THE LAST OF THE CHIEFSA Story of the Great Sioux War

by Joseph A. Altsheler

Contents

I--The TrainII--King BisonIII--The PassIV--Treasure-TroveV--The Lost ValleyVI--Castle HowardVII--An Animal ProgressionVIII--The Trap MakersIX--The Timber WolvesX--Dick Goes ScoutingXI--The Terrible PursuitXII--The Fight with NatureXIII--Albert's VictoryXIV--PrisonersXV--The Indian VillageXVI--The Gathering of the SiouxXVII--Great Sun DanceXVIII--The Circle of DeathXIX--A Happy MeetingXX--Bright Sun's Good-by

Chapter IThe Train

The boy in the third wagon was suffering from exhaustion. Thedays and days of walking over the rolling prairie, under a brassysun, the hard food of the train, and the short hours of rest, hadput too severe a trial upon his delicate frame. Now, as he layagainst the sacks and boxes that had been drawn up to form a sortof couch for him, his breath came in short gasps, and his facewas very pale. His brother, older, and stronger by far, whowalked at the wheel, regarded him with a look in which affectionand intense anxiety were mingled. It was not a time and place inwhich one could afford to be ill. 

Richard and Albert Howard were bound together by the strongest ofbrotherly ties. Richard had inherited his father's bigness andpowerful constitution, Albert his mother's slenderness andfragility. But it was the mother who lived the longer, althougheven she did not attain middle age, and her last words to herolder son were: "Richard, take care of Albert. " He had promised, and now was thinking how he could keep the promise. 

It was a terrible problem that confronted Richard Howard. Hefelt no fear on his own account. A boy in years, he was a man inthe ability to care for himself, wherever he might be. In aboyhood spent on an Illinois farm, where the prairies slope up tothe forest, he had learned the ways of wood and field, and wasfull of courage, strength, and resource. 

But Albert was different. He had not thrived in the moist air ofthe great valley. Tall enough he was, but the width of chest andthickness of bone were lacking. Noticing this, the idea of goingto California had come to the older brother. The great gold dayshad passed years since, but it was still a land of enchantment tothe youth of the older states, and the long journey in the high, dry air of the plains would be good for Albert. There wasnothing to keep them back. They had no property save a littlemoney--enough for their equipment, and a few dollars over tolive on in California until they could get work. 

To decide was to start, and here they were in the middle of thevast country that rolled away west of the Missouri, known butlittle, and full of dangers. The journey had been much harderthan the older boy had expected. The days stretched out, theweeks trailed away, and still the plains rolled before them. 

The summer had been of the hottest, and the heated earth gaveback the glare until the air quivered in torrid waves. Richardhad drawn back the cover of the wagon that his brother mightbreathe the air, but he replaced it now to protect him from theoverpowering beams. Once more he anxiously studied the country, but it gave him little hope. The green of the grass was gone, and most of the grass with it. The brown undulations swept awayfrom horizon to horizon, treeless, waterless, and bare. In allthat vast desolation there was nothing save the tired and dustytrain at the very center of it. 

"Anything in sight, Dick?" asked Albert, who had followed hisbrother's questioning look. 

Dick shook his head. 

"Nothing, Al, " he replied. 

"I wish we'd come to a grove, " said the sick boy. 

He longed, as do all those who are born in the hills, for thesight of trees and clear, running water. 

"I was thinking, Dick, " he resumed in short, gasping tones, "thatit would be well for us, just as the evening was coming on, to goover a swell and ride right into a forest of big oaks and maples, with the finest little creek that you ever saw running throughthe middle of it. It would be pleasant and shady there. Leaveswould be lying about, the water would be cold, and maybe we'd seeelk coming down to drink. "

"Perhaps we'll have such luck, Al, " said Dick, although his toneshowed no such hope. But he added, assuming a cheerful manner:"This can't go on forever; we'll be reaching the mountains soon, and then you'll get well. "

"How's that brother of yours? No better, I see, and he's got toride all the time now, making more load for the animals. "

It was Sam Conway, the leader of the train, who spoke, a roughman of middle age, for whom both Dick and Albert had acquired adeep dislike. Dick flushed through his tan at the hard words. 

"If he's sick he had the right to ride, " he replied sharply. "We've paid our share for this trip and maybe a little more. You know that. "

Conway gave him an ugly look, but Dick stood up straight andstrong, and met him eye for eye. He was aware of their rightsand he meant to defend them. Conway, confronted by a dauntlessspirit, turned away, muttering in a surly fashion:

"We didn't bargain to take corpses across the plains. "

Fortunately, the boy in the wagon did not hear him, and, thoughhis eyes flashed ominously, Dick said nothing. It was not a timefor quarreling, but it was often hard to restrain one's temper. He had realized, soon after the start, when it was too late towithdraw, that the train was not a good one. It was made upmostly of men. There were no children, and the few women, likethe men, were coarse and rough. Turbulent scenes had occurred, but Dick and Albert kept aloof, steadily minding their ownbusiness. 

"What did Conway say?" asked Albert, after the man had gone. 

"Nothing of any importance. He was merely growling as usual. Helikes to make himself disagreeable. I never saw another man whogot as much enjoyment out of that sort of thing. "

Albert said nothing more, but closed his eyes. The canvas coverprotected him from the glare of the sun, but seemed to hold theheat within it. Drops of perspiration stood on his face, andDick longed for the mountains, for his brother's sake. 

All the train fell into a sullen silence, and no sound was heardbut the unsteady rumble of the wheels, the creak of an ungreasedaxle, and the occasional crack of a whip. Clouds of dust aroseand were whipped by the stray winds into the faces of thetravelers, the fine particles burning like hot ashes. The trainmoved slowly and heavily, as if it dragged a wounded length overthe hard ground. 

Dick Howard kept his position by the side of the wagon in whichhis brother lay. He did not intend that Albert should hearbitter words leveled at his weakness, and he knew that his ownpresence was a deterrent. The strong figures and dauntless portof the older youth inspired respect. Moreover, he carried overhis shoulder a repeating rifle of the latest pattern, and hisbelt was full of cartridges. He and Albert had been particularabout their arms. It was a necessity. The plains and themountains were subject to all the dangers of Indian warfare, andthey had taken a natural youthful pride in buying the finest ofweapons. 

The hot dust burned Dick Howard's face and crept into his eyesand throat. His tongue lay dry in his mouth. He might haveridden in one of the wagons, too, had he chosen. As he trulysaid, he and Albert had paid their full share, and in the laborof the trail, he was more efficient than anybody else in thetrain. But his pride had been touched by Conway's words. Hewould not ride, nor would he show any signs of weakness. Hestrode on by the side of the wagon, head erect, his step firm andspringy. 

The sun crept slowly down the brassy arch of the heavens, and theglare grew less blinding. The heat abated, but Albert Howard, who had fallen asleep, slept on. His brother drew a blanket overhim, knowing that he could not afford to catch cold, and breathedthe cooler air himself, with thankfulness. Conway came backagain, and was scarcely less gruff than before, although he saidnothing about Albert. 

