THE MULE DEER. 301 



like. Ho objected at first, saying that Indians did not 

 like to have white men intrude on such sacred ground ; 

 yet when he saw how anxious I was about the matter, he 

 complied with my wishes, and we entered the copse to- 

 gether. We had scarcely done so, however, than the cry- 

 ing ceased, and a moment later we saw a squaw gliding 

 through the trees like a shadow, and before we could as- 

 sure her of our friendly character, she disappeared as sud- 

 denly as if the ground had swallowed her up. 



When he beheld this, he said, in the most laconic manner 

 possible, "That means trouble for us, I fear." 



"Why?" said I. 



" Because she'll tell her people, who can't be far off, that 

 there are white strangers here ; and as they are naturally 

 of a suspicious disposition, they may think we have some 

 designs against them; and if they do not attack us, they 

 may try to steal our animals." 



" What ought to be done, then ?" said I. 



" Get out of here as quickly as possible," said he, " and 

 go to camp and put out the fire, so that they cannot find us 

 by its light. They won't attempt to harm us now, as they 

 have a superstitious fear of making a night attack ; and 

 if they try to hunt us up in the morning we know that they 

 mean mischief, and we also know what we ought to do." 



This state of affairs was not pleasant to contemplate, 

 and I eluded myself for my stubborn curiosity ; but when 

 I saw that my companion displayed no change in his looks 

 or demeanor, I felt reassured, and hoped I had not placed 

 him in any serious predicament. 



On reaching camp, we found it surrounded with gray 

 wolves ; but they were too cautious to make a raid on our 

 edibles or animals, owing to their fear of the mastiff, which 

 was tied near the tent, and bai'king loudly. The mules 

 seemed to be in the greatest state of alarm, for they strain- 

 ed at their pickets, and plunged and neighed with fright. 

 Fearing that our steeds would break away, and that we 

 might be left to the mercies of all foes if we did not drive 

 off the wolves, we were compelled, much as we disliked to 



