d woodcraft of
which the cowman was master would be needed in the delicate task he had
assigned to himself.

"Younker," he said, when the conversation had continued a while longer,
"after thinking over this bus'ness, I've made up my mind it's better we
should keep apart fur the day."

"Follow your own judgment. I shall try to be back this evening."

"To-morrer morning will be time 'nough. I had my supper last night not
fur from here, and if the wild animals haven't visited the spot since,
we shall find 'nough to make a square meal."

This was acceptable news, and the result all that could be desired. Hank
had cooked a considerable quantity of venison at a romantic place among
the rocks, his first intention being to carry enough of it to
headquarters to supply his young friends with what they needed.
Afterward he changed his mind and decided that it was time they learned
to provide for themselves. Upon making his way to the spot he found
everything as it had been left the previous evening, and thus much more
readily than Jack had dared to expect he secured the needed food.

"Right here we part," said Hank at the conclusion of the meal.

"How am I to spend the time?"

"As your fancy strikes you. As I told you, it will be soon 'nough fur
you to git back to camp to-morrer morning, but you must keep your eyes
open. It may be that Tozer, having larned that your father is the man he
meant to bleed, will try to make a prisoner of you."

Jack Dudley's eyes flashed.

"Let him try it! I should like to be in Fred's company."

"Mebbe you wouldn't be so well suited as you think, but look out fur
snares in your path--that's all I've got to say. I'm off."

It was characteristic of the cowman to take his departure in this abrupt
manner, his intention being to undertake without delay the difficult
task he had set out for himself, but five minutes later he gave over his
purpose, and, to the surprise of Jack Dudley, came back to him.

In doing this, Hazletine was wise. His purpose, as already intimated,
was to discover if possible Motoza and Tozer, but especially the former.
There was little doubt that the Sioux would communicate with his
prisoner during the day, or, if Fred Greenwood was not among the living,
his unrelenting enemy was likely to give some evidence of where his
taking off had occurred. Hazletine's belief, therefore, was that by
shadowing the Sioux he had a good chance of securing the information
that would ove