dey
turn de horses loose, and our two mustangs come dis way."

"The red-skins don't think we are near them, that's very clear," I
answered. "We will try to recover our own horses, though I am afraid it
will be more difficult to get back our saddles and saddle-bags, or our
rifles. Our horses know us, and will come at our call, even though they
may be hobbled. If we can manage to get them, we must ride directly for
the fort. Now, Dio, it is possible that we may be separated, and if so,
I charge you to deliver the message I received from my father, to
entreat that the surgeon may be sent off immediately. If there is no
one else to accompany him, you must go, should I not have arrived. I
only say this in case of accident. We will do our best to keep
together, but still we may fail to do so. Do not suppose, however,
though I may not appear, that I am lost; I can picture a dozen events
occurring, which may prevent me from soon reaching the fort, though I
may do so at last. You understand me, Dio? Take care also not to alarm
the family, but repeat to them what I say to you. You will promise me?"

"Yes, Massa Mike," answered Dio, looking me earnestly in the face; "but
it break dis niggar's heart, if you nebber come home."

"Have no fears on that score," I answered, wishing to encourage him.
"If you manage to catch one of the horses and I should fail, I repeat
again, that it is of the greatest consequence that you should push on to
the fort; of course we may get there together, or you may lose your way,
or I may get there first. Do you understand my object?"

"Yes, yes, massa; an' I promise to try and get to de fort, and to take
de doctor to Missie Loraine," answered the faithful Black, in a
melancholy tone, showing that though ready to follow out my injunctions,
he grieved at the thoughts of being separated from me, when perhaps I
might be caught and killed by the Indians.

"But, Massa Mike, we try and keep togedder, won't we?" he added.

"Of course, Dio, both for your sake and my own, you may depend upon
that; I give you these instructions only on the chance of our being
separated."

Dio clambered inside, and closing the entrance, we sat down, with Boxer
at our feet, thus enjoying more warmth than we should otherwise have
done.

We passed the time in chewing pieces of the raw buffalo meat, which,
tough as it was, served to keep up our strength. Boxer came in for a
larger share than he would have obtained