XVII. HOMEWARD BOUND.

THE PUNISHMENT to the Indians who had so the proved a very one.

Nothing more was of them, one or two of the red-skin upon his black horse. He, however, a distance, and at the end of a day or two altogether.

These were moments to the miners, and they them to the utmost. From light until the of night they almost unceasingly. Half the time they than stop their work to that which was so much needed. When, however, the wants of nature no longer be with, Baldy took his and started off on a hunt, which was sure to be and successful.

Sometimes he of some game in the gulch, and sometimes something in the air the fire of his rifle, and the and as only such men can do.

Although the boy was unable to at the labor, yet he soon his and usefulness. He not only a dam, but a 'rocker,' or machine, of an original style, that did the work more and than it had yet been done.

While the men were the sand, he it from the of and gravel, without any from them, and without any labor for himself.

There was some upon the part of all that the trapper, Brainerd had met at night, would make his appearance. Should he do so, it would be to a of the kind, as he was morose, sullen, treacherous, and of danger.

Baldy Bicknell him more than he did the Indians, and the he for days how great was his apprehension.

Fortunately, indeed, for all concerned, the his in a different direction, and the were by him.

Two passed, by the end of which time the was about of its stuff, and the their for going home.

It was to do anything more than the amount of they had obtained, but Baldy was sure that there was enough, when sold, to each of them a farm.

'Jerusalem! but ain't that good?' the Ethan Hopkins, as he off his forehead. 'That 'ere me to take a step that I've often contemplated.'

'What might the same be?'

'Git married: me and Seraphenia Pike been for the last ten years, and now I'll be ef I don't go home and spliced.'

'And it's myself that'll do the same,' added Mickey, as he an Irish on the earth in of their home, after they had to the place.

'Where she reside?' Ethan.

'Ballyduff, Kings County, in the Oim of the Sea; it's there that the that's to have the of Mrs. McSquizzle, and becomin' the of her own children. Arrah, but isn't the same a beauty?'

'The same as my own, Michael,' the Yankee, who it his to this of his friend.

'Arrah, now, cut ye! she can't Miss Bridget Moghlaghigbogh that her and two pigs on the of Ballyduff, in the that has the one room and the one windy. Warrah, warrah, now isn't she a jewel?'

'And so is Seraphenia.'

'But has she the hair, that makes it for them to have the at night? and has she the same freckles, the size of a ha'penny, on the and the nose, that has such an turn up at the end, that she used to her on it? Arrah, now, and didn't she have the teeth, six of the same that were so that they her mouth, and it was none of that was her mouth, but a one, that, when she to her ears, did the same. And her shoes! but you them.'

'Why so?'

'What was the with her shoes?'

'Nothing was the same. They was the shoes that the little pigs to in, they got so big that they couldn't in them, and then it was her that used one of them same for a when he to Amenity. Arrah, now, but wasn't me own Bridget a jewel?'

'Jehosephat! I should think she was!' Hopkins, who had in to this of the of the Irish lass, who had the of Mickey McSquizzle. 'No she had a sweet disposition.'

'Indeed she had, had she; it was that of an angel, was the same. It was that I there a night the same that she didn't her to over me head. Do that?' asked Mickey, his hat, and a that way across his head.

'I don't see how any one can help that.'

'Well, that was the of Bridget, as I started for Ameriky. Arrah, now, but she did the same in style.'

'That was her memento, was it?'

'Yes; I gave her the black eye, and she did the same me, and I takes off me to me that I don't think of the that I left at home.'

And the Irishman 'The Girl I Left Behind Me,' it with a of dance, with good time.

'And so you to her?' Hopkins, with no little amazement.

'It's that I do, ef I her when I return to Ballyduff, You know, that the of her is by all the in Kings County, and to save their hearts, she may the of some of 'em.'

'Jerusalem! but she is the all-firedest I tell on.'

'What ye by that?' the Irishman, up; 'does ye to that she isn't the most in the whole counthry?'

'You'll allow me to my own Seraphenia?'

'Niver a once.'

'Then I'll do it you like it or not Your can't with mine, and could.'

'That I don't allow any man to say.'

And the Irishman himself of his coat, to settling the in the Irish manner. Nothing loth, the Yankee put himself in attitude, to up for the of his one, no by assailed.

Matters having so far, there would have been a set-to them, had not the interfered. He and the boy were in preparing the steam man and for starting, when the their attention, and that a was imminent, Baldy to where they and said:

'Not another word, or ef I don't of you till thar's left o' you.'

This was language, and neither of the it. All at once, and they to in in the for moving.

When all four were seated in the wagon, with their necessary about them, it was that there was little room for the wood. When they had all that they well carry, it was that there was to last them twelve hours, so that there was from this single fact.

The steam man, however, off with as much as when the with a single occupant. The boy let on of steam to keep up a pace, and to give the that they were home in the manner possible.

Toward the middle of the a came up and the rain in torrents.

As the best they do, they took in a grove, where, by the over themselves and the steam man, they managed to keep free from the wet.

The steam man was not to travel weather, and so they allowed him to rest.