s it raged on the open plain. They might be
fifteen, even twenty miles away, and so completely drifted in as to be
undiscoverable except through accident. What course then was best to
pursue? The storm was likely to continue violent for a day, perhaps
two days longer. His horses were exhausted, and Carroll helpless. It
might not even be safe to leave the latter alone. Yet if the frozen
man could be left in the hut to take care of himself and the ponies,
would there be any hope of success in an effort to proceed up the river
on foot? He could make Hughes go--that was n't the difficulty--but
probably they could n't cover five miles a day through the snowdrifts.
And, even if they did succeed in getting through in time to intercept
the fugitives, the others would possess every advantage--both position
for defense, and horses on which to escape. Hughes, lighting his pipe,
confident now in his own mind that he was personally safe, seemed to
sense the problem troubling the Sergeant.

"I reckon I know this yere kintry well 'nough," he said lazily, "ter
give yer a pointer er two. I 've rounded up long-horns west o' yere.
Them fellers ain't goin' to strike out fer the Canadian till after the
storm quits. By thet time yer ponies is rested up in better shape than
theirs will be, and we kin strike 'cross to the sou'west. We 're bound
either to hit 'em, or ride 'cross thar trail."

"But the woman!" protested Hamlin, striding across the floor. "What
may happen to her in the meanwhile? She is an Eastern girl,
unaccustomed to this life,--a--a lady."

"Yer don't need worry none 'bout thet. Ef she 's the right kind she
'll stan' more 'n a man when she has to. I reckon it won't be none too
pleasant 'long with Gene an' them Cheyenne bucks, but if she 's pulled
through so far, thar ain't nuthin' special goin' ter happen till they
git to the Injun camp."

"You mean her fate will be decided in council?"

"Sure; thet's Cheyenne law. Le Fevre knows it, an' ol' Koleta would
knife him in a minute if he got gay. He's a devil all right--thet ol'
buck--but he 's afraid of Black Kettle, an' thar won't be no harm done
to the gal."

The Sergeant walked over to the fire, and stared down into the red
embers, striving to control himself. He realized the truth of all
Hughes said, and yet had to fight fiercely his inclination to hasten to
her rescue. The very thought of her alone in those ruthless hands was
torture. There was no se