rched the glade, and the forest
round about it, and the trails leading to it.

"Not a sign," said the Superintendent emphatically, "and for the first
time in my experience Pinault is wrong--the very first time. He was dead
sure."

"Pinault--generally right, sir," observed the Sergeant.

"Always."

"Exactly so. But this time--"

"He's been fooled," declared the Superintendent. "A big sun dance was
planned for this identical spot. They were all to be here, every tribe
represented, the Stonies even had been drawn into it, some of the young
bloods I suppose. And, more than that, the Sioux from across the line."

"The Sioux, eh?" said the Sergeant. "I didn't know the Sioux were in
this."

"Ah, perhaps not, but I have information that the Sioux--in fact--" here
the Superintendent dropped his voice and unconsciously glanced about
him, "the Sioux are very much in this, and old Copperhead himself is the
moving spirit of the whole business."

"Copperhead!" exclaimed the Sergeant in an equally subdued tone.

"Yes, sir, that old devil is taking a hand in the game. My information
was that he was to have been here to-day, and, by the Lord Harry! if
he had been we would have put him where the dogs wouldn't bite him. The
thing is growing serious."

"Serious!" exclaimed the Sergeant in unwonted excitement. "You
just bet--that is exactly so, sir. Why the Sioux must be good for a
thousand."

"A thousand!" exclaimed the Superintendent. "I've the most positive
information that the Sioux could place in the war path two thousand
fighting-men inside of a month. And old Copperhead is at the bottom
of it all. We want that old snake, and we want him badly." And the
Superintendent swung on to his horse and set off on the return trip.

"Well, sir, we generally get what we want in that way," volunteered the
Sergeant, following his chief.

"We do--in the long run. But in this same old Copperhead we have the
acutest Indian brain in all the western country. Sitting Bull was a
fighter, Copperhead is a schemer."

They rode in silence, the Sergeant busy with a dozen schemes whereby
he might lay old Copperhead by the heels; the Superintendent planning
likewise. But in the Superintendent's plans the Sergeant had no place.
The capture of the great Sioux schemer must be entrusted to a cooler
head than that of the impulsive, daring, loyal-hearted Sergeant.

CHAPTER II

HIS COUNTRY'S NEED

For full five miles they rode in unbroken s