f the deputy marshals
of the "carpet-bag" persuasion, then scattered broadcast over the States
"lately in rebellion." If there was one thing more than another the
deputy loved and gloried in, it was riding about his bailiwick, with a
sergeant and party of dragoons at his back, impressing the people with
the idea that he had the army of the United States at his beck and call.
Now, here was a new man at the business over a thousand-odd Indians,
many of whom had fought whole battalions of troopers time and again, and
were not to be scared by a squad, and this new man reasoned that,
because the Indians had been undemonstrative for two days, they were
ready to surrender their leaders and be good. Stone knew better.

It took ten minutes to get the agency by way of town, and but ten
seconds thereafter to get Ray. He and his guard were billeted about the
main building. "What do you think of this idea of going out and
arresting ring-leaders?" asked Stone. "You weren't sent there for any
such purpose." And Ray answered: "He has gone to a pow-pow with Black
Wolf's people, and was thinking better of it after a little talk we
had."

"Well," said Stone, "how about the--the situation? Do you think they'll
make trouble? Do you need more men?"

And Sandy answered "Not to-night, sir. Tell better in the morning."

Stone did not like the outlook, but what was he to do? The agent had
called for no more troops, and, until he called, Stone was forbidden to
send unless some dire emergency arose, and then he must accept all
responsibility, as one or other side was sure to get the worst of it,
and he the blame. He went over and told Mrs. Ray he had just been
talking with Sandy, who was all serene, said he, and all reassuringly he
answered her anxious questions. Then he asked for Jimmy, whose
temperature was ominously high, and for Dwight, whose spirits were
correspondingly low. Dwight came out from the den, haggard, unshaven,
gaunt. Never before had he been known to lack quick interest when danger
threatened a comrade. To-night he hardly noted what Stone said about the
situation at the agency. He was thinking only of his boy, and Stone,
vaguely disappointed, went in search of Hurst, the senior captain, and
Hurst looked grave. He, too, had had his share in Indian experience, and
liked not the indications.

"I don't fancy the agent's going to that pow-wow. He should have had the
chief men come to _him_," said Hurst.

"They wouldn't--said th