hen veered
round to the south. It told of fugitives and, for a time, of pursuers.
Ten minutes after the first discovery, down in the sandy bottom and
close to the stream, the officers caught sight of a brace of prairie
wolves, skulking away from the timber, among the branches of which some
grewsome birds were flapping and fluttering, while two or three sailed
slowly overhead. Presently the riders came in view of a little
scooped-out shelter where the sand was all torn by hoofs, and herein
lay the poor remains that served as confirmation of the driver's
story--all that was left, as was soon determined, of poor Gamble, one
of the most feared and fearless men of the Western frontier.

Shot twice, and from behind, he had managed to gallop a few hundred
yards up-stream, and then, weak from loss of blood, had toppled out of
saddle, crawled to this hollow, and presently died. Half a mile farther
down-stream the camp site was found, hoof and moccasin tracks in
myriads about it, camp-kettles and debris still scattered around, empty
cans, sacks, and boxes flung at the edge of the stream. Here,
evidently, the traders had spent two or three days, and here, there,
and everywhere were fragments of pasteboard cartridge-cases. A thriving
industry, this, until suddenly swooped upon by Gamble, who paid for his
discovery with his life. Here, then, was closed one chapter of the
hunters' tale. But what had become of their partner? What had broken up
their camp and driven them, terror-stricken, from the reservation?

Not until the dawning of another day was this fully determined.
Meanwhile there came new complications--a strange and stirring
adventure of their own.

Finding fair grass on the "bench" a few rods farther down the stream,
Geordie had chosen a site for the bivouac, and disposed his little
force for the night. While there had been as yet no overt act of
hostility on the part of the Sioux, and while all the Indians taking
part in the affair of the morning had now, apparently, ridden off to
join the renegade band, and were presumably far to the northwest, no
chances could be taken. The horses, after two hours' grazing, were led
into the timber and hoppled. The sentries were posted well out. The
little camp-fires had been screened under the bank, and full half the
command had rolled in their blankets and settled to sleep. When the
moon came peering up over the distant eastward heights, Geordie and
Connell, chatting in low tones un