Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/226

 Susette and, with her father's consent, determine the date of the wedding day. Parker would probably insist on a probationary term spent in the services of the A. F. C. Very good—he would reenter the employment of the A. F. C. and make good.

"Asleep?" broke in a voice.

Lander looked up and blinked at Phinny. The A. F. C. representative remarked:

"I've spoken to you three times. Say, I'm regular dished on this trip. Mr. McKenzie will feel like shipping me back to St. Louis for not getting here ahead of Mr. Bridger.

"But what could I do with that crazy breed to guide me; and he smuggling along some rum and getting drunk before we was clear of the Yellowstone and being laid up sick? He swore the Assiniboins put poison in his liquor before we quit the fort. Blames it on to old Gauche."

"He'll be mad because you didn't git here in time to make some of the trade?" asked Lander sympathetically.

"Like it? I'll probably be put back in that cussed store or sent down to Cabanne's post to handle what's left of the Pawnee trade. I'll be lucky if I'm not kicked out. Mr. McKenzie is