X. WOLF RAVINE.
DURING THE of Baldy Bicknell in search of the steam man, neither Mickey Ethan had been by Indians.
They had in the gold mine to which they had through the of the trapper. When they had together a quantity of the and dirt, with the yellow through it, it was a to the of the river, where it the 'washing' process.
While thus engaged, one of them was up the bank, to make sure that their old did not upon them unawares. Once or twice they of moving in the distance, but they did not come near to them, doing nothing more than to keep them on the vive.
There was one Indian, however, who a black horse, who them like a phantom. When they over the river, at almost any time, they see this about on his horse, and waiting for a to a at his enemies.
'Begorrah, but he loves us, that he does, as the when speaking of the wolf,' said Mickey, just after he had sent a about their ears.
'Jehosiphat! he loves us too much!' added the Yankee, who had no for these shots. 'If we ain't keerful, there'll be nuthin' of us left when Baldy comes back, that is, if he comes at all.'
This red-skin on his black was so that he watching, and the men perform only their work. It was while Mickey was on the for him that he of the steam man toward him, as we have related in another place.
So long as that was and the vicinity, they there was no of from the red-skins, who were so on the to themselves for the they had in the attack; but it would pay to keep an iron man as sentinel, as the wear and tear in all would be too much for him.
After together upon the return of Baldy, and after they had the steam man to their heart's content, they upon their course. As the boy, Johnny, had no of himself to manual labor, had he been able, it was that he should take upon himself the part of sentinel, while the others were at work.
In this way it was that they a of weeks, good-by to the Indians, and the States and give up their altogether, whereas, if to do themselves as sentinels, their would be prolonged.
This the boy very well, who was opportunity to his steam man by occasional over the prairies. To the east and south the away till the upon them, as the sky on the sea. To the west, some twenty odd miles distant, a range of was visible, the being with a in the distance, while some of the more looked like white clouds against the clear sky beyond.
From the first, Brainerd a to visit these mountains. There was something in their which a close inspection, and he to the that they should make a in that direction.
'No need of goin' so for game,' he replied, 'takes too much time, and thar's sure to be red-skins.'
'But if we go with the steam man we shall them all away,' was the reply.
'Yas,' laughed Baldy, 'and we'll the game away too.'
'But we can overtake that as we did the Indian the other day.'
'Not if he takes to the mountains. Leastways isn't him that would like to to up the that old gintle-man.'
'Nor I either, but we can the when we to the of the mountain.'
'And give the time to come and off with whole team.'
'Do you think there is of that?'
'Dunno as be, but ef they of yourself, they'd ha'r quicker'n lightning.'
Seeing that the little was discouraged, Baldy to add:
'Ef you're keerful, younker, and I b'lieve be, take a yerself, jumping-jack, but my and to wagon.'
Having thus permission of the hunter, Johnny Brainerd, as may well be supposed, did not wait long himself of his privilege.
The weather, which had been toward the part of the day, away, and the next clear and beautiful. So the boy his of making the visit, after which, he promised to himself to the of sentinel.
'Abeout what time may we look for you, neow!' asked Ethan, as he was on the point of starting.
'Sometime this afternoon.'
'Come in dark, as me used to to meself, when I out shparkin',' added Mickey.
The boy promised to their warnings, and up again. The was with water, and the nearly full of wood, so that the two were of the for the entire day, provided there was no cessation, and that he was on the 'go' continually.
Before starting, it was through and through, and put in the best possible condition, and then them all a farewell, he toward the mountains.
The ground was admirable, and the steam man than ever. Like a locomotive, he to have a and of motion, from the he had already had, and the of the boy it at once. He saw that he had been very in his invention, as it was for any skill to give it any movement than it now possessed.
The three or four miles were passed at a gait, and the boy was on the of his wagon, the play of the engine, when it paused, and with such that he was from his seat, with violence, directly the of the monster, which to perfectly motionless, like the elephant that is of a limb, he might his master him.
The boy at once that some accident had happened, and of the he had received, he to his feet, and the machinery, taking the to give to the steam, which was gathering.
It was some time he the of difficulty, but he that a small had loose, and had in such a manner as to check the motion of the engine on the instant.
Fortunately no permanent was done, and while he was making right, he that in with the as he was on the point of starting, he had to on the bolt, when his attention had been diverted, when it his mind altogether, so that he alone was to for the accident, which had so a one.
Making sure that was right, he the wagon, and his journey, going very slowly at first, so as to watch the play of the engine.
Everything moved with its smoothness, and his he three buffaloes, with heads, at him.
'If you want a you may have it!' the boy as he toward them.
