Frank was cleaning his rifle, and Archie and Johnny were repairing an old pack-saddle, in which they intended to carry their provisions and extra ammunition.

Archie was seated on the floor, with an awl in one hand, and a piece of stout twine in the other; and, while he was working at the pack-saddle, his tongue was moving rapidly.
"I am young in years, fellows," he was saying, "but I am aged in experience.

If I had my rights, I should long ago have been gray-headed.
I have seen thrilling times in my life, and have been the hero of adventures, that, were I to relate them to you, would make each particular hair of your heads stand on end, like the quills of a punched hedge-hog.

I am--if you will kindly permit me to use a slang expression--an old hand at the business of hunting and trapping, and have accomplishments in which I can not be beaten.

Among them, stands my ability to whip a grizzly bear in a fair fight, with no weapon but my knife.