em. There might be dozens of them off there beyond the Chug at this
moment, and I not be able to see hair or hide of 'em."

Almost half way to Phillips's, and still all is quiet. Then he notes
that far ahead the low ridge, a few hundred yards to his left, sweeps
round nearly to the trail, and dips into the general level of the
prairie within short pistol-shot of the path along which he is riding.
He is yet fully three-quarters of a mile from the place where the ridge
so nearly meets the trail, but it is plainly visible now in the silvery
moonlight.

"If they should have come down, and should be all ranged behind that
ridge now, 'twould be a fearful scrape for this poor little mite," he
thinks, and then, soldier-like, sets himself to considering what his
course should be if the enemy were suddenly to burst upon him from
behind that very curtain.

"Turn and run for it, of course!" he mutters. "Unless they should cut me
off, which they couldn't do unless some of 'em were far back along
behind the ridge. Hullo! A shadow on the trail! Coming this way. A
horseman. That's good! They've sent out a man to meet me."

The sound of iron-shod hoofs that came faintly across the wide distance
from the galloping shadow carried to the sergeant's practised ear the
assurance that the advancing horseman was not an Indian. After the
suspense of that lonely and silent ride, in the midst of unknown
dangers, Wells felt a deep sense of relief.

"The road is clear between here and Phillips's, that's certain," he
thought. "I'll take Jessie on to the station, and then go back to
Farron's. I wonder what news that horseman brings, that he rides so
hard."

Still on came the horseman. All was quiet, and it seemed that in five
minutes more he would have the news the stranger was bringing,--of
safety, he hoped. Jessie, at any rate, should not be frightened unless
danger came actually upon them. He quickened his horse's gait, and
looked smilingly down into Jessie's face.

"It's all right, little one! Somebody is coming up the trail from
Phillips's, so everything must be safe," he told her.

Then came a cruel awakening. Quick, sudden, thrilling, there burst upon
the night a mad chorus of shouts and shots and the accompaniment of
thundering hoofs. Out from the sheltering ridge by dozens, gleaming,
flashing through the moonlight, he saw the warriors sweep down upon the
hapless stranger far in front.

He reined instantly his snorting and affrighte