Quitting the trunk of the tree behind which he was sheltered, he then boldly walked a few paces forward, and stopped almost in the centre of the clearing.
"Where are you, you who are speaking?" he asked in a loud and firm voice; "Are you afraid of letting yourself be seen?"
"I fear nothing," the squatter replied.
"Show yourself, then, that I may know you again," John said impudently.
Thus challenged, the Scalper came up within two paces of the hunter.
"Here I am," he said, "What do you want of me?"
Davis let the horse come up without making any movement to avoid it.
"Ah," he said, "I am not sorry to have had a look at you."
"Is that all you have to say to me?" the other asked gruffly.
"Hang it, you are in a tremendous hurry! Give me time to breathe, at any rate."