"Bright Sun says than in another day or two we'll be seeing themountains, " he vouchsafed; "and I'll be glad of it, because thenwe'll be coming to water and game. "

"I'd like to be seeing them now, " responded Dick; "but do youbelieve everything that Bright Sun says?"

"Of course I do. Hasn't he brought us along all right? What areyou driving at?"

His voice rose to a challenging tone, in full accordance with thenature of the man, whenever anyone disagreed with him, but DickHoward took not the least fear. 

"I don't altogether like Bright Sun, " he replied. "Just why, Ican't say, but the fact remains that I don't like him. Itdoesn't seem natural for an Indian to be so fond of white people, and to prefer another race to his own. "

Conway laughed harshly. 

"That shows how much you know, " he said. "Bright Sun is smart, smarter than a steel trap. He knows that the day of the red ispassing, and he's going to train with the white. What's the useof being on the losing side? It's what I say, and it's whatBright Sun thinks. "

The man's manner was gross and materialistic, so repellent thatDick would have turned away, but at that moment Bright Sunhimself approached. Dick regarded him, as always, with thekeenest interest and curiosity mixed with some suspicion. Yetalmost anyone would have been reassured by the appearance ofBright Sun. He was a splendid specimen of the Indian, althoughin white garb, even to the soft felt hat shading his face. Buthe could never have been taken for a white man. His hair wasthick, black, and coarse, his skin of the red man's typicalcoppery tint, and his cheek bones high and sharp. His lean butsinewy and powerful figure rose two inches above six feet. Therewas an air about him, too, that told of strength other than thatof the body. Guide he was, but leader he looked. 

"Say, Bright Sun, " exclaimed Conway coarsely, "Dick Howard herethinks you're too friendly with the whites. It don't seemnatural to him that one of your color should consort so freelywith us. "

Dick's face flushed through the brown, and he shot an angryglance at Conway, but Bright Sun did not seem to be offended. 

"Why not?" he asked in perfect English. "I was educated in amission school. I have been with white people most of my life, Ihave read your books, I know your civilization, and I like it. "

"There now!" exclaimed Conway triumphantly. "Ain't that ananswer for you? I tell you what, Bright Sun, I'm for you, Ibelieve in you, and if anybody can take us through all right toCalifornia, you're the man. "

"It is my task and I will accomplish it, " said Bright Sun in theprecise English he had learned at the mission school. 

His eyes met Dick's for a moment, and the boy saw there a flashthat might mean many things--defiance, primeval force, and thequality that plans and does. But the flash was gone in aninstant, like a dying spark, and Bright Sun turned away. Conwayalso left, but Dick's gaze followed the Indian. 

He did not know Bright Sun's tribe. He had heard that he was aSioux, also that he was a Crow, and a third report credited himwith being a Cheyenne. As he never painted his face, dressedlike a white man, and did not talk of himself and his people, thecurious were free to surmise as they chose. But Dick was sure ofone thing: Bright Sun was a man of power. It was not a matter ofsurmise, he felt it instinctively. 

The tall figure of the Indian was lost among the wagons, and Dickturned his attention to the trail. The cooling waves continuedto roll up, as the west reddened into a brilliant sunset. Greatbars of crimson, then of gold, and the shades in between, piledabove one another on the horizon. The plains lost their brown, and gleamed in wonderful shimmering tints. The great desolateworld became beautiful. 

The train stopped with a rumble, a creak, and a lurch, and themen began to unharness the animals. Albert awoke with a startand sat up in the wagon. 

"Night and the camp, Al, " said Dick cheerfully; "feel better, don't you?

"Yes, I do, " replied Albert, as a faint color came into his face. 

"Thought the rest and the coolness would brace you up, " continuedDick in the same cheerful tone. 

Albert, a tall, emaciated boy with a face of great refinement anddelicacy, climbed out of the wagon and looked about. Dick busiedhimself with the work of making camp, letting Albert give whathelp he could. 

But Dick always undertook to do enough for two--his brother andhimself--and he really did enough for three. No other was soswift and skillful at taking the gear off horse or mule, nor wasthere a stronger or readier arm at the wheel when it wasnecessary to complete the circle of wagons that they nightlymade. When this was done, he went out on the prairie in searchof buffalo chips for the fire, which he was fortunate enough tofind without any trouble. 

Before returning with his burden, Dick stood a few momentslooking back at the camp. The dusk had fully come, but the fireswere not yet lighted, and he saw only the shadowy forms of thewagons and flitting figures about them. But much talked reachedhis ears, most of it coarse and rough, with a liberal sprinklingof oaths. Dick sighed. His regret was keener than ever thatAlbert and he were in such company. Then he looked the otherway out upon the fathomless plains, where the night had gathered, and the wind was moaning among the swells. The air was now chillenough to make him shiver, and he gazed with certain awe into theblack depths. The camp, even with all its coarseness androughness, was better, and he walked swiftly back with his loadof fuel. 

They built a dozen fires within the circle of the wagons, andagain Dick was the most active and industrious of them all, doinghis share, Albert's, and something besides. When the fires werelighted they burned rapidly and merrily, sending up great tonguesof red or yellow flame, which shed a flickering light overwagons, animals, and men. A pleasant heat was suffused and Dickbegan to cook supper for Albert and himself, bringing it from thewagon in which his brother and he had a share. He fried baconand strips of dried beef, boiled coffee, and warmed slices ofbread over the coals. 

He saw with intense pleasure that Albert ate with a betterappetite than he had shown for days. As for himself, he was ashungry as a horse--he always was on this great journey--andsince there was plenty, he ate long, and was happy. 

Dick went to the wagon, and returned with a heavy cloak, which hethrew over Albert's shoulders. 

"The night's getting colder, " he said, "and you mustn't take anyrisks, Al. There's one trouble about a camp fire in the open--yourface can burn while your back freezes. "

Content fell over the camp. Even rough men of savage instinctsare willing to lie quiet when they are warm and well fed. Jokes, coarse but invariably in good humor, were exchanged. The firesstill burned brightly, and the camp formed a core of light andwarmth in the dark, cold wilderness. 

Albert, wrapped in the cloak, lay upon his side and elbow gazingdreamily into the flames. Dick sat near him, frying a piece ofbacon on the end of a stick. Neither heard the step behind thembecause it was noiseless, but both saw the tall figure of BrightSun, as he came up to their fire. 

"Have a piece of bacon, Bright Sun, " said Dick hospitably, holding out the slice to him, and at the same time wonderingwhether the Indian would take it. 

Bright Sun shook his head. 

"I thank you, " he replied, "but I have eaten enough. How is Mr. Albert Howard now?"

Dick appreciated the inquiry, whether or not it was prompted bysympathy. 

"Good, " he replied. "Al's picking up. Haven't seen him eat ashe did to-night for months. If he keeps on this way, he'lldevour a whole buffalo as soon as he's able to kill one. "

Bright Sun smiled, and sat down on the ground near them. Itseemed to the boy, a keen observer of his kind, that he wished totalk. Dick was willing. 

