THE THREE HUNTERS. 23 



inferred from their accoutrements. They are of dif- 

 ferent ages, too. The eldest a dark-visaged, spare 

 man, of sinewy aspect seems, as far as can be judged 

 from a few grizzled locks which straggle from beneath 

 his greasy coon-skin cap, to be about sixty years of 

 age. His eyes are small, black, and restless. They 

 wander everywhere, above and around, not vacantly, 

 but with a quick keenness, which is, doubtless, born of 

 the necessity of keeping a sharp outlook. His equip- 

 ments are apparently much the worse of wear; his 

 bullet-pouch and straps reflect the firelight from their 

 greasy surface ; while the individual himself seems as 

 if he had not washed for many a day. 



His companions are much younger than this veteran ; 

 but between these also there is an evident disparity of 

 age. The elder, naturally of dark complexion, is appa- 

 rently swarthed to a still deeper hue by long exposure 

 to the elements. His equipments are of a more modern 

 appearance than those of his older comrade ; but they 

 too seem to have seen much service. 



The youngest of the party is not much more than 

 a lad ; but while years have not had time to impart a 

 manly air, the nature of his calling has impressed him 

 with a boldness of glance and action which go far to 

 make amends for his youthfulness. 



Within the hut, muzzles downwards, hang three 

 rifles. Of these, two are Winchester repeaters, while 

 the third is an old-fashioned rifle of the Kentucky pat- 

 tern. The travellers apparently reached their present 



