230 QUITE PROVIDENTIAL. 



" You see, Jake," said Gaultier, " it was Providence 

 that took care of us. We gave the Indian all the meat 

 we had left last night, and that obliged us to go out 

 this morning to hunt for a breakfast. Only for that, 

 we might not have known till too late that these savages 

 were prowling about us." 



" Twur queer they didn't notice yer pipin' like the 

 whip-poor-will," replied Jake. " At fust I didn't savy 

 but it wur the bird itself, till I tuck the idee that it 

 didn't pipe so late in the mornin'. 'Twur that as 

 fetched me; an' when I'd got the trail, I seed at a 

 glimp whur it led." 



" We had better get rid of the bodies," said Gaultier. 

 " I vote we throw them into the river, and let them 

 float off. It will be easier than burying them." 



" I says with you, hoss," answered Jake. " I don't 

 feel overly inclinated to take much trouble with the 

 skunks ; so hyur goes ! " 



At the word, the old hunter dragged one of the bodies 

 to the brink of the river, and dropped it into the deep 

 current, where it disappeared with a sullen splash. He 

 then assisted Gaultier to dispose of the remaining savage. 



Just as they had accomplished this, they were joined 

 by Pierre, who issued from the forest laden with the 

 choicest portions of a fine buck. 



" What was that you were throwing into the river, 

 Jake ?" he asked as he approached. "I thought it looked 

 something like a man ; but, of course, it cannot have 

 been that." 



