'Not if he takes to the mountains. Leastways yer isn't him that would
like to undertake to ride up the mountain behind that old gintle-man.'

'Nor I either, but we can leave the wagon when we get to the base of
the mountain.'

'And give the reds time to come down and run off with yer whole team.'

'Do you think there is danger of that?'

'Dunno as thar be, but ef they catched sight of yourself, they'd raise
yer ha'r quicker'n lightning.'

Seeing that the little fellow was considerably discouraged, Baldy
hastened to add:

'Ef you're keerful, younker, and I b'lieve yer generally be, take a
ride thar yerself, behind yer jumping-jack, but remember my advice and
stick to yer wagon.'

Having thus obtained permission of the hunter, Johnny Brainerd, as may
well be supposed, did not wait long before availing himself of his
privilege.

The weather, which had been threatening toward the latter part of the
day, entirely cleared away, and the next morning dawned remarkably
clear and beautiful. So the boy announced his intention of making the
expected visit, after which, he promised to devote himself entirely to
performing the duty of sentinel.