222 A HUNGRY REDSKIN. 



vigorous attack the slender supply quickly disappeared; 

 and seeing that no more food was forthcoming, he 

 began to beg for powder. 



"Injun got no powder," he said; "deer plenty, but 

 no good for want of powder. Paleface give poor Injun 

 some." 



" I don't think we can give you much, Redskin," said 

 Pierre ; " we have a very long way yet to go, and will 

 need all we have for ourselves." 



" Paleface can get heap more at Fort Vermilion," re- 

 plied the savage ; " he has goods to trade, but Injun 

 poor and has nothing. Trader will not trust him." 



" Let us give him a quarter of a pound, Jake," sug- 

 gested Gaultier ; " you have the big horn full, and Pierre 

 and I have plenty of cartridges loaded to last us for a 

 month." 



Without replying, the old hunter strode down to the 

 Indian s canoe, and stooping, lifted from under a deer- 

 skin a canister of powder, which had evidently not yet 

 been opened. Gaultier, out of curiosity, approached; 

 and while his back was turned, the Indian, believing 

 himself unobserved, seized old Jake's large horn and 

 hid it beneath his blanket. The old hunter, however, 

 had seen this manoeuvre, and coming suddenly to the 

 Indian's side, he taxed him with the theft. 



" Ye thievin' skunk !" cried the incensed trapper, 

 " d'yer think this old coon's a-gwine to be bumfoozled 

 that a- way ? I guess he ain't, by a long chalk. Come ! 

 out wi' that horn, or I'll jest put yer an' it together 



