the manner
in which I had been carried off on the long-talked-of buffalo-hunt.
Whereupon Will gave way to one of his rare fits of passion. The scouting
trip had been long and arduous, he was tired and hungry, but also keenly
anxious for our safety. He knew what we were ignorant of--that should
we come clear of the not insignificant dangers attendant upon a
buffalo-hunt, there remained the possibility of capture by Indians.

"I must go after them at once," said he; and off he went, without
thought of rest or food. He did take time, however, to visit the
officers' quarters and pour a vial of wrath upon the bewildered head of
the inferior who occupied the place of the absent commandant.

"Didn't you know," cried Will, "that my continued absence meant danger
in the air? Fine idea, to let a party of ladies go beyond the fort on
such a foolhardy expedition before I had assured you it was safe to
do so! Understand, if any harm comes to my sisters, I'll hold the
government responsible!"

With which tremendous threat he mounted the swiftest horse in camp and
rode away before the astonished officer had recovered from his surprise.

He was able to track us over the sand-hills, and reached us, in accepted
hero fashion, in the very nick of time. The maddened bull buffalo was
charging on May, unchecked by a peppering fire from the guns of the
officers. All hands were so absorbed by the intense excitement of the
moment that the sound of approaching hoof-beats was unnoted. But I
heard, from behind us, the crack of a rifle, and saw the buffalo fall
dead almost at our feet.

The ill-humor of our rescuer dampened the ardor of the welcome we gave
him. The long ride on an empty stomach had not smoothed a ripple of his
ruffled temper, and we were all properly lectured. We were ordered back
to the fort at once, and the command was of such a nature that no one
thought of disputing it. The only question was, whether we could make
the fort before being cut off by Indians. There was no time to be
wasted, even in cutting meat from the tongue of the fallen buffalo. Will
showed us the shortest cut for home, and himself zigzagged ahead of us,
on the watch for a danger signal.

For my part, I was so worn out that I would as soon be captured by
Indians, if they would agree to provide me with a wigwam wherein I might
lie down and rest; but no Indians appeared. Five miles from the fort was
the ranch of a wealthy bachelor, and at May's request a ha