Page:California Digital Library (IA openingwestwithl00sabirich).pdf/268

 rifle and I hallooed as loud as I could. Why, by the shock you couldn't have been more than forty paces!"

"I hear notting. I hear not one word," protested Cruzatte.

"The ball coming from so close, and you not answering, I of course thought of Indians," continued the captain.

"B' gorry, give me wan chance at him an' I'll close his other eye," besought Pat; and all the men murmured angrily, while poor Cruzatte shivered with fright.

"I no mean to shoot my capitaine," he babbled.

"Never mind, men," said the captain. "It was an error. My leather breeches are just the shade of an elk hide, remember. Let's dress the wound. I doubt if it's serious."

The ball had passed clear through his left thigh, and had furrowed the right; but it seemed not to have touched the bone or any artery. After the wounds had been dressed and lint stuffed into the holes, the canoes with the other elk hunters arrived; and not waiting to explain much the captain insisted upon them all pushing along, to catch up with Captain Clark.

Now that he himself was laid up, this was more necessary than before. All he could do was to rest, half sitting, in the stern of the white pirogue. His leg had so stiffened that he could scarcely move it.