'Skulp me, if they ain't all around us!' was the reply of the hunter.

'How we ar' to git out o' hyar, ar' a hard thing to tell j'ist now.'

'It's meself that thinks the rid gentlemin have a love fur us, as me
mither obsarved, when she cracked the head of me father,' remarked
Mickey, who had seated himself upon the ground with all the
indifference of an unconcerned spectator.

It was so dark in their cave-like home that they could not see each
other's faces, and could only catch a sort of twilight glimpse of
their forms when they passed close to each other.

It would have made their quarters more pleasant had they struck a
light, but it was too dangerous a proceeding, and no one thought of
it. They could only keep on the alert, and watch for the movement of
their enemies.

The latter, beyond all doubt, were in the immediate vicinity, and
inspired as they were by hate of the most vindictive kind, would not
allow an opportunity to pass of doing all the harm in their power.

The remains of their food was silently eaten in the darkness, when
Baldy said:

'Do yer stay hyar whar ye be till I come back'

'Where might ye be going naow?' inquired Hopkins.