“Wal, thar hain’t been any answer to it, as I guess it was p’inted at some animile instead of red-skin.” This seemed to be the conclusion of both, as they gave no further thought to the absent member of their party. It was a mild day in late summer, before the vegetation had given any indication of the approaching cold season. The hunters had ventured thus early into the trapping-grounds for two reasons: one was to mislead the Blackfeet, who would be looking for their coming a month or two later, and the other reason will become apparent hereafter. “To-morrow we’ll strike the trapping-grounds,” said old Stebbins, in his careless manner, as he lazily whiffed his pipe. “It’s two months yet afore we need set our traps,” said Black Tom. “That’ll give us plenty of time to find out all we want to,” replied his companion. “Yas,” added the other, somewhat significantly; “we’ll l’arn whether thar’ll be any need of our ever settin’ them ag’in or not.” “Not quite that,” said old Stebbins, with a laugh and shake of the head. “I don’t b’l’eve _that_.” “I don’t know,” continued Black Tom, who seemed in the best of spirits; “it looked powerful like it when we had to dig out last spring.” “It did, summat--” “B’ars and beavers!” exclaimed Tom, suddenly coming to the upright position, jerking his coonskin hat from his head, and dashing it upon the ground, “don’t you remember, Steb.?” “Remember what?” demanded his companion, not a little startled at his manner. “It was right hyar that we see’d _that_!” “See’d what?” “Old Steb., you’re a thunderin’ fool!” replied Tom, with an expression of disgust. “I guess you’re gettin’ childish. I, s’pose, you don’t remember that--that--what shall I call it?--that we see’d near hyar?” “How did I furget it? How did we all forget it--Teddy, too?” There was no doubt that Stebbins recalled the creature to which reference had been made. Unquestionably brave as both of these men were, their appearance showed that they were frightened. Their bronzed and scarred faces were pale, and they looked into each other’s eyes in silence, both revolving “terrible thoughts.” “Right out thar,” said Stebbins, speaking in a terrified whisper, and pointing toward the open prairie, over which they had just ridden; “how was it that we wa’n’t on the look out fur it?” “Dunno, when we’ve been talkin’ ’bout it all the way. It’s too bad that it should come right hyar--jest near the very spot we’re after.” “Mebbe it’s gone away,” added Stebbins, speaking not his belief, but his hope. “It will be a powerful lucky thing for us, if it has.”