"Do you know, " asked Bright Sun, "that reports of gold in theregion to the north, called by you the Black Hills, have come tous?"

"I heard some one speak of it two or three days ago, " repliedDick, "but I paid no attention to it. "

Bright Sun looked thoughtfully into the fire, the glow of whichfell full upon his face, revealing every feature like carving. His nose was hooked slightly, and to Dick it now looked like thebeak of an eagle. The somber eyes, too, expressed brooding andmastery alike. 

Despite himself, Dick felt again that he was in the presence ofpower, and he was oppressed by a sense of foreboding. 

"It was worth attention, " said Bright Sun in the slow, precisetones of one who speaks a language not his own, but who speaks itperfectly. "The white man's gold is calling to him loudly. Itcalls all through the day and night. Do these men with whom youtravel go to anything certain far over on the coast of theWestern ocean? No, they are leaves blown by the wind. The windnow blows in the direction of the Black Hills, where the gold issaid to be, and to-morrow the wagon train turns its head thatway. "

Dick sat up straight, and Albert, wrapped in his blanket, leanedforward to listen. 

"But the engagement with us all, " said Dick, "was to go to thePacific. Albert and I paid our share for that purpose. Conwayknows it. "

The Indian looked at Dick. The boy thought he saw a flickeringsmile of amusement in his eyes, but it was faint, and gone in amoment. 

"Conway does not care for that, " said the Indian. "Yourcontracts are nothing to him. This is the wilderness, and itstretches away for many hundreds of miles in every direction. The white man's law does not come here. Moreover, nearly allwish him to turn to the North and the gold. "

Albert suddenly spoke, and his tone, though thin from physicalweakness, was quick, intense, and eager. 

"Why couldn't we go on with them, Dick?" he said. "We havenothing definite on the Pacific coast. We are merely takingchances, and if the Black Hills are full of gold, we might getour share!"

Dick's eyes glistened. If one had to go, one might make the bestof it. The spirit of romance was alive within him. He was onlya boy. 

"Of course we'll go, Al, " he said lightly, "and you and I willhave a tone of gold inside a year. "

Bright Sun looked at the two boys, first one and then the other, stalwart Dick and weak Albert. It seemed to Dick that he saw anew expression in the Indian's eyes, one that indicated theshadow of regret. He resented it. Did Bright Sun think thatAlbert and he were not equal to the task?

"I am strong, " he said; "I can lift and dig enough for two; butAlbert will also be strong, after we have been a little while inthe mountains. "

"You might have strength enough. I do not doubt it, " said BrightSun softly, "but the Black Hills are claimed by the Sioux. Theydo not wish the white men to come there, and the Sioux are agreat and powerful tribe, or rather a nation of several alliedand kindred tribes, the most powerful Indian nation west of theMississippi. "

Bright Sun's voice rose a little toward the last, and the slightupward tendency gave emphasis and significance to his words. Thebrooding eyes suddenly shot forth a challenging light. 

"Are you a Sioux?" asked Dick involuntarily. 

Bright Sun bent upon him a look of gentle reproof. 

"Since I have taken the ways of your race I have no tribe, " hereplied. "But, as I have said, the Sioux claim the Black Hills, and they have many thousands of warriors, brave, warlike, andresolved to keep the country. "

"The government will see that there is no war, " said Dick. 

"Governments can do little in a wilderness, " replied Bright Sun. 

Dick might have made a rejoinder, but at that moment a burlyfigure came into the light of the fire. It was Sam Conway, andhe glanced suspiciously at the Indian and the two boys. 

"Are you telling 'em, Bright Sun, when we'll reach California?"he asked. 

Bright Sun gave him an oblique glance. The Indian seldom looksthe white man in the face, but it was obvious that Bright Sun wasnot afraid of the leader. Conway, as well as the others, knewit. 

"No, " he replied briefly. 

"It's just as well that you haven't, " said Conway briskly, "'cause we're not going to California at all--at least not thisyear. It's the wish and general consensus of this here trainthat we turn to the North, go into the Black Hills, and fill ourwagons with gold. "

"So it's decided, then, is it?" asked Dick. 

"Yes, it's decided, " replied Conway, his tone now becomingpositively brutal, "and if you and your brother don't like it, you know what you can do. "

"Keep on alone for the coast, I suppose, " said Dick, looking himsteadily in the face. 

"If you put it that way. "

"But we don't choose, " said Dick, "Al and I have an interest inone wagon and team, and we're going to hold on to it. Besides, we're quite willing to try our luck in the Black Hills, too. We're going with you. "

Conway frowned, but Dick also was not afraid of him, and knewthat he could not turn the two boys out on the prairie. They hada full right to go with the train. 

"That settles it, " he said, turning away. "You can do as youplease, but what happens after we get into the Black Hills isanother thing. Likely, we'll scatter. "

The sound of his retreating footsteps quickly died away in thedarkness, and Bright Sun, too, slid among the shadows. He wasgone so quickly and quietly that it gave Dick an uncanny feeling. 

"What do you make of it, Al?" he asked his brother. "What doesBright Sun mean by what he said to us?"

The glow of the flame fell across Albert's pale face, and, by thelight of it, Dick saw that he was very thoughtful. He seemed tobe looking over and beyond the fire and the dark prairie, intotime rather than space. 

"I think it was a warning, Dick, " replied Albert at last. "MaybeBright Sun intended it for only you and me. But I want to go upthere in the Black Hills, Dick. "

"And so do I. It'll be easier for you, Al, than the trip acrossthe continent. When you are a mile and a half or two miles abovethe sea, you'll begin to take on flesh like a bear in summer. Besides, the gold, Al! think of the gold!"

Albert smiled. He, too, was having happy thoughts. The warmglow of the fire clothed him and he was breathing easily andpeacefully. By and by he sank down in his blanket and fell intoa sound sleep. Dick himself did not yet have any thought ofslumber. Wide-awake visions were pursuing one another throughhis brain. He saw the mountains, dark and shaggy with pineforests, the thin, healing air over them, and the beds of gold intheir bosom, with Albert and himself discovering and triumphant. 

The fire died down, and glowed a mass of red embers. The talksank. Most of the men were asleep, either in their blankets orin the wagons. The darkness thickened and deepened and cameclose up to the fires, a circling rim of blackness. But Dick wasstill wakeful, dreaming with wide-open eyes his golden dreams. 

As the visions followed one after another, a shadow which was nota part of any of them seemed to Dick to melt into the uttermostdarkness beyond the fires. A trace of something familiar in thefigure impressed him, and, rising, he followed swiftly. 

The figure, still nebulous and noiseless, went on in thedarkness, and another like it seemed to rise from the plain andjoin it. Then they were lost to the sight of the pursuer, seeming to melt into and become a part of the surroundingdarkness. Dick, perplexed and uneasy, returned to the fire. Thesecond shadow must certainly have been that of a stranger. Whatdid it mean?

