250 POLLY'S SAGACITY. 



On the second day after our return to camp we had a visitor. 

 It was about dinner-time, and both of us were at home, when 

 a big, rough-looking woodchopper walked into camp, and after 

 saying " How d'ye ? " sat down by the fire. It seemed that he 

 had heard from Houston of our being here, and of our having 

 some medicines with us ; so he had come to know whether we 

 had anything which would do good to a very bad toothache 

 which he had now had for some days, and which had made his 



face as big as two. It was a hollow tooth, and F was 



able to relieve the man before he left, ending by giving him 

 a glass of Santa Cruz rum and water a most insinuating 

 beverage, and one which he seemed to appreciate thoroughly. 

 He was most grateful, and as he was not allowed to pay for 

 the medicine, he wanted to know what he could do for us, but 

 we could think of nothing ; so, after having dinner, he left, 

 warning us that there were some very bad characters in the 

 mountains, and that we ought to keep an eye on our horses. 

 We were certainly living in a very careless way, keeping no 

 guard ; and our only reliance was on " Polly/' who, if any- 

 thing strange came near the camp at night, galloped to the 

 tent and neighed. We had made a great pet of her, never 

 tying her up, as she would always stand to be caught, and if 

 we were late in the morning she would put her head in and 

 pull our blankets gently, as a hint that she wanted her sugar. 

 When we sat by the camp fire, too, at night, she would come 

 and stand by, taking the greatest care not to tread on anyone, 

 and every now and then rubbing her head against us. 



Soon after this it got very cold, and as we had brought no 



great- coats it was arranged that F should ride to 



Sheyenne and buy some soldiers* overcoats, returning as fast 



