that he had been quite near the end of
all his bright, hopeful aspirations. The chase after him had been so
savage that he had no faith in being made a well-treated prisoner. The
Indians had been too ready and too fierce in their onslaught to show
mercy, and there was a sickening feeling at his heart respecting what
might have happened during his long absence. Perhaps they had attacked
his friends directly after reaching the valley, and if so they had
probably received such a lesson as explained their savage demonstration
upon seeing him.

"It will all be made clear," thought the boy, "as soon as the day
comes." But all the same he did not feel at all confident about what he
asserted, neither did he feel at all happy about himself.

"How am I to get back to the valley?" he said. "I suppose it would be
easy enough to go down that steep slope into the gulch, but I should be
sure to find some of the savages waiting for me there, and even if there
were none I don't suppose they all came after me. There were sure to be
some left in their camp.

"What can I do?" he muttered. "There is no other way into the valley,
and what can I do alone?"

He had seated himself in the darkness to watch the stars slowly seeming
to pass from east to west, and as he said half-aloud those words about
being alone he slowly fingered the revolver-holster on one side of his
belt and the hunting-knife in its sheath, which done, he pulled at the
strap which slung his rifle, and getting it round to the front he rested
it upon his knees, and began mechanically to examine the breech as if to
make sure that he had cartridges in each barrel.

They were there safe enough, and he closed the breech and was about to
drag the piece into its regular place again; but something struck him
which made him get the rifle back into position, re-open the breech, and
take out one of the cartridges, before opening his pouch and exchanging
it for another.

A curious sensation ran through the boy's frame as he did this. He felt
uncomfortable and as if he were about to do some wrong thing, for the
cartridge he withdrew was filled with number six shot such as he would
use for killing small birds that they could use for their meals, while
the one he inserted in its place contained a long conical bullet, and he
knew he was not putting that ready in case he should encounter a bear.

He would not own it to himself--he dreaded to think about it--but all
the while h