He resumed his seat before the red glow, clasping his arms aroundhis knees, a splendid, resourceful youth whom nature and a hardylife had combined to make what he was. His brother still sleptsoundly and peacefully, but the procession of golden visions didnot pass again through Dick's brain; instead, it was a long trailof clouds, dark and threatening. He sought again and again toconjure the clouds away and bring back the golden dreams, but hecould not. 

The fire fell to nothing, the triumphant darkness swept up andblotted out the last core of light, the wind, edged with ice, blew in from the plains. Dick shivered, drew a heavy blanketaround his own shoulders, and moved a little, as he saw the dimfigure of Bright Sun passing at the far edge of the wagons, butquickly relapsed into stillness. 

Sleep at last pulled down his troubled lids. His figure sank, and, head on arms, he slumbered soundly. 

Chapter IIKing Bison

"Up! Up, everybody!" was the shout that reached Dick's sleepingears. He sprang to his feet and found that the gorgeous sun wasflooding the prairie with light. Already the high, brilliantskies of the Great West were arching over him. Men were cookingbreakfast. Teamsters were cracking their whips and the wholecamp was alive with a gay and cheerful spirit. Everybody seemedto know now that they were going for the gold, and, like Dick, they had found it in fancy already. 

Breakfast over, the train took up its march, turning at a rightangle from its old course and now advancing almost due north. But this start was made with uncommon alacrity and zeal. Therewere no sluggards now. They, too, had golden visions, and, as ifto encourage them, the aspect of the country soon began tochange, and rapidly to grow better. The clouds of dust that theyraised were thinner. The bunch grass grew thicker. Off on thecrest of a swell a moving figure was seen now and then. "Antelope, " said the hunters. Once they passed a slow creek. The water was muddy, but it contained no alkali, and animals andmen drank eagerly. Cottonwoods, the first trees they had seen indays, grew on either side of the stream, and they rested thereawhile in the shade, because the sun was now out in fullsplendor, and the vast plains shimmered in the heat. 

Albert resumed his place in the wagon. Dick had a horse which, on becoming foot-sore, had been allowed to rest for a few days, and was now well. He mounted it and galloped on ahead. Theclouds were all gone away and the golden visions had come back. He felt so strong, so young, and the wonderful air of the plainswas such a tonic that he urged his horse to a gallop, and it washard for him to keep from shouting aloud in joy. He lookedeagerly into the north, striving already for a sight of the darkmountains that men called the Black Hills. The blue gave backnothing but its own blue. 

His horse seemed to share his spirits, and swung along with swiftand easy stride. Dick looked back presently, and saw that thetrain which had been winding like a serpent over the plains waslost to sight behind the swells. The surface of the earth hadbecome more rolling as they advanced northward, and he knew thatthe train, though out of sight, was nor far away. 

He enjoyed for the moment the complete absence of all humanbeings save himself. To be alone then meant anything butloneliness. He galloped to the crest of a higher swell thanusual, and then stopped short. Far off on the plain he saw tinymoving figures, a dozen or so, and he was sure that they wereantelope. They had seen antelope before at a great distance, buthad not bothered about them. Now the instincts of the hunterrose in Dick, and he resolved to make a trial of his skill. 

He found in one of the depressions between the swells a stuntedcottonwood, to which he hitched his horse, knowing it would bewell hidden there from the observation of the herd. He thenadvanced on foot. He had heard that the antelope was a slave toits own curiosity, and through that weakness he intended tosecure his game. 

When he had gone about half the distance he sank down on hishands and knees and began to crawl, a laborious and sometimespainful operation, burdened as he was with his rifle, and unusedto such methods of locomotion. Presently he noticed a flutteramong the antelope, a raising of timid heads, an alarmed lookingin his direction. But Dick was prepared. He lay flat upon hisface, and dug the point of the long hunting knife that he carriedinto the ground, while the wind blew out the folds of the redhandkerchief which he had tied to the handle. 

Mr. Big Buck Antelope, the chief of the herd and a wary veteran, saw the waving red spot on the horizon and his interest wasaroused, despite his caution. What a singular thing! It must beinvestigated! It might be some new kind of food very good forMr. Big Buck's palate and stomach, and no provident antelopecould afford to let such an opportunity pass. 

He was trembling all over with curiosity, and perhaps hisexcitement kept him from seeing the dark shape that blurred withthe earth just beyond the red something, or he may have taken itfor a shadow. At any event, his curiosity kept him from payingheed to it, and he began to approach. His steps were hesitating, and now and then he drew away a little, but that singular redobject lured him on, and yard by yard he drew nearer. 

He suddenly saw the black shadow beyond the fluttering red objectdetach itself from the ground, and resolve into a terribleshape. His heart sprang up in his bosom, and he was about torush madly away, but it was too late. A stream of fire shotforth from the dark object and the buck fell, a bullet throughhim. 

Dick prepared the animal for dressing, thinking of the tender, juicy steaks that Albert would enjoy, and then throwing the bodyacross the horse, behind him, rode back to the train, proud ofhis success. 

Conway frowned and said grudging words. He did not like, hesaid, for anybody to leave the train without his permission, andit was foolish, anyhow, for a boy to be galloping about as hepleased over the prairie; he might get lost, and there would benobody to take care of the other boy, the sick one. Dick made aneasy diplomatic reply. He knew that Conway merely wished to beunpleasant, but Dick was of a very good nature, and he wasparticularly averse just then to quarreling with anybody. He wastoo full of the glory of living. Instead, he offered some of theantelope steaks to Conway, who churlishly accepted them, and thatnight he broiled others for Albert and himself, dividing the restamong the men. 

Albert found antelope steak tender and juicy, and he ate with anincreasing appetite. Dick noted the increase with pleasure. 

"I wish I could go out and kill antelope, " said Albert. 

Dick laughed cheerfully. 

"Kill antelope, " he said. "Why, Al, in six months you'll betaking a grizzly bear by the neck and choking him to death withyour two hands. "

"Wish I could believe it, " said Albert. 

But Dick went to sleep early that night, and slept peacefullywithout dreams or visions, and the next morning the train resumedits sanguine march. They were still ascending, and the characterof the country continued to improve. Bunch grass steadily grewthicker and buffalo chips were numerous. The heat in the middleof the day was still great, but the air was so dry and pure thatit was not oppressive. Albert dismounted from the wagon, andwalked for several miles by the side of his brother. 

"Shouldn't be surprised if we saw buffalo, " said Dick. "Heard'em talking about it in the train. Bright Sun says these arefavorite grazing grounds, and there's still a lot of buffaloscattered about the plains. "

Albert showed excitement. 

"A buffalo herd!" he exclaimed. "Do you think it can reallyhappen, Dick? I never thought I'd see such a thing! I hopeit'll come true!"

It came true much sooner than Albert hoped. 

