human
Well?
gpt
What do you mean, Sergeant?
human
That the mustang hed a yeller-belly on his back, and that he hain't got ne'er a one now, as I knows on. He got cl'ar away from me--that is, the mustang. The yeller-belly didn't.
gpt
What! you haven't--?
human
But I hev, Cap'n. I had good, soun' reason.
gpt
What reason?
human
In the first place, the feller wur a gurillye; and in the next, he wur an outpost picket.
gpt
How know you this?
human
Wal, Cap'n, I struck his trail on the edge of the thicket. I knowed he hedn't kum fur, as I looked out for sign whar we crossed the crik bottom, an' seed none. I tuk the back track, an' soon come up with him under a big button-wood. He had been thar some time, for the ground wur stamped like a bullock-pen.
gpt
Well?
human
I follered him up till I seed him leanin' for'ard on his horse, clost to the track we oughter take. From this I suspicioned him; but, gettin' a leetle closter, I seed his gun an' fixin's strapped to the saddle. So I tuk a sight, and whumelled him. The darned mustang got away with his traps. This hyur's the only thing worth takin' from his carcage: it wudn't do much harm to a grizzly b'ar.
gpt
Good heaven! I exclaimed, grasping the glittering object which the hunter held towards me;
human
No harm, I reckin, Cap'n?
gpt
The man--the Mexican? How did he look?--what like?
human
Like? repeated the hunter.
gpt
Why, Cap'n, I 'ud call him as ugly a skunk as yer kin skeer up any whar--'ceptin' it mout be among the Digger Injuns; but yer kin see for yurself--he's clost by.