ked back up
the winding bed of the ravine for near a quarter of a mile.

Then he emerged into an open space where there were full a hundred
Indian ponies staked out, with their owners lying in groups about near
small smoldering camp-fires. A few only were on guard, and these on
seeing their white chief appear paid no apparent attention to the
companion, though they doubtless saw her. It is the Indian's nature to
be stoical and never to manifest surprise, no matter what occurs.

Inside the line where the ponies were staked was a small brush house,
and in front of this Bill halted with his led horses, with his own hands
unsaddled one and unpacked the other, leaving packs and saddles in front
of the house.

Well he knew they were as safe there as they would have been behind
bolts and bars in the settlements--even more safe.

"Come in, my love," he said. "The Sioux will care for the horses. Come
in and receive the best a fond heart can give in the way of shelter and
comfort."

"It is all I ask," she murmured, as with him she entered the "Outlaw's
Home."

CHAPTER XII.
ON THE TRAIL.

It was high noon when the young Texan woke up and when he rose Pond
still lay sleeping. The former laughed lightly, as he rose and bathed
his face in the limpid water, for the beard of the sleeper had got all
awry, showing that it was false.

"No need for a disguise here," said the Texan. "But let him keep it up.
When the time comes I'll read him a lesson."

Cutting some antelope stakes, the Texan built up a smokeless fire, and
had them nicely broiled when Willie Pond woke up.

"Mercy! how I have slept!" he said, as he looked at the sun, already
fast declining toward the west.

"You are not used to passing sleepless nights," said the Texan. "When we
are fairly launched into the Indian country you may not sleep so sound.
Take hold and eat. A hearty eater on the plains generally stands travel
best. To-morrow, it is likely, we'll have a fifty-mile ride or more, if
those Black Hillers get sobered down to their work. They'll do well if
they make their twenty to-day."

Pond went and bathed his face and hands in the limpid water before
eating, and as he expressed it, "rubbed the sleep" out of his eyes; then
he went at the toothsome steak with appetite not at all impaired by the
pure open air he was breathing.

The meal, taken with comfort and deliberation, occupied a half hour or
more, and as there were no dishes to wash, "clearing u