which had already made his eye flash with pleasure. Taking the thong in his hand, and placing it in that of Reginald, he said, resuming the English tongue, "The War-Eagle gives Nekimi to his brother. The white warrior may hunt the mastoche,* he may overtake his enemies, he may fly from the prairie-fire when the wind is strong: Nekimi never tires!"

Our

Reginald was so surprised at this unexpected offer, that he felt much embarrassed, and hesitated whether he ought not to decline the gift. Baptiste saw a cloud gathering on the Indian's brow, and said in a low voice to his master in French, "You must take the horse; a refusal would mortally offend him." hero accordingly accompanied his expression of thanks with every demonstration of satisfaction and affection. Again War-Eagle's face brightened with pleasure; but the effect upon Nekimi seemed to be very different, for he stoutly resisted his new master's attempts at

In the Delaware language this expression seems applicable to any large swift animal, as it is given to the elk, the buffalo, &c.

approach or acquaintance, snorting and backing at every step made by Reginald in advance.

"The white warrior must learn to speak

to Nekimi," said the Indian, quietly; and he again repeated the short, shrill cry before noticed. In vain our hero tried to imitate the sound; the horse's ears remained deaf to his voice, and it seemed as if his new acquisition could prove but of little service to him.

War-Eagle now took Reginald aside, and smeared his hands with some grease taken from a small bladder in his girdle, and on his extending them again towards the horse, much of the fear and dislike evinced by the latter disappeared. As soon as the animal would permit Reginald to touch it, the Indian desired him to hold its nostril firmly in his hand, and placing his face by the horse's head, to look up steadfastly into its eye for several minutes, speaking low at intervals to accustom it to his voice; he assured him that in a few days Nekimi would through this treatment become docile and obedient.

CHAPTER VI.

REGINALD AND BAPTISTE PAY A VISIT TO WAR-EAGLE.-AN ATTEMPT AT TREACHERY MEETS WITH SUMMARY PUNISHMENT.

THE other horse being now secured, the party prepared to resume their journey; and as it appeared after a few words whispered between the Indian and the guide, that their routes were in the same direction, they struck into the forest, Baptiste leading, followed by Reginald, and War-Eagle bringing up the rear with the two horses.

After walking a few minutes in silence, "Baptiste," said our hero in French, "what was the story told about the horse? I understood little of what he said in English, and none of what he spoke in his own tongue."

"He told us, Master Reginald, that he was

out on a war-party against the Camanchees, a wild tribe of Indians in the South-west; they steal horses from the Mexicans, and exchange them with the Aricaras, Kioways, Pawnees, and other Missouri Indians."

"Well, Baptiste, how did he take this swift horse with his neck-bullet,' as he called it?"

"That, Master Reginald, is the most difficult shot in the prairie; and I have know few Redskins up to it. The western hunters call it 'creasing:'—a ball must be shot just on the upper edge of the spine where it enters the horse's neck; if it is exactly done, the horse falls immediately, and is secured, then the wound is afterwards healed; but, if the ball strikes an inch lower, the spine is missed, or the horse is killed. Few Redskins can do it," muttered the guide, "and the 'doctor' here," shaking his long rifle, "has failed more than once; but War-Eagle has said it, and there are no lies in his mouth."

"Tell me, Baptiste," said Reginald, earnestly; "tell me something about my brother's history, his race, and exploits."

"Afterwards, my young master. I know not that he understands us now; but these Indians are curious critturs in hearing; I believe if you spoke in that strange Dutch lingo which you learnt across the water, the Redskins would know how to answer you-stay," added he, putting his rifle to his shoulder, "here is work for the doctor."

Reginald looked in the direction of the piece, but saw nothing; and the guide, while taking his aim, still muttered to himself, "the pills are very small, but they work somewhat sharp." Pausing a moment, he drew the trigger; and a sudden bound from under a brake, at fifty yards distance, was the last death-spring of the unlucky deer whose lair had not escaped the hunter's practised eye.

"Bravely shot," shouted Reginald; "what says War-Eagle ?”

"Good," replied the Indian.

66

Nay," said Baptiste; "there was not much in the shot; but your French waly-de-sham might have walked past those bushes without noting the twinkle of that crittur's eye. Our