doubt that Barrows, by virtue of his position, was
capable of being a very dangerous foe, especially in this part of the
country where the boys were virtually alone, and where they had no
friends, and were compelled to rely absolutely upon themselves.

That their doings were probably known to Barrows by means of a system of
espionage conducted by Woofer, who, Ted now recalled, was in the habit
of leaving the camp for long, solitary rides at intervals. What could be
easier than when Woofer heard them talking about their plans to ride out
and meet a courier sent by Barrows to get the information?

Ted resolved not only to fight Barrows with his own weapons, and to a
finish, but to interfere with his plans to get the gold in the mine to
which Singing Bird only could guide them.

It was necessary, therefore, to guard the Indian girl closely, and this
he proposed to do, and when he had rid the camp of Woofer, and scoured
the country for Barrows' spies and sent them off, he would proceed to
the mine.

As it was, they were headed in the direction of the Missouri River, and
it would not be at all out of their way, or interfere with their
business.

Woofer was sitting with the boys around the camp fire, regaling them
with stories of cow-punching in various parts of the country, and making
of himself a most agreeable companion, and Ted, watching him carefully,
could see nothing guilty or suspicious about him.

But that didn't prevent him from keeping his eyes open.

Gradually the camp settled down for the night.

Stella went to bed after she had peeped into the tent occupied by
Singing Bird, and satisfied herself that she was sleeping quietly and
safely.

One by one the boys rolled themselves in their blankets beside the fire,
and dropped into deep slumber.

Woofer had said good night among the first, saying that he was very
tired, and would "crawl into the wool," as he expressed it.

Only the night guard was awake, as they rode around and around the
sleeping herd, their voices breaking out softly into song as a restless
steer arose and sniffed the air and began to walk around.

Ted was lying in his blankets, breathing softly and deeply, evidently
sound asleep.

Overhead the stars sparkled brightly, casting a radiance upon the earth
that made things several feet distant perfectly observable.

Woofer's blankets had been spread at the edge of the circle farthest
from the fire. Ted also slept on the outer rim, and n