The boy thought he could not have been very much impressed with his appearance, for, after running his eyes over him from head to foot, he nodded his head slightly, said “How!” in rather a gruff tone—that was his way of saying “How do you do?”—and then settled back in his chair and turned his face toward the colonel again. The latter went on to explain the nature of Oscar’s business, and, as the scout knew no more about taxidermy or a museum than he did of chemistry or geology, the officer was obliged to make use of a good many words, and those of the simplest kind too, in order to make him understand what it was that brought the boy to the plains. There were two things, however, that Big Thompson _did_ comprehend, viz., that Oscar intended to spend the winter in some good game country, and that he was able and willing to pay liberally for the services of an experienced plainsman to act in the capacity of guide and cook. The hunting Oscar intended to do himself. He hastened to explain this fact to the scout, adding that, when he presented his specimens for the inspection of the committee at Yarmouth, he wanted to be able to say that they had all fallen to his own rifle. “Then we’ll starve fur want of grub, an’ you won’t get none of them things,” remarked Big Thompson. “What things?” asked Oscar. “Them what-do-ye-call-’ems.” “Specimens? Oh, I hope I shall! I have a room full of them at home now.” “What be they?” “Birds, principally.” “Did you ever see a b’ar?” “Not a wild one.” “Nor a painter nuther?” Oscar replied in the negative. “What do ye reckon ye’d do if ye should see one o’ them varmints?” asked the scout. “I am sure I don’t know,” was the honest reply. “Wa-al, I kin tell ye. Ye’d take to yer heels an’ leave me to shoot him. I’ve been huntin’ with a heap of fellows from the States, an’ that’s what they all do.” “I know one fellow from the States who will not take to his heels at the sight of a bear or a panther,” said Oscar to himself. He did not speak the words aloud, for, being no boaster, he preferred to be judged by his actions. Before many weeks had passed over his head he had an opportunity to show what he was made of, and then Big Thompson found that he had been sadly mistaken in the boy. If Oscar’s courage had not been equal to his skill as a taxidermist the scout never would have seen Julesburg again. “I reckon ye wouldn’t mind if I should do a little huntin’ an’ trappin’ on my own hook, would ye?” said Big Thompson after a moment’s pause. “Certainly not. All I ask is that you will let me go with you and see how it is done. It is possible that I may make my living for years to come in that way, and I want to know how to go to work. Now let’s come to business. What wages do you expect, and do you want to be paid every month, or shall I settle with you when we return to the fort in the spring?”