ealized that he would have to be
left behind when the storm abated. Hughes would go without doubt; on
this point the Sergeant was determined. He did not altogether like or
trust the man; he could not blot from memory the cowardly shot which
had killed Wasson, nor entirely rid himself of a fear that he, himself,
had failed an old comrade, in not revenging his death; yet one thing
was clear--the man's hatred for Le Fevre made him valuable.
Treacherous as he might be by nature, now his whole soul was bent on
revenge. Moreover he knew the lay of the land, the trail the fugitives
would follow, and to some extent Black Kettle's camp. Little by little
Hamlin drew from him every detail of Le Fevre's life in the cattle
country, becoming more and more convinced that both men were thieves,
their herds largely stolen through connivance with Indians.
Undoubtedly Le Fevre was the bigger rascal of the two, and possessed
greater influence because of his marriage into the tribe.

It was the second midnight when the wind died down. Hamlin, sleeping
fitfully, seemed to sense the change; he rose, forced the door open,
and peered out eagerly. There was lightness to the sky, and all about,
the unbroken expanse of snow sparkled in cold crystals. Nothing broke
the white desolation but the dark waters of the river still unfrozen,
and the gaunt limbs of the cottonwoods, now standing naked and
motionless. The silence was profound, seeming almost painful after the
wild fury of the past days. He could hear the soft purr of the water,
and Carroll's heavy breathing. And it was cold, bitterly cold, the
chill of it penetrating to his very bones. But for that he had no
care--his mind had absorbed the one important fact; the way was open,
they could go. He shook Hughes roughly into wakefulness, giving
utterance to sharp, tense orders, as though he dealt with a man of his
own troop.

"Turn out--lively, now. Yes, the storm is over. It's midnight, or a
little after, and growing cold. Put on your heavy stuff, and bring up
the two best horses. Come, now; you 'll step off quicker than that,
Hughes, if you ride with me. I 'll have everything ready by the time
you get here. Eat! Hell! We 'll eat in the saddle! What's that,
Carroll?'

"Ye ain't a-goin' to leave me yere alone, are ye, Sergeant?"

"No; there 'll be two horses to keep you company. You've got a snap,
man; plenty to eat, and a good fire--what more do you want--a nurse?
Hughe