ye.

A mile out to the east the trio halted for a moment on a low ridge and
looked down a gentle slope upon the camp. It was pitched where the
reservation road crossed a ravine, and at its center, beside a rivulet,
was a fire of buffalo-chips from which the smoke steadily arose. About
the fire, and before two tepees, sat a half-dozen braves, five in
government blankets, with their black mops bound back, the sixth in
flannel shirt, leather breeches tucked into high boots, and a broad felt
hat over his long hair. South of the fire, in the ravine, several
horses, closely hobbled, were cropping the new grass; and between them
and the tepees, lying half under a light road wagon, was an animal
stretched flat and covered with blankets.

"It's that horse," said the biggest brother. The Indian behind him
grunted and rode ahead down the slope, and, at his approach, the circle
about the camp-fire stood up.

As the face of the Indian wearing the wide hat was turned toward them,
the little girl gave a joyful cry and whipped her horse with her rope
reins. The army saddle and the monogrammed bridle were no longer a
mystery, the camp was no longer to be feared,--for the unblanketed brave
was the troop's scout from the reservation, the half-breed, Eagle Eye!

The next moment he was explaining how, returning from Sioux Falls, where
for a fortnight he had been winning admiration for his military
appearance, his feats on horseback, and his skill with the rifle, he had
fallen in with the party of Indians, which was coming back from a trip
beyond the Mississippi. After a long, hard ride together the day before,
they had been forced to go into camp in the ravine because the blue-roan
mare which one of them was driving had suddenly lain down and refused to
rise. And she had remained stretched out since, and was breathing deep
and painfully.

When the biggest brother rode over to where she lay, he saw at once
that she was sorely stricken with pneumonia, and that only prompt
attention would be of any use. Her great brown eyes were wide and
starting with agony, her delicate nostrils were distended and dry, and
her iron-gray sides were heaving.

"You've got to get her out o' here, Eagle Eye," said the biggest
brother, as he and the little girl leaned over the panting animal;
"she'll go in no time on this wet ground. Suppose we make a _travee_ and
haul her home."

The Indians received the offer, which Eagle Eye interpreted for them,
with m