Scarcely a half hour after he spoke, Bright Sun, who was at thehead of the column, stopped his pony and pointed to indistincttiny shadows just under the horizon. 

"Buffalo!" he said tersely, and after a moment's pause he added:"A great herd comes!"

Dick and Albert were on foot then, but they heard his words andfollowed his pointing finger with the deepest interest. The tinyblack shadows seemed to come out of the horizon as if theystepped from a wall. They grew in size and number, and all thewest was filled with their forms. 

The train resumed its march, bending off under the guidance ofBright Sun a little toward the west, and it was obvious that theherd would pass near. Dick and Albert rejoiced, because theywished to see the buffaloes at close quarters, and Dick washoping also for a shot. Others, too, in the train, althoughtheir minds were set on gold, began to turn their attention nowto the herd. The sport and the fresh meat alike would bewelcome. It was Dick's impulse to mount his horse and gallopaway again, gun in hand, but he made a supreme conquest over selfand remained. He remembered Albert's longing words about theantelope, his wish that he, too, tireless, might be able topursue the game. Dick remained quietly by his brother's side. 

The whole train stopped presently at Conway's order on the crestof a swell, and drew itself up in a circle. Many of the men werenow mounted and armed for an attack upon the herd, but at thesuggestion of Bright Sun they waited a little, until theopportunity should become more convenient. 

"It is a big herd, " said Bright Sun; "perhaps the biggest thatone can ever see now. "

It certainly seemed immense to Dick and Albert. The greatanimals came on in an endless stream from the blue wall of thehorizon. The vast procession steadily broadened and lengthenedand it moved with unceasing step toward the south. The body ofit was solid black, with figures which at the distance blendedinto one mass, but on the flanks hung stragglers, lawless oldbulls or weaklings, and outside there was a fringe of hungrywolves, snapping and snarling, and waiting a chance to drag downsome failing straggler. 

Far over the plain spread the herd, thousands and tens ofthousands, and the earth shook with their tread. Confused, bellowings and snortings arose, and the dust hung thick. 

Dick and Albert stared with intent eyes at the wonderful scene. The herd was drawing nearer and nearer. It would pass only a fewhundred yards from the crest on which the train stood. Alreadythe hunters were shouting to one another and galloping away, butDick did not stir from Albert's side. Albert's eyes wereexpanded, and the new color in his face deepened. His breath camin the short, quick fashion of one who is excited. He suddenlyturned to his brother. 

"The men are off! Why aren't you with them Dick?" he exclaimed. 

"I thought I wouldn't go, " replied Dick evasively. "There'll beenough without me. "

Albert stared. Not hunt buffalo when one could. It wasunbelievable. Then he comprehended. But he would not have itthat way! It was noble of Dick, but it should not be so for amoment. He cried out, a note of anxiety in this voice:

"No, Dick, you shall not say here with me! My time will comelater on! Jump on your horse, Dick, and join 'em! I won'tforgive you if you don't!"

Dick saw that Albert was in earnest, and he knew that it would bebetter for them both now if he should go. 

"All right, Al!" he cried, "I'll pick out a good fat one. " Hejumped on his horse and in a moment was galloping at full speedover the plain toward the great herd which now rushed on, blackand thundering. 

Dick heard shots already from those who had preceded him, and theexultant shouts of the men mingled with the roar of mightytramplings. But it was not all triumph for the men, few of whomwere experienced. Two or three had been thrown by shying horses, and with difficulty escaped being trodden to death under the feetof the herd. The herd itself was so immense that it did notnotice these few wasps on a distant flank, and thundered steadilyon southward. 

Dick's own horse, frightened by such a tremendous sight, shiedand jumped, but the boy had a sure seat and brought him aroundagain. Dick himself was somewhat daunted by the aspect of theherd. If he and his hose got in the way, they would go downforever, as surely as if engulfed by an avalanche. 

The horse shied again and made a mighty jump, as a huge bull, red-eyed and puffing, charged by. Dick, who was holding hisrifle in one hand, slipped far over, and with great difficultyregained his balance on the horse's back. When he was secureagain, he turned his mount and galloped along for some distanceon the flank of the herd, seeking a suitable target for hisbullet. The effect was dizzying. So many thousands were rushingbeside him that the shifting panorama made him wink his eyesrapidly. Vast clouds of dust floated about, now and thenenveloping him, and that made him wink his eyes, too. But hecontinued, nevertheless, to seek for his target a fat cow. Somehow he didn't seem to see anything just then but old bulls. They were thick on the flanks of the herd either as stragglers orprotectors, and Dick was afraid to press in among them in hissearch for the cow. 

His opportunity came at last. A young cow, as fat as one couldwish, was thrown on the outside by some movement of the herd, caught, as it were, like a piece of driftwood in an eddy, andDick instantly fired at her. She staggered and went down, but atthe same instant a huge, shaggy bull careened against Dick andhis horse. It was not so much a charge as an accident, thechance of Dick's getting in the bull's way, and the boy's escapewas exceedingly narrow. 

His horse staggered and fell to his knees. The violence of theshock wrested Dick's rifle from his hand, and he was barely quickenough to grasp it as it was sliding across the saddle. But hedid save it, and the horse, trembling and frightened, recoveredhis feet. By that time the old bull and his comrades were gone. 

Dick glanced around and was relieved to see that nobody hadnoticed his plight. They were all too much absorbed in their ownefforts to pay any heed to him. The body took a deep, longbreath. He had killed a buffalo, despite his inexperience. There was the cow to show for it. 

The herd thundered off to the southward, the clouds of dust andthe fringe of wolves following it. About a dozen of their numberhad fallen before the rifles, but Dick had secured the fattestand the tenderest. Albert, as proud as Dick himself of histriumph, came down on the plain and helped as much as he could inskinning and cutting up the cow. Dick wished to preserve therobe, and they spread it out on the wagon to dry. 

The train made no further attempt to advance that day, butdevoted the afternoon to a great feast. Bright Sun showed themhow to cook the tenderest part of the hump in the coals, and farinto the night the fires blazed. 

"We will see no more buffaloes for a while, " said Bright Sun. "To-morrow we reach another little river coming down from thehills, and the ground becomes rough. "

Bright Sun told the truth. They reached the river about noon ofthe next day, and, as it flowed between steep banks, the crossingwas difficult. It took many hours to get on the other side, andtwo or three axles were broken by the heavy jolts. Conway ragedand swore, calling them a clumsy lot, and some of the men refusedto take his abuse, replying to his hard words with others equallyas hard. Pistols were drawn and there was promise of trouble, but it was finally stopped, partly by the persuasion of others, and partly of its own accord. The men were still feeling thedesire for gold too strongly to fight while on the way to it. Dick and Albert kept aloof from these contentions, steadilyminding their own business, and they found, as others do, that itpaid. 

They came presently into a better country, and the way led for aday or two through a typical part of the Great Plains, not a flatregion, but one of low, monotonous swells. Now and then theycrossed a shallow little creek, and occasionally they came topools, some of which were tinged with alkali. There werenumerous small depressions, two or three feet deep, and Dick knewthat they were "buffalo wallows. " He and Albert examined themwith interest. 

