“_Posin_, the maliverous rascal who collogued with the Injins to murder us all! I’m glad he got his dose—and if he was alive now, I’d make him swaller at least two foot of my spear,” said Sneak. “’Twas me—I killed him—look at the buck-shot holes in his back!” exclaimed Joe, now recovering from his excitement and affright. “Yes, and you’re a nice chap, ain’t you, to run like flugins from a dead man that you killed yourself!” said Sneak. “How did I know that I killed him?” retorted Joe. “Any fool might know he was dead,” replied Sneak. “I’ll pay you for this, some of these times,” said Joe. “How shall we bury him?” asked Glenn. “That can be done real easy,” said Sneak, taking hold of the dead man’s leg and dragging him along on the snow like a sled. “What are you going to do with him?” demanded Glenn. “I’m a going to cut a hole in the ice on the river, and push him under,” said Sneak. “You shall do no such thing!” said Glenn, firmly; “he must be buried in the earth.” “Just as you say,” said Sneak, submissively, throwing down the leg. “Run home and bring the spades, Joe,” said Glenn, “and call for the ferrymen to assist us.” “And I’ll take the sled along and leave it in the yard,” said Joe, starting in the direction of the deer and calling the hounds after him. “Let the hounds remain,” said Glenn. “I am resolved to have my fox-hunt.” Joe soon disappeared. “If you want to hunt, you can go on; Roughgrove and me will bury this robber,” said Sneak. “Be it so,” said Glenn; “but remember that you are not to put him in the river, nor must you commit any indecent outrage upon his person. Let his body return to the earth—his soul is already in the hands of Him who created it.” “That’s as true as gospel,” said Sneak; “and I would rather be froze in this snow than to have his hot berth in the t’other world. I don’t feel a bit mad at him now—he’s paying for his black dagiverous conduct hard enough by this time, I’ll be bound. I say, Mr. Glenn, it’ll be rather late when we get through with this job—will there be any vacant room at your fireside to-night?” “Certainly, and something to eat—you will be welcome, provided you don’t quarrel too much with Joe,” replied Glenn. “Oh, Joe and me understand each other—the more we quarrel the more we love one another. We’ll never fight—do you mind that—for he’s a coward for one thing, and I won’t corner him too close, because he’s broad-shouldered enough to _lick me_, if he was to take it into his head to fight.” Glenn called the hounds after him and set out in quest of the fox, and Sneak turned to the dead body and mused in silence. CHAPTER VII. Boone—The interment—Startling intelligence—Indians about—A skunk—Thrilling fears—Boone’s device. Ere long Joe was on his way back to the cave-spring, with several spades on his shoulder, accompanied by Boone, (who had just crossed the river on a visit to Glenn,) and Roughgrove, with his two oarsmen.