"I say, and who is that stunning chap?" said this one to Lewis, in Ermine's hearing. "One of my men. Oh, come here, Ermine. This is Mr. Sterling Harding, an Englishman come out to see this country and hunt. You may be able to tell him some things he wants to know." The two young men shook hands and stood irresolutely regarding each other. Which had the stranger thoughts concerning the other or the more curiosity cannot be stated, but they both felt the desire for better acquaintance. Two strangers on meeting always feel this--or indifference, and sometimes repulsion. The relations are established in a glance. [Illustration: THE ENGLISHMAN.] "Oh, I suppose, Mr. Ermine, you have shot in this country." "Yes, sir,"--Ermine had extended the "sir" beyond shoulder-straps to include clean shirts,--"I have shot most every kind of thing we have in this country except a woman." "Oh! ha! ha ha!" And Harding produced a cigar-case. "A woman? I suppose there hasn't been any to shoot until this boat came. Do you intend to try your hand on one? Will you have a cigar?" "No, sir; I only meant to say I had shot things. I suppose you mean have I hunted." "Yes, yes--exactly; hunted is what I mean." "Well then, Mr. Sterling Harding, I have never done anything else." "Mr. Harding, I will leave you with Ermine; I have some details to look after. You will come to our mess for luncheon at noon?" interjected Captain Lewis. "Yes, with pleasure, Captain." Whereat the chief of scouts took himself off. "I suppose, Mr. Ermine, that the war is quite over, and that one may feel free to go about here without being potted by the aborigines," said Harding. "The what? Never heard of them. I can go where I like without being killed, but I have to keep my eyes skinned." "Would you be willing to take me out? I should expect to incur the incidental risks of the enterprise," asked the Englishman, who had taken the incidental risks of tigers in India and sought "big heads" in many countries irrespective of dangers. "Why, yes; I guess Wolf-Voice and I could take you hunting easily enough if the Captain will let us go. We never know here what Bear-Coat is going to do next; it may be 'boots and saddles' any minute," replied the scout. "Oh, I imagine, since Madam has appeared, he may remain quiet and I really understand the Indians have quite fled the country," responded Harding. "Mabeso; you don't know about Indians, Mr. Harding. Indians are uncertain; they may come back again when their ponies fill up on the green grass." "Where would you propose to go, may I ask?" Ermine thought for a time, and asked, "Would you mind staying out all one moon, Mr. Harding?" "One moon? You mean thirty days. Yes, three moons, if necessary. My time is not precious. Where would you go?"