g almost
certain death in the quicksand? Would they not believe rather that he
had waded along the water's edge headed west, hoping thus to escape to
the bluffs, where some hiding-place might be found? Even if they
suspected a crossing, would any warriors among them be reckless enough
to follow? Would they not be more apt to believe that both fugitives
had been sucked down into the treacherous stream? Almost breathless
Hamlin watched, these thoughts coursing through his mind, realizing the
deadly trap in which they were caught, if the Indians suspected the
truth and essayed the passage. Behind them was sand, ridge after
ridge, as far as the eye could discern, and every step they took in
flight would leave its plain trail. And now the test was at hand.

He saw them crowd about the coach, leaping and yelling with fury;
watched them jerk open the door, and drag forth the two dead bodies,
dancing about them, like so many demons, brandishing their guns. A
moment they were bunched thus, their wild yelling shrill with triumph;
then some among them broke away, bending low as they circled in against
the bluff. They knew already that there had been others in the stage,
others who had escaped. They were seeking the trail. Suddenly one
straightened up gesticulating, and the others rushed toward him--they
had found the "sign"! They were silent now, those main trailers, two
of them on hands and knees. Only back where the bodies lay some
remained yelling and dancing furiously. Then they also, in response to
a shout and the wave of a blanketed arm, scattered, running west toward
the gully. There was no hesitancy now; some savage instinct seemed to
tell them where the fugitives had gone. They dragged the dead warrior
from the ditch, screaming savagely at the discovery. A dozen scrambled
for the river bank, others ran for the pony herd, while one or two
remained beside the dead warrior. Even at that distance Hamlin could
distinguish Roman Nose, and tell what were his orders by every gesture
of his arm. The Sergeant grasped the girl's hand, his own eyes barely
above the sand ridge, his lips whispering back.

"No, don't move; I'll tell you everything. The stage has been gutted
and set on fire. Now they are coming with the ponies. Most of them
are directly opposite studying the marks we left on the sand of the
bank. Yes, they look across here, but the chief is sure we have gone
the other way; he is waving his hand up