"I have done first rate to-day," I replied. "Won't you take some of these?"
"Thank you, Phil Farringford. I will take two or three of them, if you have any to spare."
"Take as many as you can use, Mr. Mellowtone," I continued, removing from the twig some of the handsomest of the fish.
"Enough, Phil Farringford. I am not a swine, to eat more than six pounds of trout in a day," said he, with a smile.
I strung them upon a willow twig, and handed them to him, as he stood in his barge--a very aristocratic craft, which he had brought with him from the regions of civilization.
"I must be in a hurry now, Mr. Mellowtone. Won't you come up to the Castle with me? The Indians stole both of our horses this afternoon, and I am going out after them."
"That's unfortunate," he replied, running his barge upon the bank. "I will walk up to the Castle with you, and you shall tell me about it."
Securing his boat to the stake, he followed me up the bank of the river; and on the way to the house I told him what had happened just as I returned from my fishing trip. We entered the log house, where old Matt had kindled a huge fire to cook our evening meal.
"Good evening, Mr. Rockwood," said my friend, as politely as though he had been speaking to the President of the United States.
"Your sarvant, Mr. Mellowtone," replied Matt, who always labored to be as courteous as his visitor, though not always with the same success.
"You have been unfortunate, I learn from Phil Farringford."
"Yes; them pesky redskins is gittin' troublesome, and I'm afraid we shall hev to wipe out some on 'em."
"We must not allow them to steal," added Mr. Mellowtone, decidedly.
"No; Phil is goin' out arter 'em. They stole my jug of fire-water, and they'll be as drunk as owls afore long."
"If neither he nor you object, I will go out with him."
"I hain't no kind o' objection. I should be much obleeged to you if you help git back them hosses."
"I shall be glad to have you go with me, Mr. Mellowtone," I replied, as I put the pan of fish on the fire.
IN WHICH PHIL FINDS THE CAMP OF THE INDIANS.
I was certainly very glad to have Mr. Mellowtone go with me on the expedition after the Indians; but I did not exactly like to share the glory of the great deeds I expected to do even with him, though he was one of my best friends. However, I consoled myself with the reflection that his pleasant company would in part compensate me for the share of the glory he would appropriate.