ed him to myself as one of those silent
plainsmen, so habituated to solitude as almost to shun companionship,
though he had already let drop a word or two that made me deem him one
not devoid of humor. Suddenly I thought of De Croix.

"Has any one passed here lately?" I asked, rising to my feet, the old
emulation throbbing in my veins. "A white man, I mean, going north."

"Wal," he answered slowly, and as he also stood up I could make out,
what I had not noted in our previous meeting, that he was as tall as I,
but spare of build; "I ain't seen nuthin', but some sort o' critter
went ploughin' down inter the gulch up yonder, maybe ten minutes 'fore
ye lit down yere on me. Dern if I know whether it were a human er a
bar!"

"Will you show me the nearest way to the Kinzie house?"

"I reckon I 'll show ye all right, but ye bet ye don't git me nigher
ner a hundred foot o' the door," he returned seriously. "John Kinzie
's a mighty good man, stranger, but he an' Ol' Tom Burns ain't never
hitched worth a cent."

We climbed silently, and came out together upon the top. A slight beam
of light crept along through the open door of the log house just in
front of us, and for the first time I caught a fair view of my
companion. He was a tall, gaunt, wiry fellow, typical in dress and
manner of his class,--the backwoodsmen of the Southwest,--but with a
peculiarly solemn face, seamed with wrinkles, and much of it concealed
beneath a bushy, iron-gray beard. We eyed each other curiously.

"Dern if ever I expected ter meet up with ye agin in no sich way as
this," he said shortly. "But thet 's the house. Be ye goin' ter stay
thar long?"

"No," I answered, feeling anxious to have his guidance back to the
Fort, "not over five minutes. Will you wait?"

"Reckon I may as well," and he seated himself on a stump.

No one greeted me at the house, not even a dog; though I could see
figures moving within. Either the occupants felt that an assumption of
confidence was their best security, or experienced no fear of Indian
treachery, for I rapped twice before there was any response. A young
girl, with a face of rare beauty and a pair of roguish black eyes,
peered out curiously. At sight of a stranger she drew back slightly,
yet paused to ask:

"Did you wish to see some one here?"

"I am seeking for a young girl," I answered, wondering if this could
possibly be she, "and they told me at the Fort I should probably find
her here. M