direekshuns!"

"I promise faithfully to act according to your advice."

"Thet ur sensible sayed--durnation'd sensible. Wal, then, I'll gi' ye
my device."

As Rube said this, he moved forward to the edge of the timber, making a
sign for Garey and myself to follow.

On reaching its outer edge--but still within cover--he dropped down upon
his knees, behind some evergreen bushes.

I imitated his example, and knelt upon his right, while Garey crouched
down on the left.

Our eyes were directed upon the Indian camp, of which, and the plain
around it, we had a good view--as good as could be obtained under the
light of a brilliant moon, alas! too brilliant!

After we had surveyed the scene for some moments in silence, t