BORDER LIFE IN THE WEST. 
227 
" Oh, nothing," said I, " except that you had better walk 
out of that door, the whole of you, and if you want some- 
thing to do, you may bring me some wood, for our fire is 
all, or nearly exhausted !" 
The fellows had been completely cowed by the unexpected 
demonstration of my sleepy friend. They pretended to con- 
sider this command as a mere joke, and all started towards 
the door with so much alacrity, that my constitutional cau- 
tion was aroused, and I suddenly remembered that during 
the jargon of talk that had occurred between us, under the 
pretence of mutual exhilaration, I had gathered the fact that 
they had a small boat tied to the river bank near the wood- 
yard — and that in this boat I had announced that I intended 
so soon as the storm that still raged had subsided, to embark 
with my friend and undertake the passage of the river, for I 
wished as soon as possible to place it between us and this 
inhospitable shore. It flashed across me now, from their 
over-ready manner, that they meant to get possession of this 
boat, and shut off all prospect of our early escape, with the 
purpose of gaining time to bring together a stronger party, 
who might with fire-arms cope with the unexpected advan- 
tages of which we had placed ourselves in possession. These 
woods had suddenly become astonishingij^ populous already, 
and there was no telling what might come forth from their 
dark shadows ! 
I at once determined that they should not go out alone — 
that I would watch with my own eyes every movement. 
" Hilloa, boys ! — I will go with you." 
"Oh! will you?" chuckled the black-browed fellow — 
" come ahead — who's afraid of the dark !" 
" Well, I, for one, in some company ; so you will please 
march ahead of me f 
"By no means, nor nothing — gentlemen's goes ahead !" 
" Beg your pardon ; I am a m.an^ for the present — so you 
will please walk in front of me, and I will go do^vn to the 
river bank with you for wood." 
