id too
much, and he stalked off, warning a guard to be careful and not let the
captain escape.

When left to himself, Captain Moore's reflections were very bitter.

"If the redskins are out in force they'll probably fall in with Benson
and the boys," he told himself. "And if they do there will surely be
trouble. Benson won't allow them to take him alive, and that will mean a
good deal of shooting all around."

He listened attentively for shots in the distance, but none came, and
this caused him to be more perplexed than ever.

Just before daybreak several additional Indians came in, and the young
officer and the soldiers were told to march. Their feet were unfastened,
but their hands were not, and they were forced to move with the red men
on all sides of them, and each of the enemy fully armed and ready to
shoot them down at the first show of resistance or escape.

From one of the privates Captain Moore learned that Lieutenant Carrol
and the other soldiers had escaped, but what had become of them nobody
knew.

The little body of whites and Indians marched over a mountain trail for
fully four hours. The step was a lively one, and when the party came to
a halt even the soldiers used to a hard march were tired out.

"Those redskins can walk the legs off of anything I know of," was the
way one old soldier expressed himself. "They are like some of these wiry
mustangs who don't know the meaning of rest."

"This region is strange to me, Peck. Do you recognize it?"

"I do, Captain Moore. Yonder is Henebeck Fall, and this trail leads to
Silver Gulch."

"Then we are about six miles from nowhere in particular."

"You've struck it, captain. Why they brought us to such a forsaken spot
is more than I can guess--unless they are going to shoot us down like
dogs and leave us for the wolves to feed on. The wolves are thick around
here, so Leeson told me."

"I don't believe they'll shoot us down. They are not desperate enough
yet. But they may do it, if they attack the fort and lose heavily. That
will open their eyes, and make them as mad as hornets."

A little later Silver Gulch, a wide opening in the rocks of the
mountain, was gained, and here the soldiers were again made fast to
several trees. Then the Indians prepared their midday meal. They took
their time about eating, and did not offer the white men anything until
they had finished.

"They don't intend to treat us any too good," was Peck's comment.
"Captain, can't