"This is buffalo country again, " said Dick. "Everything provesit. The grass here is the best that we have seen in a long time, and I imagine that it's just the sort of place they would love. "

The grass was, indeed, good, as Dick had said, not merely clumpsof it, but often wide, carpeted spaces. It was somewhat dry, andturning brown, but so big and strong an animal as the buffalowould not mind it. In fact, they saw several small groups ofbuffaloes grazing at a distance, usually on the crest of one ofthe low swells. As they already had plenty of buffalo meat, themen of the train did not trouble them, and the great animalswould continue to crop the grass undisturbed. 

About a week after the buffalo hunt they camped in a great plainsomewhat flatter than any that they had encountered hitherto, anddrew up the wagons in a loose circle. 

The day had been very hot, but, as usual on the plains, the nightbrought coolness. The fire which Dick made of buffalo chips wasnot only useful, but it felt pleasant, too, as they sat besideit, ate their supper, and watched the great inclosing circle ofdarkness creep up closer and closer to the camp. There was notmuch noise about them. The men were tired, and as soon as theyate their food they fell asleep in the wagons or on the ground. The tethered horses and mules stirred a little for a while, butthey, too, soon rested in peace. 

"You take the wagon, Al, " said Dick, "but I think I'll sleep onthe ground. "

Albert said good night and disappeared in the wagon. Dick stoodup and looked over the camp. Only two or three fires were yetburning, and not a dozen men were awake. He saw dark figureshere and there on the ground, and knew that they were those ofsleepers. Three sentinels had been posted, but Dick was quitesure from the general character of the train that later on theywould sleep like the others. All his instincts of order andfitness rebelled against the management of this camp. 

Dick rolled himself in his blanket and lay down by the littlefire that he had built. The dry, clean earth made a good bed, and with his left elbow under his head he gazed into the fire, which, like all fires of buffalo chips, was now rapidly dying, leaving little behind but light ashes that the first breeze wouldscatter through space. 

He watched the last blaze sink and go out, he saw the last coaldie, then, when a few sparks flew upward, there was blankdarkness where the fire had been. All the other fires were out, too, and only the dim figures of the wagons showed. He felt, fora little while, as if he were alone in the wilderness, but he wasnot afraid. All was darkness below, and the wind was moaning, but overhead was a blue sky filled with friendly stars. 

Dick could not go to sleep for a long time. From the point wherehe lay he could now see two of the sentinels walking back andforth, rifle on shoulder. He did not believe that they wouldcontinue to do so many hours, and he had a vague sort of desireto prove that he was right. Having nothing else to do he watchedthem. 

The nearer sentinel grew lazier in his walk, and his beat becameshorter. At last he dropped his rifle to the ground, leaned hisfolded arms on its muzzle, and gazed toward the camp, where, sofar as he could see, there was nothing but darkness and sleep. The other presently did the same. Then they began short walksback and forth, but soon both sat down on the ground, with theirrifles between their knees, and after that they did not stir. Watching as closely as he could Dick could not observe theslightest movement on the part of either, and he knew that theywere asleep. He laughed to himself, pleased, in a way, to knowthat he had been right, although it was only another evidence ofthe carelessness and indifference general throughout the train. 

He fell asleep himself in another half hour, but he awoke aboutmidnight, and he was conscious at once that he had been awakenednot by a troubled mind, but by something external and unusual. He was lying with his right ear to the ground, and it seemed tohim that a slight trembling motion ran through the solid earth. He did not so much hear it as feel it, and tried to persuadehimself that it was mere fancy, but failed. He sat up, and he nolonger observed the trembling, but when he put his ear to theground again it was stronger. 

It could not be fancy. It was something real and extraordinary. He glanced at the sentinels, but they were sound asleep. He felta desire to rouse somebody, but if it proved to be nothing theywould laugh at him, or more likely call him hard names. He triedear to earth once more. The trembling was still growing instrength, and mixed with it was a low, groaning sound, like theswell of the sea on the shore. The sound came with the wind fromthe north. 

Dick sprang to his feet. There, in the north was a faint lightwhich grew with amazing rapidity. In a minutes almost it seemedto redden the whole northern heavens, and the groaning soundbecame a roll, like that of approaching thunder. 

A shadow flitted by Dick. 

"What is it, Bright Sun?? What is it?" exclaimed the boy. 

"The dry grass burns, and a mighty buffalo herd flees before it. "

Then Bright Sun was gone, and the full sense of their dangerburst upon Dick in overwhelming tide. The flames came on, asfast as a horse's gallop, and the buffaloes, in thousands andtens of thousands, were their vanguard. The camp lay directly inthe path of fire and buffalo. The awakened sentinels were ontheir feet now, and half-clad men were springing from the wagons. 

Dick stood perfectly still for perhaps a minute, while the firegrew brighter and the thunder of a myriad hoofs grew louder. Then he remembered what he had so often read and heard, and thecrisis stirred him to swift action. While the whole camp was ascene of confusion, of shouts, of oaths, and of running men, hesped to its south side, to a point twenty or thirty yards fromthe nearest wagon. There he knelt in the dry grass and drew hisbox of matches from his pocket. It happened that Conway saw. 

"What are you doing, you boy?" he cried, threateningly. 

But Dick did not care for Conway just then. 

"Back fire! Back fire!" he shouted, and struck a match. It wentout, but he quickly struck another, shielded it with one hand andtouched the tiny flame to the grass. A flame equally tinyanswered, but in an instant it leaped into the size and strengthof a giant. The blaze rose higher than Dick's head, ran swiftlyto right and left, and then roared away to the south, eating upeverything in its path. 

"Well done, " said a voice at Dick's elbow. "It is the only thingthat could save the train. "

It was Bright Sun who spoke, and he had come so silently thatDick did not see him until then. 

Conway understood now, but without a word of approval he turnedaway and began to give orders, mixed with much swearing. He hada rough sort of efficiency, and spurred by his tongue and theirown dreadful necessity, the men worked fast. The horses andmules, except three or four which had broken loose and were lost, were hitched to the wagons in half the usual time. There were nosluggards now. 

Dick helped, and Albert, too, but to both it seemed that the workwould never be done. The back fire was already a half mile away, gathering volume and speed as it went, but the other was comingon at an equal pace. Deer and antelope were darting past them, and the horses and mules were rearing in terror. 

"Into the burned ground, " shouted Conway, "an' keep the wagonsclose together!"

No need to urge the animals. They galloped southward over earthwhich was still hot and smoking, but they knew that something wasbehind them, far more terrible than sparks and smoke. 

Dick made Albert jump into their own wagon, while he ran besideit. As he ran, he looked back, and saw a sight that might wellfill the bravest soul with dread. A great black line, crestedwith tossing horns, was bearing down on them. The thunder ofhoofs was like the roar of a hurricane, but behind the herd was avast wall of light, which seemed to reach from the earth to theheavens and which gave forth sparks in myriads. Dick knew thatthey had been just in time. 

