“William Relmond, from New Jersey,” I repeated, as though trying to recall some half-forgotten remembrance. “He used to be called ‘Jarsey’ by Bill Biddon,” added Nat, quickly, as if to aid my recollection. “And do you know Bill Biddon, a trapper?” I demanded, eagerly. “I am of the opinion that I do, being as I have hunted with him a long time.” “Ah! indeed. He is an old friend of mine. I saw him some time since, and he was then in the service of the Hudson Bay Company.” “Didn’t he say anything about ‘Jarsey?’” “I’ve hit it now! There’s where I heard the name. Yes; he said a great deal about him, and he also mentioned a person called Nathan Todd, I think.” “I am the man, sir,” responded Nat, with considerable dignity. “You are! I recall now that he mentioned the fact of your captivity, although he was more inclined to say you were dead and gone long since.” “Bill is a pretty ’cute chap, but he’s mistaken there.” “Yes; he seemed to cherish a warm friendship for you.” “You see the way of it was this: Me and Bill Relmond started from Independence last summer for California. The company we was with ran away from us, taking my knife and mare with them. So we started fur Californy on our own hook. We came across this Bill Biddon and changed our minds, or, rather, Relmond did, and concluded to go on a hunt up in these parts. Well, we did, and this is the end of that hunt. We fixed on a place down on the Yellowstone, and would have spent a good time if it hadn’t been for that Relmond. He was a good fellow, but betwixt you and me (you needn’t say nothing about it, you know), he was rather soft, and I had to keep a clus watch over him to prevent his getting into danger. There used to come some Injins down the stream in a canoe, and they set his head crazy. It wasn’t the Injins, though, but a white gal they had. She was pretty, I allow, but he ought to have knowed better than to chase her as he did; he might have knowed what would have come of it. We used to go down and watch this canoe. One day I went a little lower down the stream than he did, and hid in some bushes beside the water to take a good look at the gal and the Injins. Pretty soon they came, and as they got along by me, by gracious if they didn’t start right into the bushes after me! I was so fast in the roots and limbs that I hadn’t time to git out before they got right on to me. I then up and blazed away to keep them off, but I forgot to take aim, and didn’t hit them, and the first thing I knowed I didn’t know anything. One of them smashed his tomahawk square at me, grabbed me by the neck, whopped me into the canoe, paddled to the other side, and made me walk all the way here. I haven’t seen Relmond or Biddon since, and I should like to know what has become of them.” “Biddon is safe, of course; and Relmond was a captive, I believe, awhile, but he managed to make his escape some time since.” “How do you know that much, I should like to know?”