224 A KINDLY ARRANGEMENT. 



" and that allers takes the bite out o' powder. Ef we'd 

 been in a tight place, you bet we'd hev streaked it 

 among the stars." 



"What will you do without your powder, Jake?" 

 asked Gaultier ; " you have only the small horn at your 

 belt left now." 



" Ef ye'd been in my place," answered the old trapper, 

 " that's all yer 'ud hev ; but I guess this child ain't so 

 green as that." 



So saying, he held up the Indian's canister, which 

 contained fully as much as the horn that had been de- 

 stroyed. 



The young hunters laughed ; and all three set them- 

 selves to replace the fire, which had been scattered far 

 and wide by the explosion. 



Judging it prudent to leave one of their number to 

 keep the first watch, in case the Indian should return 

 and take them unawares, the others bestowed themselves 

 upon the elastic balsam -sprays, and soon fell asleep. 



During the night nothing occurred to disturb the 

 solemn stillness of the woods. The soft plash of the 

 river, the sighing of the wind as it swept over the forest, 

 or the distant bark of the fox, harmonized with the 

 quiet scene, and contributed to its solemnity. Old 

 Jake kept the first watch, and was succeeded by each 

 of his companions in turn. This was their usual 

 arrangement, suggested by Pierre out of deference to 

 the greater age of the trapper, who thus had an undis- 

 turbed sleep for the best part of the night. 



