XIV. THE HUGE HUNTER.

SIMULTANEOUS with the report of the came the of the about the ears of Brainerd, who, having started the steam man, on going until he was a from the ravine.

All the time he looking back, but see nothing of his enemies, he the point from which the rifle-shots were fired.

Now, as night over the prairie, and the of his friends in darkness, he the that not only were they in great danger, but so was he himself.

The terror with which the steam man had at the had away, the having been such that they had very learned that it was nothing more than a invention, which of itself little or no harm.

He but reflect, as the man slowly along, that if he had the three friends him, how easily they away in the and all behind.

But they were in the of already, and, and as much as he chose, he see no way of them out of their difficulty.

Besides the which he naturally his friends, there was a that more related to himself that his attention.

The water in the was at its ebb, and it would be for him to attempt to more than one hour or so longer it. Consequently he was unable to anything like another from the Indians.

As the part of prudence, therefore, he toward the river, slowly along the bank, in of some place where it would be easy and safe for him to secure the much-needed water.

It was a long and hunt. The banks were so high that he no point where it was safe for him to to the water's edge. There was too great a of 'upsetting his cart,' a which, in all probability, would be irreparable.

At length, however, when he had about a mile from the Wolf Ravine, he a place, where the bank had about six elevation, and to the river.

Here he paused, and with a small vessel, to the stream, to himself as he did so:

'Why didn't I think and put a to the machine? I have done it as well as not, and it would have saved me a good of trouble.'

But were now unavailing, and he no time in lamentations, setting to work at once. It was labor, up the water in a small vessel, and it in the tank, but he persevered, and at the end of a of hours the was completed.

'I can make the me another day,' he added, as he looking at the pile, 'although, if I where to it, I would up now, and then I should be prepared.'

He paused, for a dozen yards away, up the of the river, toward him, he the of a man six and a high.

Young Brainerd's was to into the and start away at full speed; but a second him that it was not an Indian, but a white man, in the of a hunter.

'Hullo, boss, thar, what doin'?'

He was at a what reply to make, and therefore none. The next moment the was him.

'B'ars and bufflers! younker, what ye got thar?' he demanded, the steam man with an of the most wonder. 'I say, what do call that thing?'

'That,' laughed Johnny, who not avoid a of at the of the hunter, 'is a of locomotive.'

'Paggyratin' locomotive, what's that?' he asked, in a voice, and with an of great at the employed.

'You have a locomotive, haven't you?'

'Reckon I hev, in St. Louey.'

'Well, this is something on the same principle, that it of wheels.'

'Can that thing walk?'

'Yes, sir, and run, too; it all the way from the Missouri river to this place.'

The upon him with a expression.

'Yer can't this in that style.'

'Don't you me?' asked the boy, who was of the stranger.

'No, sar; not a word.'

'How do you we got it here?'

'Fotched in a wagon.'

'Let me you what he can do.'

He was about to step into the wagon, when the stopped him.

'See hyar, younker, who be?'

The boy gave his name and residence.

'What doin' hyar?'

'I'm traveling with this machine of mine.'

'How do you it along?'

'I was just going to you when you stopped me.'

'Hold on; no need of bein' in a about it. Do come alone?'

'No. I came with a hunter.'

'What his name?'

'Baldy Bicknell.'

'B'ars and bufflers! did come with him?'

'Yes; he was my all the way.'

'Whar he be?'

Johnny Brainerd a moment. While the might possibly be of great service to the miners, yet he that it was the of Baldy that the of gold in Wolf Ravine should be a from all their own party.

Should it to any of the and who were in the neighborhood, there would be such a to the place that they would be away and killed for the that they had already obtained.

The boy, therefore, to make a non-committal reply:

'Baldy is some away, in camp.'

'And what are doin' hyar?'

'I stopped here to water for this steam man, as we call him. You know anything that by steam must have the water to it.'

'I say, younker, I don't want none of big to me. Ef I h'ar any more, b'ars and bufflers, ef I don't over the with Sweetlove, my shootin'-iron, so mind what say, I won't no nonsense.'

'I didn't wish to you,' returned the boy, in the of tones.

'How away might be Baldy?'

'I couldn't tell you exactly, but I think it is less than ten miles.'

'Be you goin' to to-night?'

'It was my intention, that is, I meant to do so.'

'Guess I'll go with yer; but see hyar, younker, let's see try that old of yourn.'

The boy into the wagon, of the opportunity of of what looked like a man. Before he start he was again stopped.

'Yer see, I b'leeve a humbug, but if that thing run, and, mind, I tell yer, I don't b'leeve it will, do know what I'm goin' to do?'

'I do not.'

'I'm goin' to take it myself to rod-skins in. It won't much them long of to that home again. So, younker, start now, and let us see what can do.'

The boy let on steam, and the man started off on a gait, which to a one. The huge, wonder-stricken it until it out of in the gloom, and still the place where it had disappeared, and though he much longer, with a and heart, yet it came to him again.