bordered the
creek, we rode across to the other side.

The rapid and foaming waters were filled with fish playing and splashing
in the shallows. As we gained the farther bank, our horses turned
eagerly to drink, and we, kneeling on the sand, followed their example.
We had not gone far before the scene began to grow familiar.

"We are getting near home, Raymond," said I.

There stood the Big Tree under which we had encamped so long; there were
the white cliffs that used to look down upon our tent when it stood
at the bend of the creek; there was the meadow in which our horses had
grazed for weeks, and a little farther on, the prairie-dog village
where I had beguiled many a languid hour in persecuting the unfortunate
inhabitants.

"We are going to catch it now," said Raymond, turning his broad, vacant
face up toward the sky.

In truth, the landscape, the cliffs and the meadow, the stream and the
groves were darkening fast. Black masses of cloud were swelling up in
the south, and the thunder was growling ominously.

"We will camp here," I said, pointing to a dense grove of trees lower
down the stream. Raymond and I turned toward it, but the Indian stopped
and called earnestly after us. When we demanded what was the matter, he
said that the ghosts of two warriors were always among those trees, and
that if we slept there, they would scream and throw stones at us all
night, and perhaps steal our horses before morning. Thinking it as well
to humor him, we left behind us the haunt of these extraordinary ghosts,
and passed on toward Chugwater, riding at full gallop, for the big drops
began to patter down. Soon we came in sight of the poplar saplings that
grew about the mouth of the little stream. We leaped to the ground,
threw off our saddles, turned our horses loose, and drawing our knives,
began to slash among the bushes to cut twigs and branches for making a
shelter against the rain. Bending down the taller saplings as they
grew, we piled the young shoots upon them; and thus made a convenient
penthouse, but all our labor was useless. The storm scarcely touched us.
Half a mile on our right the rain was pouring down like a cataract, and
the thunder roared over the prairie like a battery of cannon; while we
by good fortune received only a few heavy drops from the skirt of the
passing cloud. The weather cleared and the sun set gloriously. Sitting
close under our leafy canopy, we proceeded to discuss a substantial meal
of w