seem that his hoofs
should have given out sounds that could have been heard for a
considerable distance in the stillness of the night, but it was as if he
were treading on velvet. The noise was so faint that it was easy to
understand how he had come to the spot without betraying himself to the
intently listening sentinel. No wonder that the Indian ponies sometimes
display a sagacity fully equal, in some respects, to that of their
masters.

The Indian showed in another direction his perception of the situation.
Had he been leaving the presence of one of his own race, or of a veteran
white scout, he would have thrown himself forward on the back of his
animal and ridden off on a dead run, for, despite the unexpected mercy
shown him, he would have expected treachery at the last minute; but he
had seen his master and knew that he was a young tenderfoot, inspired by
a chivalrous honor which is the exception in that section of the
country. He would not shoot until good cause was given, and therefore he
took care not to give such cause.

As if in harmony with the spirit of his rider, the pony walked away in a
direct line, until the figure of himself and master disappeared in the
gloom. When he could see him no more, Jack lowered his gun, and stooping
down, pressed his ear against the earth. He could hear the soft
hoof-beats of the horse growing fainter and fainter, until at the end of
a minute or two the impressive silence once more held reign. Then the
youth arose to his feet.

"I suppose Hank will tell me I did wrong," he mused, "but my conscience
does not; it would be a woeful memory to carry with me that on my first
night in Wyoming I took the life of a human being. Perhaps it will be as
well that Hank should not know it; I will think it over."

Now, while Jack Dudley had conducted himself in some respects like a
veteran, yet he had shown a dangerous short-sightedness in another
direction. It will be noted that he had busied himself wholly with the
single intruder, and at the moment of losing sight of him the young man
was a comparatively long distance from the camp-fire. Had it been that
there were two or more hostiles stealing into camp, they could not have
asked a better opportunity, for it was left wholly unguarded. A single
warrior would have had no trouble in creeping undiscovered to a point
from which he could have sent a bullet through the unconscious forms of
Hank Hazletine and Fred Greenwood. This probability