When all was ready the meat was slung across the back of the pack-horse; and the party, remounting their horses, continued their journey, having first cleansed themselves as well as they could in the rather dirty waters of an old wallow.
"See," said Henri, turning to Dick and pointing to a circular spot of green as they rode along, "that is one old _dry_ waller." "Ay," remarked Joe; "after the waller dries, it becomes a ring o' greener grass than the rest o' the plain, as ye see.

Tis said the first hunters used to wonder greatly at these myster'ous circles, and they invented all sorts o' stories to account for 'em.

Some said they wos fairy-rings, but at last they comed to know they wos nothin' more nor less than places where buffaloes wos used to waller in.

It's often seemed to me that if we knowed the _raisons_ o' things, we wouldn't be so much puzzled wi' them as we are." The truth of this last remark was so self-evident and incontrovertible that it elicited no reply, and the three friends rode on for a considerable time in silence.
It was now past noon, and they were thinking of calling a halt for a short rest to the horses and a pipe to themselves, when Joe was heard to give vent to one of those peculiar hisses that always accompanied either a surprise or a caution.

In the present case it indicated both.
"What now, Joe ?" "Injuns!" ejaculated Joe.
"Eh! fat you say?
Ou is dey ?" Crusoe at this moment uttered a low growl.