eaving the air
so still that, to the watchers among the trees, sounds from Brannon
mingled distinctly with the near laughter and talk of Shanty Town. No
moon rose. Only a few stars burned their faint way through the quickly
hidden rents of the sheltering cloud-covering that, knitting here,
breaking there, again, overlapping in soft folds before an urgent sky
breeze, swagged low above the ground.

With darkness, the two left the grove for the ledge upon which was
Shanty Town, and stationed themselves where they could still see whoever
went in or out of The Trooper's Delight. Matthews did not appear.
Numerous men in uniform did. They made noisy exits, and went brawling
along to other shanties; they skulked out of the willows, flitted across
the bit of snow-crusted beach below the saloons, and scrambled up to
hurry in.

When two hours or more had gone by, the storekeeper grew impatient. He
walked back and halted in the inky shadow of the wall down which Nick
Matthews had tobogganed. From there, he pointed to a shaft of light
that was falling upon the north side of the second shanty in the street.
It was from an uncurtained, south opening in the first.

"You see that?" asked Lounsbury. "Well, I'm going over there to look in.
How do we know he hasn't given us the slip, someway?"

"Let's be careful," said the lieutenant. "A proper amount of caution
isn't cowardice. If you're seen, the whole pack'll set on you."

"I _will_ be careful, but I'm not going to----"

"That's all very nice, only you must consider the stripe of man you're
dealing with----"

"I can roll a gun, Fraser."

"But, Jupiter! This chap isn't going to fight you in the open. He'll use
Indian tactics--fact is, he was raised among 'em."

"_What's that?_" asked Lounsbury.

"Raised among 'em, I said--with the Sioux."

"Speaks the tongue, then?" For some reason, the storekeeper seemed
strangely agitated.

"Why, yes."

At that, Lounsbury was off, making straight for the entrance of the
building they had been watching.

Fraser went tearing after, and not far from the door managed to stop
him.

"For Heaven's sake!" he gasped. "What's struck you?"

"Fraser," said Lounsbury, "did you hear that the Colonel wanted an
interpreter?"

"Why--why--great Scott!"

"Exactly--great Scott!" The storekeeper set off again.

"Hold on." Fraser caught his arm. "Your scheme's all right, but you
can't impress the man. He's got to go of his own accord."

"Hm! that