IN THE OLD WEST 79 



" Well, it does." 



"Whar's them mules from? They look like 

 Californy." 



" Mexican country away down south." 



H ! Whar's yourself from? " 



" There away, too." 



" What's beaver worth in Taos ? " 



" Dollar." 



"In Saint Louiy? " 



" Same." 



" H ! Any call for buckskin? " 



" A heap ! The soldiers in Santa Fe are half 

 froze for leather ; and moccasins fetch two dollars 

 easy." 



" Wagh ! How's trade on Arkansa, and what's 

 doin' to the Fort?" 



" Shians at Big Timber, and Bent's people trad- 

 ing smart. On North Fork, Jim Waters got a 

 hundred pack right off, and Sioux making more." 



"Whar's Bill Williams?" 



" Gone under, they say : the Diggers took his 

 hair." 



" How's powder goin' ? " 



" Two dollars a pint." 



"Bacca?" 



" A plew a plug." 



" Got any about you? " 



" Have so." 



" Give us a chaw ; and now let's camp." 



Whilst unpacking their own animals, the two 



