rturn all the calculations of the abductors.

But this task was tenfold more delicate than would seem at first, for
not only had the cowman to learn the whereabouts of the Sioux, but he
must do it undetected and dog the fellow without discovery on his part.
When it is remembered that Motoza would be on the alert against this,
one is almost ready to declare the cowman had attempted an impossible
thing.

When he left his young friend, however, it was with the firm purpose of
doing, or rather trying to push through this purpose. Within a hundred
yards of the point where he left Jack the guide had a glimpse of what
may be called the shadow of a movement. Something flickered among the
rocks a short distance ahead and then vanished before he could identify
it.

But he knew what it meant. Some one was watching him. If the watcher was
not Motoza or Tozer, he was an ally of theirs. He was holding the cowman
under surveillance, ready to report or shoot on the first proof of his
real purpose. The truth flashed upon Hank, and pausing in his walk,
without any evidence of what he had discovered, he began a hasty
examination of his pockets after the manner of a man who suddenly misses
some prized article that he believed to be in his garments.

The little farce was cleverly acted. Each receptacle was examined
several times, some of the pockets being turned wrong side out, while
the face of the cowman, or rather his eyes, betrayed his excitement.
Then he looked at the ground in front and at the rear, apparently to
learn whether he had dropped the missing treasure. Failing to find it,
he uttered an angry exclamation and walked hurriedly back to his
companion. No one observing the performance would have doubted its
meaning.

"I'm going to stay a while with you," he remarked, seating himself upon
the ground and lighting his pipe.

"It was a sudden change of mind," replied Jack, glad to have his
company.

"Yes; a redskin helped me to make it," and he explained the nature of
his discovery. Inasmuch as the guide had turned back because of the
same, it was easy to understand what his original intention was; for had
it not existed, why should the cowman care if he was kept under
surveillance? He would not be betraying himself any more during an
innocent walk and hunt through the mountains than by sitting on the
ground and smoking his pipe.

The result to a certain extent was a disappointment to Jack himself, for
he had quietly resol