s are heading so far west for, Ben?
They are taking a big risk of running into hostiles."

"Oh, I don't know," returned the other gravely, lifting his eyes to the
far-off sky line. "I reckon from the news thet come in last night from
Hays, thar ain't no Injuns a rangin' thet way jist now. They're too
blame busy out on the Arickaree. Maybe them fellers heerd the same
story, an' thet's what makes 'em so bold."

"What story? I've heard nothing."

"Why, it's like this, Cap," drawling out the words, "leastways, thet's
how it come inter Sheridan; 'Sandy' Forsythe an' his outfit, mostly
plainsmen, started a while ago across Solomon River an' down Beaver
Crick, headin' fer Fort Wallace. Over on the Arickaree, the whole damned
Injun outfit jumped 'em. From all I heerd, thar must a bin nigh
onto three thousan' o' the varmints, droppin' on 'em all at oncet,
hell-bent-fer-election, with ol' Roman Nose a leadin' 'em. It was shore
a good fight, fer the scouts got onto an island an' stopped the bucks.
Two of the fellers got through to Wallace yist'day, an' a courier
brought the news in ter Hays. The Injuns had them boys cooped up thar
fer eight days before them fellers got out, an' I reckon it'll be two or
three days more 'fore the nigger sogers they sent out ter help ever git
thar. So thar won't be no Injuns 'long this route we're travellin', fer
the whole kit an' caboodle are up thar yit after 'Sandy.'"

"And you suppose Hawley knew about this?"

"Why not, Cap? He was hangin' 'round till after ten o'clock las' night,
an' it was all over town by then. 'Tain't likely he's got an outfit
'long with him thet's lost any Injuns. I don't know whar they're bound,
no mor'n you do, but I reckon they're reasonably sure they've got a clar
road."

They pulled up on the banks of a small stream to water their horses, and
ate hastily. The trail led directly across, and with only the slightest
possible delay they forded the shallow water, and mounted the opposite
bank. A hundred yards farther on, Bristoe reined up suddenly, pointing
down at the trail.

"One hoss left the bunch here," he declared positively. Keith swung
himself out of the saddle, and bent over to study the tracks. There
was no doubting the evidence--a single horse--the only one shod in the
bunch--with a rider on its back, judging from the deep imprint of
the hoofs, had swerved sharply to the left of the main body, heading
directly into the southeast. The plainsman ran forward