22 BRET HARTE S CHOICE BITS.
retraced his steps, and again passed the cabin
Half-way down to the river's bank he again paused,
and then returned and knocked at the door. It
was opened by Stumpy. " How goes it ? " said
Kentuck, looking past Stumpy towards the candle-
box. "All serene," replied Stumpy. "Anything
up ? " " Nothing." There was a pause—an em¬
barrassing one—Stumpy still holding the door.
Then Kentuck had recourse to his finger, which he
held up to Stumpy. " Rastled with it,—the d—d
little cuss," he said, and retired.
The next day Cherokee Sal had such rude sepul¬
ture as Roaring Camp afforded. After her body had
been committed to the hillside, there was a formal
meeting of the camp to discuss what should be
done with her infant. A resolution to adopt it was
unanimous and enthusiastic. But an animated
discussion in regard to the manner and feasibility
of providing for its wants at once sprung up. It
was remarkable that the argument partook of none
of those fierce personalities with which discussions
were usually conducted at Roaring Camp. Tipton
proposed that they should send the child to Red
Dog, a distance of forty miles,—where female
attention could be procured. But the unlucky sug¬
gestion met with fierce and unanimous opposition.
It was evident that no plan which entailed parting
from their new acquisition would for a moment be
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