et his death?" asked the parson.

"It was on the third night. We hadn't seen a thing of the Indians
since the noon halt and were hopeful they had given up the hunt for
us. We hadn't eaten a mouthful for twenty-four hours and were hungry
enough to chew our boots. Ike found a place among the rocks, where a
camp fire couldn't be seen for more than a few rods and started a
blaze. The lieutenant had brought down an antelope, and if we could
get a chance to cook the steak, we were sure of the right kind of a
meal. Well, we broiled enough to give each all he wanted. Ike leaned
back with a pleasant smile on his face and remarked that it was worth
all the risk to get such a feast, when I caught the flicker of
something like the dart of a small bird between him and me. Before I
could make out what it was, Ike gave a groan, and rolling over
backward, never spoke or stirred. I saw the feathered end of an arrow
sticking up above his breast. The head had gone clean through him and
it must have split his heart in two."

"But was neither you or the lieutenant harmed?"

"That is the remarkable part of it. The lieutenant saw the arrow
before I did and warned me. We darted back in the darkness with our
guns ready, but saw and heard nothing more of the Indians. What was
remarkable about it was that only the single arrow should have been
launched at Ike."

"It looks as if there was but the single Injin," suggested Bidwell.

"That is the way we interpreted it."

"And that was the end of your troubles with the Indians?"

"Not quite, but they bothered us only once more and then they managed
to get us into a corner, where it would have been the last of me had
it not been for the lieutenant and Timon. I tell you----"

The captain stopped short and smiled. He had seen the protesting
expression on the face of the young officer, and said:

"We'll keep that story till some time when he isn't present. But there
is another fact which I observed. There are more white men in the
mountains than ever before and the numbers will increase. The close of
the war has released nearly a million soldiers, who must make a living
somehow. Some will come westward. You have preserved this place as an
exclusive residence for yourselves, but you won't be able to do it
much longer."

All saw the truth of these words, and knew trouble would inevitably
follow the mingling of uncongenial spirits, but they concluded it
would be time enough to meet it when it cam