HAPTER IV.

AS THE LIEUTENANT AND I ARE STARTING, WE HEAR THAT KLITZ AND
BARNEY HAVE GONE OFF WITH A WHEELBARROW FOR CALIFORNIA--A
PLEASANT BIVOUAC--AT LAST WE CATCH SIGHT OF THE DESERTERS--THE
LIEUTENANT IS ABOUT TO RIDE AFTER THEM, WHEN A PARTY OF INDIANS
APPEAR--THE INDIANS TAKE TO FLIGHT, AND WE LOSE SIGHT OF THE
RUNAWAYS--FORM OUR CAMP--DISCOVER THAT WE ARE WATCHED--FOLLOW
THE SPY, WHO PROVES TO BE MAYSOTTA--FIND THE DESERTERS TAKING
THEIR EASE--WE CAPTURE THEM, AND, GUIDED BY MAYSOTTA, TAKE THEM
TO THE INDIAN CAMP--RESOLVE TO RETURN TO THE FARM.

The lieutenant and I had arranged to start at daybreak, on horseback,
with a couple of baggage mules carrying provisions and camp utensils.
Clarice was up to give us our breakfast, and I heard the lieutenant tell
her how much he hoped to meet her again.

"Not very likely, in this wild region," she answered with perfect
composure, although a slight blush came to her cheek as she spoke.

The lieutenant having given directions to Pat to remain and do his
duty,--charging him not to get drunk again, and to come on with the
sergeant as soon as he was able to travel,--we were on the point of
mounting our horses, when Bartle came up.

"I thought that I should get something out of our fellows," he said. "Of
all the strange things I have ever heard of people doing, the strangest
is what your two troopers are attempting. It seems that the Dutchman and
the Irish chap have taken possession of one of our wheelbarrows and a
couple of pick-axes and spades, with such other things as they had a
fancy for, and have gone off, expecting to make their way to California,
where, it is said, gold can be had to any amount by digging for it."

"The rascals!" exclaimed the lieutenant; "they will not get there in a
hurry, and we shall probably come up with them before long."

"They have had a good many days' start of you," observed Bartle, "and if
they have kept on going, they must be some distance on their road by
this time."

"Then we must push on all the faster," said the lieutenant. "I should
like to catch the fellows before the Indians take their scalps;
although, when we have got them, it will be difficult to know what to do
with them, as they will delay me while they move slowly along on foot."

"Send them back to us; we will soon show them how to use their picks and
spades," said Bartle.

After the usual hand-shaking at parting, and th