As they mounted their ponies, Jerry gave them the following advice:—­

“Be keerful ter keep yer eyes and ears open; foller the course of the river, and don’t git out’er sight of it, whatever yer do.  There’s three kind ’er game in this country, yer want ter steer clear of, sartin:  them’s Injins, bars, and painters.  And be keerful to git back afore sundown, whatever else you do.”

“I shan’t steer clear of ‘painters’ or bears, you bet,” said Hal.  “If I see one, I shall go for it, and as for Indians, I’ve had quite enough experience to know how to handle them, without any advice from you, Mr. Jerry.  I guess we can take care of ourselves;” and away they rode.

“That boy knows less, for a fellow that thinks he knows so much, than anybody I ever see.  Why, he don’t know nothin’, compared ter Ned, if he does talk ten times as much.  I used ter think, when I was a boy, thet the feller thet hed the longest tongue, knowed the most; but them’s the ones that don’t know nothin’; and he’s one of ’em, sartin,” said Jerry.

I ventured to remark that Hal was a boy yet, and that we ought not to expect too much wisdom in one so young as he.

“But ain’t t’other a boy, ez well?” inquired Jerry; “and hain’t he got ten times as much sense?  However, less go and look at that wagon, and see what’s got ter be done to it.”

The repairs kept Jerry and myself busy during the forenoon; and, after they were finished, Jerry proposed that we should take our rifles, and see if we couldn’t get some game on our own account.

This suggestion met my cordial approval; and, after giving directions concerning the camp, Jerry and myself started across the prairie, intending to strike the river some miles above, and follow its course down; hoping, in this way, to fall in with the boys, on their return.

We rode along for several miles without seeing any game, save a few antelope, and they at such a distance, that Jerry though it not best to follow them; and, after a time, decided to make our way to the river and follow it down to camp.

It was a beautiful day:  such a one as always brings peace and quiet to the most restless mind.  I felt its effects most sensibly, and remarked to Jerry, that I rarely had seen so perfect a day in any country, and it seemed almost too bad, that so lovely a section could be given over to the possession of savages and wild beasts.

“’Tis, sartin,” he replied; “both on ’em thrive here.  I’m thinkin’, though, ’twon’t be many years afore white men’ll git in here, and then the Injuns and painters, and sich like’ll, hev to leave it.  Why, there’s lots o’ gold jest above here.  I’ve known plenty of scouts that hev brung it in.  The white folks’ll git hold of it one of these days, and then the country’ll fill up like Californy.

“Yer see thet little mountain right ahead of us, don’t yer?  Wall, I r’member thet place.  There’s a narrer pass through thet hill, thet we’ve got ter go through.  I’ve been in it once afore, and it’s a mighty pokerish place, I tell yer:  however, we’ll git along all right, I reckon.”