They did not stop until they had gone a full quarter of a mile, and then the wagons were hastily drawn up in a rude circle, withthe animals facing the center, that is, the inside, and stillrearing and neighing in terror. Then the men, rifle in hand, andsitting in the rear of the wagons, faced the buffalo herd. 

Dick was with the riflemen, and, like the others, he began tofire as soon as the vanguard of the buffaloes was near enough. The wagons were a solid obstacle which not even King Bison couldeasily run over, but Dick and Albert thought the herd would neversplit, although the bullets were poured into it at a centralpoint like a driven wedge. 

But the falling buffaloes were an obstacle to those behind them, and despite their mad panic, the living became conscious of thedanger in front. The herd split at last, the cleft widened toright and left, and then the tide, in two great streams, flowedpast the wagon train. 

Dick ceased firing and sat with Albert on the tail of the wagon. The wall of fire, coming to the burned ground, went out in thecenter, but the right and left ends of it, swinging around, stillroared to the southward, passing at a distance of a quarter of amile on either side. 

Dick and Albert watched until all the herd was gone, and whenonly smoke and sparks were left, helped to get the camp into trimagain. Conway knew that the boy had saved them, but he gave himno thanks. 

It took the ground a long time to cool, and they advanced all thenext day over a burned area. They traveled northward ten days, always ascending, and they were coming now to a wooded country. They crossed several creeks, flowing down from the highermountains, and along the beds of these they found cottonwood, ash, box elder, elm, and birch. On the steeper slops werenumerous cedar brakes and also groves of yellow pine. There wasvery little undergrowth, but the grass grew in abundance. Although it was now somewhat dry, the horses and mules ate iteagerly. The buffaloes did not appear here, but they saw manysigns of bear, mule deer, panther or mountain lion, and othergame. 

They camped one night in a pine grove by the side of a brook thatcame rushing and foaming down from the mountains, and the nextmorning Albert, who walked some distance from the water, saw asilver-tip bear lapping the water of the stream. The bear raisedhis head and looked at Albert, and Albert stopped and looked atthe bear. The boy was unarmed, but he was not afraid. The bearshowed no hostility, only curiosity. He gazed a few moments, stretched his nose as if he would sniff the air, then turned andlumbered away among the pines. Albert returned to camp, but hesaid nothing of the bear to anybody except Dick. 

"He was such a jolly, friendly looking fellow, Dick, " he said, "that I didn't want any of these men to go hunting him. "

Dick laughed. 

"Don't you worry about that, Al, " he said. "They are hunting gold, not bears. "

On the twelfth day they came out on a comparatively levelplateau, where antelope were grazing and prairie chickenswhirring. It looked like a fertile country, and they were gladof easy traveling for the wagons. Just at the edge of the pinewoods that they were leaving was a beautiful little lake ofclear, blue water, by which they stayed half a day, refreshingthemselves, and catching some excellent fish, the names ofwhich they did not know. 

"How much long, Bright Sun, will it take us to reach the goldcountry?" asked Conway of the Indian, in Dick's hearing. 

"About a week, " replied Bright Sun. "The way presently will bevery rough and steep, up! up! up! and we can go only a few milesa day, but the mountains are already before us. See!"

He pointed northward and upward, and there before them was themisty blue loom that Dick knew was the high mountains. In thosedark ridges lay the gold that they were going to seek, and hisheart throbbed. Albert and he could do such wonderful thingswith it. 

They were so high already that the nights were crisp with cold;but at the edge of the forest, running down to the little lake, fallen wood was abundant, and they built that night a great fireof fallen boughs that crackled and roared merrily. Yet theyhovered closely, because the wind, sharp with ice, was whistlingdown from the mountains, and the night air, even in the littlevalley, was heavy with frost. Dick's buffalo robe was dry now, and he threw it around Albert, as he sat before the fire. Itenveloped the boy like a great blanket, but far warmer, the soft, smooth fur caressing his cheeks, and as Albert drew it closer, hefelt very snug indeed. 

"We cross this valley to-morrow, " said Dick, "and then we begin asteeper climb. "

"Then it will be mountains, only mountains, " said Bright Sun. "We go into regions which no white men except the fur hunters, have ever trod. "

Dick started. He had not known that the Indian was near. Certainly he was not there a moment ago. There was somethinguncanny in the way in which Bright Sun would appear on noiselessfootstep, like a wraith rising from the earth. 

"I shall be glad of it, Bright Sun, " said Albert. "I'm tired ofthe plains, and they say that the mountains are good for manyills. "

Bright Sun's enigmatic glance rested upon Albert a moment. 

"Yes, " he said, "the mountains will cure many ills. "

Dick glanced at him, and once more he received the impression ofthought and power. The Indian's nose curved like an eagle'sbeak, and the firelight perhaps exaggerated both the curve andits effect. The whole impression of thought and force washeightened by the wide brow and the strong chin. 

Dick looked back into the fire, and when he glanced around a fewmoments again, Bright Sun was not there. He had gone as silentlyas he had come. 

"That Indian gives me the shivers sometimes, " he said to Albert. "What do you make of him?"

"I don't know, " replied the boy. "Sometimes I like him andsometimes I don't. "

Albert was soon asleep, wrapped in the buffalo robe, and Dick byand by followed him to the same pleasant land. The wind, whistling as it blew down from the mountains, grew stronger andcolder, and its tone was hostile, as if it resented the firstpresence of white men in the little valley by the lake. 

Chapter IIIThe Pass

They resumed the journey early the next day, Bright Sun tellingConway that they could reach the range before sunset, and thatthey would find there an easy pass leading a mile or two fartheron to a protected and warm glen. 

"That's the place for our camp, " said Conway, and he urged thetrain forward. 

The traveling was smooth and easy, and they soon left the littleblue lake well behind, passing through a pleasant country wellwooded with elm, ash, birch, cottonwood, and box elder, and thegrass growing high everywhere. They crossed more than one clearlittle stream, a pleasant contrast to the sluggish, muddy creeksof the prairies. 

The range, toward which the head of the train was pointing, nowcame nearer. The boys saw its slopes, shaggy with dark pine, andthey knew that beyond it lay other and higher slopes, also darkwith pine. The air was of a wonderful clearness, showing in theeast and beyond the zenith a clear silver tint, while the westwas pure red gold with the setting sun. 

Nearer and nearer came the range. The great pines blurred atfirst into an unbroken mass, now stood out singly, showing theirgiant stems. Afar a flash of foamy white appeared, where a brookfell in a foamy cascade. Presently they were within a quarter ofa mile of the range, and its shadow fell over the train. In thewest the sun was low. 

"The pass is there, straight ahead, " said Bright Sun, pointing tothe steep range. 

"I don't see any opening, " said Conway. 

