ountry
where from the grassy sward the big Douglas firs, trimmed clear of lower
growth and standing spaced apart, lifted on red and glistening trunks
their lofty crowns of tufted evergreen far above the lesser trees.

As they approached the open country the Superintendent proceeded with
greater caution, pausing now and then to listen.

"There ought to be a big powwow going on somewhere near," he said to his
Sergeant, "but I can hear nothing. Can you?"

The Sergeant leaned over his horse's ears.

"No, sir, not a sound."

"And yet it can't be far away," growled the Superintendent.

The trail led through the big firs and dipped into a little grassy
valley set round with thickets on every side. Into this open glade they
rode. The Superintendent was plainly disturbed and irritated; irritated
because surprised and puzzled. Where he had expected to find a big
Indian powwow he found only a quiet sunny glade in the midst of a silent
forest. Sergeant Ferry waited behind him in respectful silence, too wise
to offer any observation upon the situation. Hence in the Superintendent
grew a deeper irritation.

"Well, I'll be--!" He paused abruptly. The Superintendent rarely used
profanity. He reserved this form of emphasis for supreme moments. He was
possessed of a dramatic temperament and appreciated at its full value
the effect of a climax. The climax had not yet arrived, hence his
self-control.

"Exactly so," said the Sergeant, determined to be agreeable.

"What's that?"

"They don't seem to be here, sir," replied the Sergeant, staring up into
the trees.

"Where?" cried the Superintendent, following the direction of the
Sergeant's eyes. "Do you suppose they're a lot of confounded monkeys?"

"Exactly--that is--no, sir, not at all, sir. But--"

"They were to have been here," said the Superintendent angrily. "My
information was most positive and trustworthy."

"Exactly so, sir," replied the Sergeant. "But they haven't been here at
all!" The Superintendent impatiently glared at the Sergeant, as if he
were somehow responsible for this inexplicable failure upon the part of
the Indians.

"Exactly--that is--no, sir. No sign. Not a sign." The Sergeant was most
emphatic.

"Well, then, where in--where--?" The Superintendent felt himself rapidly
approaching an emotional climax and took himself back with a jerk.
"Well," he continued, with obvious self-control, "let's look about a
bit."

With keen and practised eyes they sea