boy, no. Or, stop; they ought to have an Englishman with them
perhaps. Better let Harry go; we can spare him. Or, stay, send Joses."

The frontiersman uttered a snort, and was about turning to go to the
spot where his horse was tethered, when he stopped short, to stand
staring at Bart, with a look full of commiseration, and Bart read it
truly--"I'll stop, my lad, if you can get leave to go instead."

Then came fresh words from the Doctor's lips--words that sent the blood
galloping through Bart's veins, and made his nerves thrill and his eyes
flash with delight.

"I suppose you would not care to go upon such a rough expedition as
this, Bart?" the Doctor said.

"Oh, but I should, sir," the lad exclaimed. "I'd give anything to go--
if you could spare me," he added.

The Doctor looked at him in a half-thoughtful, half-hesitating way, and
remained silent for a time, while Bart felt upon the tiptoe of
expectation, and in a horrible state of dread lest his guardian should
alter his mind.

"Better stop, Bart," he said at last. "Bison-hunting is very difficult
and dangerous work. You might be run or trampled down, or tossed, or
goodness knows what beside."

"I'd take the greatest care to be out of danger, sir," said Bart,
deprecatingly.

"By running into it at every turn, eh, my boy?" said the Doctor,
good-humouredly. "Then I'll ask the opinion of Joses, and see what he
says. Here, Joses!"

The frontiersman came up at a trot, and then stood leaning upon his
rifle.

"What do you think?" asked the Doctor. "Would it be safe to allow Bart
here to go with you after the bison?"

"You mean buffler, don't you?" said Joses, in a low, growling tone.

"No; I mean bison," replied the Doctor, sharply. "You people call them
buffalo. I say, do you think it safe for him to go with you?"

"Safe? Course it is," growled Joses. "We shall want him too. He's so
light, and his Black Boy is so swift, that the hunting party will get on
better and cut out more buffalo meat if he comes."

"Well, then, according to that, Bart," said the Doctor, good-humouredly,
"I suppose I must let you go."

"If you please, sir," said Bart, quietly; and then, with a gush of
boyish enthusiasm, "I'd give anything to go, sir--I would indeed."

"Then I suppose you must go, Bart. Be off!"

The lad rushed off, followed by Joses, who seemed quite as much excited
and as overjoyed, for he kept on slapping Bart upon the shoulder, and
giving vent