“No; if we hadn’t this cave to retreat to, we should have seen trouble. As it is, I am a little anxious about Jim.”
“He is careless, but he has been very fortunate. I never saw anything so strange as that which happened to him when we were coming through the mountains. Don’t you think that was strange, George?”
“Very Providential, indeed, although I did not see it myself.”
“I did; he was only a little ways ahead of us, riding along on his horse, when those two Indians sprang out from behind the trees, not more than twenty yards off, aimed both their guns straight at him, fired, and then run away.”
“Never touched him; he said he heard both bullets whistle past his ears.”
“It was very singular, but not unaccountable. His color and his size are such as to startle these superstitious people, and, no doubt, when these two aimed at him, their nerves were very unsteady, and to this alone their failure is to be attributed.”
“Then he has been in danger several times since we have been here, and was scratched a little this afternoon--so he told me--but he hasn’t been really hurt.”
“He is great help to us. I don’t know what we could do without him. He can do more work in a day than I can in a week, and he has got to be a good shot, too. We must arrange that, however, so that you can do the hunting for food, while we do the hunting for gold.”
“I am ready to begin at any time, and have wondered why you haven’t set me at work before,” said Edwin, with great animation, at the prospect of a day’s ramble through the woods.
“It is with some misgiving, as it is, that I consent to this step. Remember you are very young, Edwin, and there is a great deal of danger for an old hunter in this part of the country.”
“Not if he is careful, and you know I would be careful. I shall always keep a sharp look out for grizzly bears.”
“They are dangerous enough, but not so dangerous as the red men.”
“But don’t you think they are easily scared?”
“That may all be, and yet, it isn’t to be supposed that they would be much frightened at the sight of a youngster tramping through the woods with a gun on his shoulder.”
“You must remember that; for if you get lost, I don’t know how you would ever find your way back again.”