mouth, for I looked for nothin' else but that same
operation: but I wur just as well pleased, when, after
talkin' their gibberish, and makin' all sorts of signs
among themselves, they made tracks towards the open
prairie."

"And why did you not name this, the instant you got home?"
somewhat sternly questioned Mr. Heywood.

"Where's the use of spilin' a good dinner?" returned the
soldier. "It was all smokin' hot when I came in from
choppin', and I thought it best for every man to tuck it
in before I said a word about it. Besides, I reckon I
don't know as they meant any harm, seein' as how they
never carried off my top-knot;--only it was a little
queer they were hid in that way in the woods, and looked
so fierce when they first jumped up in their nasty paint."

"Who knows," remarked Mr. Heywood, taking down his rifle
from the side of the hut opposite to the chimney, and
examining the priming, "but these fellows may have tracked
you back, and are even now, lurking near us. Ephraim
Giles, you should have told me of this before."

"And so," replied the soldier, "I was goin' to, when Loup
Garou began with his capers. Then it was I gave a parable
like, about his scentin' the varmint better nor we human
critters could."

"Ephraim Giles," said Mr. Heywood, sharply, while he