“Look at my tooth,” said Sneak, grinning in such manner that the remaining fragment of the member named could be distinctly seen. The ludicrous expression of his features was such as constrained Joe to smile, and his enmity vanished instantaneously.
“I believe you got the worst of the bargain, after all,” said Joe, falling back in his chair and laughing quite heartily.
“You know,” continued Sneak, “I didn’t mean it to turn out as bad as it did. I jest thought it would kick you over in the snow, and not hurt you any, hardly.”
“Well, let’s say no more about it,” said Joe; “but when you do any thing of that kind hereafter, pause and reflect on the consequences, and forbear.”
“I’ll keep my mouth out of the way next time,” said Sneak; “and now, as all’s square betwixt us, s’pose we agree about how we are to do with them dead Indians. S’pose we go halves with all the things they’ve got?”
“No, I’ll be hanged if I do!” said Joe quickly. “The one I shot was a chief, and he’s sure to have some gold about him.”
“Yes, but you know you’d never a killed him if it hadn’t been for me.”
“But if it hadn’t been for you I wouldn’t have got hurt,” replied Joe, reproachfully.
“Well, I don’t care much about the chief—the one I killed maybe took all his silver and gold before I shot him. Anyhow, I know I can find something out there in the snow where they were blowed up,” said Sneak, arranging a buffalo robe on the hearth and lying down.
“And we must hereafter let each other alone, Sneak,” said Joe, “for the fact is, we are both too much for one another in our tricks.”