By Saint Louis! but I shall be happy enough to face you across the board to-night.

Yet surely it is not your purpose to halt here long ?" "Only until I succeed in joining some party travelling westward to the Illinois country." "No! is that your aim?
'T is my trip also, if Fate be ever kind enough to bring hither a guide.

_Sacre_! there was one here but now, as odd a devil as ever bore rifle, and he hath taken the western trail alone, for he hated me from the start.

That was Ol' Burns.

Know you him ?" "'T was he who brought the message that sent me here; yet he said little of his own journey.