Part 18 (1/2)
”Silver--silver,” said the chief again, as he looked up and then down, ending by addressing some words in the Indian dialect to the interpreter, who pointed in the direction of the camp
”The Beaver-with-Sharp-Teeth says, let us eat,” he said
This brought back Bart's hunger so vividly to his recollection that he laughed o
”Yes,” he said, ”let us eat by alland examine this place, sir?”
”Yes, Bart, ill,” said the Doctor, as they turned back; ”but I'm afraid we shall be disappointed What was that?”
”An Indian,” said Bart ”I saw hist the rocks Was it an enemy?”
”No; impossible, I should say,” replied the Doctor ”One of our own party Our friends here would have seen hi before we should”
”And so you think there is no silver here, sir?” said Bart
”I can't tell yet, my boy There s that I cannot help feeling doubtful However, we shall see, and if I aain, sir?” said Bart
”Try again, my boy, for there is ample store in the mountains if we can find it”
”Yes,” he said, as they walked back, ”this is going to be a disappoint between the rocks; ”this stone does not look like silver-bearing stratu, Bart, and see”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
DANGEROUS NEIGHBOURS
Upon reaching the waggon it was to find Joses s as he stood on the leeward side of the fire, so as to get the full benefit of the odour of the well-done sage grouse which looked juicy brown, and delicious enough to tehedat the iron rod upon which the birds had been spitted and hung before the fire
”Don't you e had a nice new loaf or two, Bart?” she said, looking very serious, and as if disappointed that this was not the case
”Oh, don't talk about it,” cried Bart
”I won't,” said Maude, trying to appear serious ”It makes you look like a wolf, Bart”
”And that's just how I feel,” he cried--”horribly like one”
Half an hour later he owned that he felt , for not only had he had a fair portion of the delicate sage grouse, but found to his delight that there was an ample supply of cakes freshly made and baked in the ashes while he had been with the Doctor exploring
Bart took one turn round their little ca down to sleep, and by the wonderfully dark, star-encrusted sky, the great flat-topped mountain looked curiously black, and as if it leaned over towards where they were encaht at any e was this appearance, and so thoroughly real, that it was a long time before Bart could satisfy himself that it was only the shadow that impressed him in so peculiar a way Once he had been about to call the attention of the Doctor to the fact, but fortunately, as he thought, he refrained
”He lay down directly,” said Bart to himself as he walked on, and then he stopped short, startled, for just before hireat plain, and just outside the shadow cast by the mountain, he sahat appeared to be an enor towards hilided over the sandy earth
Bart's heart seemed to stand still His mouth felt dry His breath came thick and short He could not run, for his feet appeared to be fixed to the ground, and all he felt able to do was to hile the figure cah the transparent darkness, till it was close upon him, and said in a low voice thatas it did his faculties, and giving hiht you were asleep”