IV. THE TRAPPER AND THE ARTISAN.

'HELLO, YOUNKER! what in tryin' to make?'

Johnny Brainerd paused and looked up, not a little by the voice and the which him. It was a in costume, his into his tops, with and at his waist, and a air, which that he was at home in part of the world he to wander.

He with his hand in his pocket, his quid, and the operations of the boy, who was not a little to how he entrance into his shop.

'Stopped at the house to ax old Washoe Pete his hotel,' the stranger, the which was him, 'and I a of old machine. Thought I'd come in and see what in it war. Looks to me like a man that's to by steam.'

'That's just what it is,' the boy, there was no use in attempting to the truth from the man.

'Will it do it?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Don't think you to lie, younker, but I don't any such as that.'

'It don't make any to me you me or not,' was the reply of the boy; 'but if you will come and the door, and let me it, so that there will be no of our being disturbed, I will soon you.'

These two personages, so in almost every respect, had taken a to each other. The strong, hardy, trapper, powerful in all that goes to make up the physical man, looked upon the pale, sweet-faced boy, with his body, as an father would look upon an child.

On the other hand, the brusque, manner of the pleased the mind of the boy, who saw much to admire, in his and manner.

'I don't s'pose know me,' said the stranger, as he and allowed the boy to secure the door him.

'I saw you before.'

'I am Baldy Bicknell, though I go by the name of 'Baldy.''

'That's an odd name.'

'Yas; that's the reason.'

As he spoke, the his and his clean-shaven pate.

'Yer don't that, eh? That 'ere means I had my ha'r ten years ago. The Sioux the that done it. After they took my top-knot off. It had grow'd on ag'in and that's why they call me Baldy.'

In the time the door had been closed, and all secured. The of the steam man its and steam into a of stove-pipe, which into the chimney, so that no of anything the passers-by in the street.

'You see it won't do to let him walk here, for when I it first, he through the of the house; but you can tell by the way in which he moves his legs, he is able to walk or not.'

'That's the way we the p'ints of an animal,' returned Baldy, with great complaisance, as he seated himself upon a bench to watch the performance.

It the boy but a time to a quantity of steam to set the going at a rate, the by some of the through the which the steam man's nose.

Baldy Bicknell for some minutes with a too great to allow him to speak. Wonderful as was the mechanism, yet the boy who had it was still more of wonder. When the steam had out, the his big hand upon the of the little fellow, and said:

'You'se a chap, that be you. Did help you make that?'

'No; I not.'

'What'll you take for it?'

'I of selling it.'

'Wal, think of it now.'

'What do you want to do with it?

'Thar's three of us goin' out to gold, and that's the thing to keep the Injins an' scart. I've been out afore, and know what's the with the skunks. So, tell me how much money will it.'

'I would not sell it, said Johnny, after a minutes' thought.' It has taken me a great while to it, and I would not part with it, for the present, at least.'

'But, skin me, younker, I want to it! I'll give you a thousand it, down.'

Although much less than the machine was worth, yet it was a large offer, and the boy for a moment. But it was only for a moment, when he his head.

'I wish you wouldn't ask me, for I don't want to sell it, until I have had it some time. Besides, it isn't yet.'

'It ain't,' Baldy, in surprise. 'Why, it works, what more do you want?'

'I've got to make a to it.'

'That's it, eh? I you goin' to on its back. How much will it draw?'

'As much as four horses, and as fast as they can run.'

The was wild with excitement. The boy's was equal to one-half of his.

'Skulp me ag'in, ef that don't all! It's the thing for the West; we'll walk through the Injins in the of style, and 'em beautiful. How long you'll have it done?'

'It will take a month longer, at least.'

Baldy a minutes in thought.

'See here, younker, we're on our way to the 'diggin's,' and to be all summer. Ef the red-skins any troublesome, I'm comin' this y'ar covey. Ef don't want to sell him, needn't. Ef I him, it ain't likely I'd him long I'd his b'iler, or my own off.'

'Just what I when you were trying to me to sell it,' the boy.

'Then, if he got the in any of his legs, I wouldn't know how to tie it up ag'in, and we'd be.'

'I am to see you take such a view of it,' Johnny.

'So, I'm goin' on West, as I said, with two myself, and we're goin' to till this old thing finished; and then I'm comin' after you to take a out thar.'

'That would me very well,' the boy, his up with more than he had shown. 'I would be very to make a on the prairies.'

'Wal, look me in about six weeks.'

And with this parting, the was let out the door, and disappeared, while Johnny his work.

That day saw the steam man completed, so as it was possible. He was painted up, and every that the mind of the boy suggest. When he one side, and the noiseless but powerful of the legs, he not see that anything more be desired.

It now for him to complete the wagon, and he at once.

It would have been a much for him to have an ordinary or wagon, and it to himself; but this was not in with the of the boy. No him unless he it himself. He had his own ideas, which no one else work out to his satisfaction.

It is to say that the vehicle was very and durable.

This was the great requisite. In some respects it the ordinary wagons, that it was smaller.

It had springs, and a covering, with sufficient, as we have in another place, to the man also, when necessary.

This was to the wood, a of water, and the necessary to repair it, when any of the should disarranged.

English be to last for two days, and to keep steam going for twenty-four hours. When the in the of the was also filled, the water would last nearly as long.

When these were all provided against, the six mentioned by the were gone, and Johnny Brainerd himself for his presence again.