150 THE BLOODY ARM. 



sir, am the chief of many war tribes. I saved the lives 

 of Lord Stephens, Lord Brown, and Lord Thomas John 

 son, and other English noblemen, when the red warriors 

 had doomed them to death. I am, yes, sir, known as the 

 Bloody Arm of the Rocky Mountains ; yes, sir, and my 

 deeds have gone forth, trumpet-tongued, throughout the 

 universe ; and I shall be happy, yes, sir, to protect you." 

 This was said with so boastful an air, that I very nearly 

 burst out laughing in the dark man's face. While this 

 dark warrior strutted his hour, a very mild but excited 

 little man, close under my right shoulder, "took up the 

 running." " Yes, sir," he commenced ; " Lord Berkeley, 

 I am happy to welcome so distinguished a visitor to our 

 wonderfnl land the almighty gem, sir, of the western 

 hemisphere. Yes, Lord Berkeley, and if there is anything 

 I can do to promote your wishes, name it, Lord Berkeley. 

 Yes, sir." " Squit," and, with a curious aim, he spit 

 right into the beloved keyhole of my little perfumed valise; 

 it had been given .to me by a lady, and therefore kept 

 unsullied, and on this valise, in a nervous way, he fixed 

 his furtive glance. " Thanks, sir," I replied. "Squit" 

 went my friend again slap into the same keyhole, and I 

 did not know what to do. "Thanks, sir," I repeated, 

 " I will tell you if I require your services." " Squit" went 

 this man of unerring aim again, and while he was think 

 ing over a further address, "squit" he went again into 

 the same assaulted keyhole, which I suppose by its 

 brightness had fascinated him, when I resolved to inter 

 fere. . Not wishing to hurt his feelings I paused for an 

 instant, when " squit" he went again into the very same 

 spot. "I beg your pardon, sir," I said, "perhaps my 

 favourite little valise is in your way" reaching my hand 

 ,out to remove it. "Squit" went the persevering lip- 



