The Scalp Hunters by Reid Mayne

Author:Reid, Mayne [Mayne, Reid,]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 2011-02-28T00:56:36.953000+00:00

Seguin made no reply, except by pointing to the bow which El Sol was making ready.

"Eh-ho!" added the hunter; "yer right, capt'n. I asks pardon. I had forgot that piece o' bone."

The Coco took an arrow from the quiver, and tried the head with the assaying liquid. It proved to be a hunting-shaft; and, adjusting it to the string, he sent it through the body of a white wolf, killing it instantly. He took up the shaft again, and wiping the feather, shot another, and another, until the bodies of five or six of these animals lay stretched upon the ground.

"Kill a coyote when ye're about it," shouted one of the hunters; "gentlemen like we oughter have leastwise two courses to our dinner."

The men laughed at this rough sally; and El Sol, smiling, again picked up the arrow, and sent it whizzing through the body of one of the coyotes.

"I think that will be enough for one meal, at all events," said El Sol, recovering the arrow, and putting it back into the quiver.

"Ay!" replied the wit; "if we wants more we kin go back to the larder agin. It's a kind o' meat that eats better fresh, anyhow."

"Well, it diz, hoss. Wagh! I'm in for a griskin o' the white. Hyar goes!"

The hunters, laughing at the humour of their comrades, drew their shining knives, and set about skinning the wolves. The adroitness with which this operation was performed showed that it was by no means new to them.

In a short time the animals were stripped of their hides and quarters; and each man, taking his quarter, commenced roasting it over the fire.

"Fellers! what d'ye call this anyhow? Beef or mutton?" asked one, as they began to eat.

"Wolf-mutton, I reckin," was the reply.

"It's dog-gone good eatin', I say; peels off as tender as squ'll."

"It's some'ut like goat, ain't it?"

"Mine tastes more like dog to me."

"It ain't bad at all; better than poor bull any day."

"I'd like it a heap better if I war sure the thing hadn't been up to yon varmint on the rocks." And the man who said this pointed to the skeleton of the Digger.

The idea was horrible, and under other circumstances would have acted as a sufficient emetic.

"Wagh!" exclaimed a hunter; "ye've most taken away my stammuck. I was a-goin' to try the coyoat afore ye spoke. I won't now, for I seed them smellin' about him afore we rid off."

"I say, old case, you don't mind it, do ye?"

This was addressed to Rube, who was busy on his rib and made no reply.

"He? not he," said another, answering for him. "Rube's ate a heap o' queery tit-bits in his time. Hain't ye, Rube?"

"Ay, an' afore yur be as long in the mountains as this child, 'ee'll be glad to get yur teeth over wuss chawin's than wolf-meat; see if 'ee don't, young fellur."

"Man-meat, I reckin?"

"Ay, that's what Rube means."

"Boyees!" said Rube, not heeding the remark, and apparently in good humour, now that he was satisfying

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