s!"

Oliver started his troopers double-quick across the square. At the
hospital one of the stockade guard stopped them.

"The Indians?" croaked Oliver.

"Gone!"

The troopers took up the cry: "Gone! The Indians are gone!"

Oliver turned them back.

They met a second man, black-faced, staggering, frenzied with alarm. It
was Fraser. He caught at the captain's ragged sleeve.

"Shot--other side--they're over there--those girls!--those girls----"
His breath failed him.

Again mingled cries went up from the troopers: "The shack, boys!"
"They'll kill them girls!" "God!"

Oliver saw the need. "To the ferry," he commanded.

Like one man, they bounded headlong across the parade, through the red
smoke pouring from barracks and stables, and on--only to come short upon
a boatless landing, where they crowded upon each other and cursed.

Fraser was half-crazed. Oliver took him forcibly in hand. No man of them
all, even if not burdened with a gun, could stem the river's current.

"There's one chance yet," he said, "the night-herd." He turned to his
trumpeter. "Sound the recall, and _keep_ a-sounding it!"

Again and again, the familiar strain rang out. All looked northward to
where they knew the herd had been, to where the long curves of the
prairie-fire were still moving.

But the minutes went, and there was no answering beat of hoofs. Where
were the herders? Why did they not obey?

Again--again--and again!

Then, to the south, a reply! Above the spiteful crackling of the tindery
buildings, out of the thinning dark, came a clear, eager neigh!

That way the troopers rushed. Gathering at the flagstaff they saw, by
the light of the burning piles, a single horse come galloping toward
them from the direction of the stockade. Her dun neck was arched like a
charger's. As she swung proudly into an imaginary line, the men greeted
her with a cheer.

That greeting was echoed. Until now, the Indians had been quiet--as
quiet as a flock of scurrying grouse. But the river was between them and
their enemy, and they felt secure from pursuit. Moreover, whisky was
working. They were boisterous with it. Casting caution aside when they
heard that cheer, they answered with defiant whoops.

The cheers of the troopers changed to anguished groans. One, wildly
repeating a girl's name, sprang toward the waiting "Buckskin." From
headquarters came the sobbing of women, the whimpering of frightened
children. And then, nearer and nearer, a d