The soil was fertile, as was shown in the abundance of rich, succulent grass which grew about them, while, only a few hundred yards up the river, was a grove of timber, filled in with dense undergrowth and brush--the most favorable location possible for a band of daring red-skins, when preparing to make a raid upon the settlement.

The hunter turned the head of his mustang in the direction of this wood, and rode away at a slow walk.

He had nearly reached the margin, when some one called to him: "Hist, there, ye spalpeen! Won't ye howld on a minute ?" Turning his head, he saw the Irishman walking rapidly toward him, after the manner of one who had something important to say.

He instantly checked his horse, and waited for him to come up.
"Do you know," struck in Mickey, "that I belaved in Misther Barnwell till we reached Kansas City?
There we met people that had been all through this country and that knew all about it, and every one of the spalpeens told us that we'd lose our sculps if we comed on.

I did n't consider it likely that all of them folks would talk in that style unless they meant it, and half a dozen of us made up our minds that the best thing we could do was to go back, or stop where we was.