They had enough provisions to give them a meal, when they all lay down to rest and chat over matters.
“To-morrow, Edwin, you start on your hunt,” said George, “and, as we are in a totally new country, you must use extra caution.”
“What shall I bring you?” asked the young hunter, “a grizzly bear or an antelope?”
“I prefers an antelope,” replied Jim, “an’ if you comes across a grizzly b’ar, you’d better take my advice an’ give him a wide berfh.”
“Yes; fire your gun only when it is necessary; don’t be tempted aside by any wish for sport, or any ambition to become a great hunter.”
Edwin had received this advice so often that he did not see the necessity of its being repeated. He could only repeat his intention to be prudent and careful, as he had been at all times.
“As we have several hours of daylight before us,” continued Inwood, “suppose we make a reconnoisance of the lake?”
“Dat ’ere will suit me,” replied Jim, “I want you to see dat island fly away. I know you won’t b’lieve it till you see it.”
“That I certainly shall not; you will go with us, Edwin?”
“I would rather take a ramble in another direction, if you are willing.”
“Certainly; try and be in before dusk. Come, Jim, if you are ready.”
They stepped into the brook, and, walking on the hard, pebbly bed, soon emerged into the open, rocky country, about a mile distant from the lake.
“Now, Jim,” said Inwood, “we must be particularly cautious. There are other white men in this neighborhood, and I am sure if they knew we were here, they would as lief kill us as not, to get us out of the way.”
“’Spose so; but den what would _we_ do all dat time?” was the surly demand of the African. “While dey was doing dat, we’d have de chance to try de _gold trick_. I would just as lieb see dem as not--a little lieber, I tink.”
“I would not; if we can get along without trouble, it is our duty to do so, and I particularly request you to be cautious in your movements. The man that I watched has already fired his gun at us, and if he can steal up within a hundred feet, it isn’t likely he’ll make such a miss as he did awhile ago.”
“Hang ’em! what do dey wish to shoot us for?”
“That’s the question which I wish to settle.”
“An’ what does he want to make hisself look like one ob dem darkeys for, ’stead ob being ’spectable?”