owed.

On reaching this camp-ground there were evidences of the recent presence
of strangers. Moreover, these strangers were not travelling in any
secret way, since they had taken no pains to conceal their tracks, and
the ashes of trampled-out fires were still warm.

Mackintosh carefully examined the surroundings, and came to the
decision, from certain signs, that it had been an Indian camp.

"To my mind the best thing for us to do is to rest here for an hour or
two," the man said.

"I shan't be sorry," said Bob. "We pressed on rather rapidly, and, to
tell you the truth, I'm rather fagged."

"But what of the others--your father and mine?" questioned Alf. "They
may need help----"

"Not yet," Mackintosh interrupted. "It's no' possible for them to reach
Flood Creek before morning, and the--the ceremony must take place at
moonlight. Oh yes, I ken fine how you are both feeling. You're wanting
to be off until you break down with weariness. But that's no' the way to
do things in the backwoods. Work until you are out-and-out weary, then
rest, and you'll be able to work again. But to keep on slaving till
you're worked out--that's nothing but a gowk's game, and can bring no
good."

"I suppose you are right," said Holden slowly.

"Of course I am. Don't you fear, laddie. I'll no' be too late. I know
the ways o' the Indian, and I know the Dacotahs. Depend upon it, your
faithers are being kindly treated, as best the redskins know how to
treat friends. The Dacotahs are firm in their superstition, but they're
kindly folk all the same."

So the boys resigned themselves to the ruling of their guide, though it
was irksome to be idle when each was longing to be up and doing. And now
that they were so near to the achievement of their quest, it was even
more galling to be inactive than it had been when there was distance as
an excuse.

It was a dreary place. The valley was deep, and there was a river-bed
where once--before the memory of living man--water had flowed in a swift
and wide flood, but where now there was nothing but dust. Not a tree was
within sight. There was hardly any grass. Only a few cacti appeared to
thrive on the barren soil. The rest was rocks, sand, and bordering
precipices.

The boys shuddered as they looked around.

"It's a terrible spot," Bob commented, as he viewed the dreary scene.
"It feels like being in prison."

"There's a well with the finest of cool water about six feet away," was
Mackintosh's