wagons, which the sharp eye of the Little Giant
detected, a great mat filled with coffee, containing at least one
hundred pounds.

They could have discovered nothing that would have pleased them more,
since coffee was always precious to the frontiersman, and together they
uttered a shout of triumph. Then they divided it among their own sacks
and continued the search looking for more false bottoms. They were
rewarded in only a single instance and in that they found an excellent
pocket compass, which they assigned to Bent.

Their gleanings finished, they made camp and passed a peaceful night,
resuming the journey early the next morning. They would have buried the
bones of the slain, as they had spades and picks for mining work, but
they felt they should not linger, as they were now in country infested
by the Sioux and it was not well to remain long in one place. Hence,
they rode away under an early sun, and soon the memory of the slaughter
by the little stream faded from their minds. Events were too great and
pressing for them to dwell long upon anything detached from their own
lives.

On the second day afterward they curved back toward the south and struck
the great buffalo trail. But the herd, which did have an end after all,
had now passed, and they saw only stragglers. As the trail led into the
northwest and their own trail must be more nearly west, they crossed it
and did not stop until half the night had gone, as they knew the Indians
were most to be dreaded near the herd or in its path.

When they camped now Will could no longer see the White Dome, which had
followed them so long, watching over them like a great and majestic
friend. He missed that lofty white signal in the sky, feeling as if a
good omen had gone, and that the signs would not now be so favorable.
But the depression was only momentary. He had cultivated too strong and
courageous a will ever to allow himself to be depressed long.

At noon they were far from the hills and out on the open plains, which
spread swell on swell before them, seemingly to infinity, with only a
lone tree here and there, and at rare intervals a sluggish stream an
inch or two deep and dangerous with quicksands. The water of these
little creeks was not good, touched at times with alkali, but they made
the horses and mules drink it, saving the pure supply they carried for
a period of greater need.

Will used his glasses almost continually, watching for a possible enemy
or a