“You mean about the prairies and Injin signs?”
“Exactly.”
“Wal, all I’ve got to say,” said the trapper with a broad grin, as he proceeded to light his segar. “I wouldn’t have to know much to know that; you’re the biggest set of lunkheads I think I ever came across, always barring Fred here, who hasn’t been out in these parts a great while, but long enough to learn and keep his mouth shet when them as knows more are talking.”
“Well, that is a very modest way of accepting a compliment,” laughed Templeton. “I supposed you might perhaps find it possible to say a word or two in our favor.”
“Hoogh! wagh!” laughed Ward, shaking his whole body by the violence of his convulsions. “If axed to pick out the biggest set of jackasses that ever got loose, I’d hurry up powerful quick and lasso this crowd. I’d have ’em sure.”
“I—I—trust you would not place me in that category,” said Leonidas Swipes, fondly expecting he would except him on account of his learning and accomplishments.
“No; I’d stand you out alone by yourself, as having more of the jackass in you than all the rest put together.”
The loud laughter which followed this somewhat discomfited the Yankee, who, however, made a despairing effort to recover his lost ground.
“And where would you place yourself, if I may ask, Mr. Lancaster?”
“Where there was the least danger of seeing you, but, come, boys, we’re losing time.”