MR. o'b. and the ASSINIBOINE FALL OUT. 317 



gave them up and sought their blankets. Shortly 

 before daylight Milton was awakened out of a 

 sound sleep by some one shaking him, and saying, 

 ''My lord! my lord! you must get up directly; some- 

 thing very serious has happened," and Milton re- 

 cognised the quivering accents of Mr. O'B. Quite 

 at a loss to understand how he had got there alone 

 at that time, Milton sat up and listened to his 

 explanation. 



" My lord," said Mr. O'B., " I accuse The Assini- 

 boine of attempting to murder me. We had some 

 trouble with the horses, and as I stood by, not 

 knowing how to help, he came up to me with most 

 fiendish expression, and deliberately hit me a 

 tremendous blow on the head with the back of 

 his axe. I was stunned, but managed to run off 

 into the woods — hardly recollect anything more — 

 wandering about bewildered — ' Hie mild nescio quod 

 trejpido male numen amicum eovfiisam eripuit mentem' — 

 until I caught sight of the fire, and found you here. 

 You know, my lord, I warned you and the Doctor 

 at Edmonton of the dangerous character you were 

 trusting yourselves with. He is a most wicked 

 man. I shall go on to Kamloops as soon as it is 

 light, and get out a warrant for the apprehension 

 of The Assiniboine immediately on his arrival." 



Milton could not help laughing at his earnest- 

 ness and fright, told him that he must be mistaken 

 as to the murderous intentions of The Assiniboine, 

 for had he struck him as described, Mr. O'B. 

 would not have wandered far. Cheadle's party 



