Page:Hugh Pendexter--Kings of the Missouri.djvu/234

 "Wolf!" yelled Lander, rushing toward the mules and expecting to find the terrible visitor dead. But he could not find even a drop of blood.

His companions swore fretfully as he returned to the fire, and insisted he had dreamed it. Lander angrily asked if they believed the mules also had dreamed it. But his companions had heard only the rifle-shot and believed it was that which frightened the mules.

"Jest tuck this inter yer pipe an' smoke it," warned Porker. "No more shootin' in this camp. Ye'll be pottin' either me or Phinny next. It's all right to heave a' ax, but this sprinklin' lead round every time ye have a bad dream"

"Oh, shut up! If you two say not to fire—all right, I won't fire. But if you get nipped don't blame me." "We certainly haven't any right to find fault with you," mollified Phinny. "Reckon we're all rather nervous. Only thing I heard was the shot, then the mules, and it scared me blue. But we'll all agree to shoot off no guns in camp. It might fetch some small band of Injuns down on us."

Irritated at the fault-finding, Lander sullenly completed his watch and aroused Porker. The