they can travel. I hope none of them Injins that we
had the row with will be pokin' 'round to-night, for if there's to be
any trouble, it'll come from them."

It will be recalled that the story of Adams was received with such
coolness that he indignantly resigned and told the captain to run
matters himself.

"And he'll make purty work of it," chortled Vose "he won't be able to
come within miles of where they are hidin'."

When the moody silence had lasted for some time, the guide was moved
to remark in a more conciliatory spirit:

"There's one thing that mustn't be forgot: Colonel Briggs and his
folks won't make any trouble, but we're not done with them Injins."

"Isn't there likelihood that Colonel Briggs will divert them?" asked
the parson.

"No; for the redskins can't be fooled; they'll know it wasn't any of
the colonel's folks that give their chief his walkin' papers, but us,
and they're the sort of people that don't forget a thing of that
kind."

"I was thinking of hunting up enough wood to start a fire," said the
captain; "but we don't need it, and I suppose it will be safer without
it."

"It seems to me," observed Ruggles, "that what we've got the most to
fear is that the Injins will run off with our animals: we would be
left in a bad fix."

"We must look out for that; I'll stand guard the first part of the
night."

Each was ready to take his turn, and it was arranged that Captain
Dawson should act as sentinel until midnight, when he would awake Vose
Adams, who would assume the duty till morning. Soon afterward, the
three wrapped themselves in their blankets and stretched out on the
ground, near the boulders, where they speedily sank into deep
slumber.

It seemed to Adams that he had slept less than an hour, when the
captain touched him. Rising immediately to a sitting position, he
asked:

"Is it midnight?"

"It's a half hour past."

"Why didn't you awake me afore? Have you seen anything wrong?"

"I am not sure; my doubt made me hold on a little longer, but I
learned nothing of account."

"What was it anyway?"

"It is only that the animals appear to be uneasy, but it may mean
nothing, or it may mean a good deal."

"It's more'n likely it means something. Where are they?"

"Lying down off there to the right, almost near enough to be seen."

"They can't be too close; wal, you can sleep and I'll take my turn."

Thus warned by Captain Dawson, Vose Adams assumed the duties of
sentinel wit