until about three hours before
dawn; when, mounting our steeds, we rode forward under the guidance of
old Folkard, expecting at daybreak to reach the spot where the locket
had been found. We agreed to breakfast there, and then to follow up the
trail as soon as there was sufficient light to see it.

We carried out our plan, and the rising sun saw us pushing eagerly
forward, the trail being sufficiently marked to enable the practical
eyes of our guides to detect it.

To our surprise, instead of keeping to the right, as both old Folkard
and Long Sam expected, it turned suddenly to the left, in the direction
the main body had taken.

"There's a reason for this," observed Folkard, after we had ridden some
way. "See, there was a message sent by the head chief to Black Eagle.
Look, there is the trail of his horse, but whether the young chief
joined the main body we shall know by and by."

This information was a great disappointment, as it would render our
enterprise far more difficult, for we should now have the whole tribe to
deal with instead of a small party as we expected.

We were not to be deterred, however, and rode forward as rapidly as the
necessary examination of the trail would allow. At last we had to halt
and rest our horses, but we refrained from lighting a fire and ate our
provisions cold.

As soon as possible we again pushed forward, but darkness coming on we
had again to camp. Of course we did not light a fire, lest, should our
enemies be in the neighbourhood, they might discover us.

Our faithful attendants kept watch, insisting that Story and I should
lie down and take the rest we so greatly needed.

Next morning, instead of riding on together, Long Sam undertook to scout
in advance, that we might not come suddenly upon the enemy, who it was
believed could not be far ahead. We were passing round a wood when
presently we heard a shout, and directly afterwards caught sight of Long
Sam galloping towards us followed by an Indian--evidently a chief, from
his war plumes and gaily bedecked shield,--but as we got nearer we saw
that a rope was round the Indian's body, and that he was attempting to
free himself from it. He was on the point of drawing his knife when, by
a sudden jerk, Long Sam brought him to the ground.

Folkard and Pierre, throwing themselves from their horses, rushed
forward to seize him before he had regained his feet. Pierre, with his
knife in his hand, was about to plunge it into