robable dangers of the trip,
and means to meet and overcome such dangers.

"There is no doubt the Sioux are on the war-path," said Chichester to
Captain Jack, as they rode on side by side.

"None in the world. They've taken a hundred scalps or more already on
the Black Hills route. The troops have been ordered to move up the
Missouri and Yellowstone, and that will make them worse than ever. We'll
be lucky if we get through without a brush. That was a mean thing, the
burning out of that Neidic girl last night, wasn't it?"

"Yes, Crawford, and if Persimmon Bill ever comes across Wild Bill, _his
goose is cooked!_ Mark that. There is not a surer shot, or a deadlier
foe on earth then Persimmon Bill. He has defied the whole border for the
past three years--ridden right into a military post and shot men down,
and got away without a scratch. They say he has been adopted by the
Sioux, and if he has, with such backing he'll do more mischief than
ever."

"I don't believe Bill would have injured the woman had he been sober. It
was a mean thing to do any way, and I'm sorry any of our party had a
hand in it."

"So am I. But look, Jack, you can see tree-tops ahead. That is the
timber on Twenty-mile Creek. There we camp. We'll spread a little here,
and the one who sees a fat elk first will drop him. We'll keep within
sight and hearing of each other, and if one fires the other will close
on him."

"All right, Sam."

And the brave young scout, all the better for being ever temperate and
steady, gently diverged to the right, while Chichester bore off to the
left.

Game in the shape of prairie hens rose right and left as they rode on,
and every little while a band of antelopes, taking the alarm, would be
seen bounding over the sandy ridges, while an elk farther off startled
by the antelope, would take fright and trot off in style.

The two hunters were now nearing the timber, and they rode more slowly
and with greater caution.

Suddenly, as Chichester rose over a small ridge, he came upon a band of
a dozen or more noble elk, which trotted swiftly off to the right, where
Captain Jack, seeing them coming, had sprung from his horse and crouched
low on the ridge.

Chichester saw his movement, and lowered the rifle which he had raised
for a flying shot, for he knew by their course the elk would go so close
to Crawford that he could take his pick among them and make a sure shot.

The result justified his movement, for the noble a