200 GOOD NEWS. 



pierce through strong leather. In fact, so little are 

 these vermin regarded by the settler, that I have 

 frequently seen them kick or tread them to death 

 under foot. Accidents have frequently occurred 

 through them, but I have yet to learn of one proving 

 fatal. 



On returning to camp about sunset, 'the old 

 man ' communicated to me the best news which had 

 reached my ears for a long time. He informed me 

 that to the north of this place beyond the very top- 

 most waters of this tributary of the Missouri were 

 encamped half-a-dozen hunters, an offshoot from the 

 establishment of which we were at that moment 

 inmates. As the intention of Soule wa,s to break up 

 camp here, and proceed to the south to join the 

 traders, as soon as the Indians brought him in a 

 promised supply of horses to carry their packs of 

 furs, he made arrangements with my old friend to be 

 bearer of his intentions to this still more northern 

 encampment. 



From my having ridden my mule a portion of 

 our last journey, and thus saved my mare, my 

 friend's horse was in a less capable state than either 

 of my animals for further work, and we therefore 

 deferred our start for a few days. 



With every indication of pleasure he listened to 

 my decision to join him. That night we sat late 

 discussing our plan, retiring only to rest when "ex- 

 hausted nature proclaimed that we were trespassing 

 upon her patience. During the three succeeding 