"It is so narrow and the pines hide it, " rejoined Bright Sun, "but it is smooth and easy. "

Albert was at the rear of the train. He had chosen to walk inthe later hours of the afternoon. He had become very tired, but, unwilling to confess it even to himself, he did not resume hisplace in the wagon. His weariness made him lag behind. 

Albert was deeply sensitive to the impressions of time andplace. The twilight seemed to him to fall suddenly like a greatblack robe. The pines once more blurred into a dark, unbrokenmass. The low sun in the west dipped behind the hills, and therays of red and gold that it left were chill and cold. 

"Your brother wishes to see you. He is at the foot of the creekthat we crossed fifteen minutes ago. "

It was Bright Sun who spoke. 

"Dick wants to see me at the crossing of the creek! Why, Ithought he was ahead of me with the train!" exclaimed Albert. 

"No, he is waiting for you. He said that it was important, "repeated Bright Sun. 

Albert turned in the darkening twilight and went back on thetrail of the train toward the crossing of the creek. Bright Sunwent to the head of the train, and saw Dick walking there aloneand looking at the hills. 

"Your brother is behind at the creek, " said Bright Sun. "He isill and wishes you. Hurry! I think it is important!"

"Albert at the creek, ill?" exclaimed Dick in surprise andalarm. "Why, I thought he was here with the train!"

But Bright Sun had gone on ahead. Dick turned back hastily, andran along the trail through the twilight that was now fastmerging into the night. 

"Al, ill and left behind!" he exclaimed again and again. "Hemust have overexerted himself!"

His alarm deepened when he saw how fast the darkness wasincreasing. The chill bars of red and gold were gone from thewest. When he looked back he could see the train no more, andheard only the faint sound of the cracking of whips. The trainwas fast disappearing in the pass. 

But Dick had become a good woodsman and plainsman. His senseof direction was rarely wrong, and he went straight upon thetrail for the creek. Night had now come but it was not verydark, and presently he saw the flash of water. It was the creek, and a few more steps took him there. A figure rose out of theshadows. 

"Al!" he cried. "Have you broken down? Why didn't you get intothe wagon?"

"Dick, " replied Albert in a puzzled tone, "there's nothing thematter with me, except that I'm tired. Bright Sun told me thatyou were here waiting for me, and that you had somethingimportant to tell me. I couldn't find you, and now you comerunning. "

Dick stopped in amazement. 

"Bright Sun said I was waiting here for you, and had somethingimportant to tell you?" exclaimed Dick. "Why, he told me thatyou were ill, and had been left unnoticed at the crossing!"

The two boys stared at each other. 

"What does it mean?" they exclaimed together. 

From the dark pass before them came a sound which in the distanceresembled the report of a firecracker, followed quickly by two orthree other sounds, and then by many, as if the whole pack hadbeen ignited at once. But both boys knew it was not firecrackers. It was something far more deadly and terrible--a hail of riflebullets. They looked toward the pass and saw there pink and redflashes appearing and reappearing. Shouts, and mingled with thema continuous long, whining cry, a dreadful overnote, came to theirears. 

"The train has been attacked!" cried Dick. "It has marchedstraight into an ambush!"

"Indians?" exclaimed Albert, who was trembling violently fromsheer physical and mental excitement. 

"It couldn't be anything else!" replied Dick. "This is theircountry! And they must be in great force, too! Listen how thefight grows!"

The volume of the firing increased rapidly, but above it alwaysrose that terrible whining note. The red and pink flashes in thepass danced and multiplied, and the wind brought the faint odorof smoke. 

"We must help!" exclaimed Dick. "One can't stand here and seethem all cut down!"

He forgot in his generous heart, at that moment, that he dislikedConway and all his men, and that he and Albert had scarcely afriend in the train. He thought only of doing what he could tobeat back the Indian attack, and Albert felt the same impulse. Both had their rifles--fine, breech-loading, repeating weapons, and with these the two might do much. No one ever parted withhis arms after entering the Indian country. 

"Come on, Albert!" exclaimed Dick, and the two ran toward thepass. But before they had gone a hundred yards they stopped asif by the same impulse. That terrible whining note was nowrising higher and higher. It was not merely a war whoop, it hadbecome also a song of triumph. There was a certain silveryquality in the night air, a quality that made for illumination, and Dick thought he saw dusky forms flitting here and there inthe mouth of the pass behind the train. It was only fancy, because he was too far away for such perception, but in this casefancy and truth were the same. 

"Hurry, Dick! Let's hurry!" exclaimed the impulsive and generousAlbert. "If we don't, we'll be too late to do anything!"

They started again, running as fast as they could toward thatspace in the dark well where the flashes of red and blue came andwent. Dick was so intent that he did not hear the short, quickgasps of Albert, but he did hear a sudden fall beside him andstopped short. Albert was lying on his back unconscious. Afaint tinge of abnormal red showed on his lips. 

"Oh, I forgot! I forgot!" groaned Dick. 

Such sudden and violent exertion, allied with the excitement ofthe terrible moment, had overpowered the weak boy. Dick bentdown in grief. At first he thought his brother was dead, but thebreath still came. 

Dick did not know what to do. In the pass, under the shadow ofnight, the pines, and the mountain wall, the battle still flaredand crackled, but its volume was dying. Louder rose the fierce, whining yell, and its note was full of ferocity and triumph, while the hoarser cries of the white men became fewer and lower. Now Dick really saw dusky figures leaping about between him andthe train. Something uttering a shrill, unearthly cry of paincrashed heavily through the bushes near him and quickly passedon. It was a wounded horse, running away. 

Dick shuddered. Then he lifted Albert in his arms, and he hadthe forethought, even in that moment of excitement and danger, topick up Albert's rifle also. Strong as he naturally was, he hadthen the strength of four, and, turning off at a sharp angle, heran with Albert toward a dense thicket which clustered at thefoot of the mountain wall. 

He went a full three hundred yards before he was conscious ofweariness, and he was then at the edge of the thicket, whichspread over a wide space. He laid Albert down on some of lastyear's old leaves, and then his quick eyes caught the sight of alittle pool among some rocks. He dipped up the water in his felthat, and after carefully wiping the red stain from his brother'slips, poured the cold fluid upon his face. 

Albert revived, sat up, and tried to speak, but Dick pressed hishand upon his mouth. 

"Nothing above a whisper, Al, " he said softly. "The fight is notyet wholly over, and the Sioux are all about. "

"I fainted, " said Albert in a whisper. "O Dick, what amiserable, useless fellow I am! But it was the excitement andthe run!"

"It was doubtless a lucky thing that you fainted, " Dick whisperedback. "If you hadn't, both of us would probably be dead now. "

"It's not all over yet, " said Albert. 

"No, but it soon will be. Thank God, we've got our rifles. Doyou feel strong enough to walk now, Al? The deeper we get intothe thicket the better it will be for us. "

Albert rose slowly to his feet, rocked a little, and then stoodstraight. 

Only a few flashes were appearing now in the pass. Dick knew toowell who had been victorious. The battle over, the Sioux wouldpresently be ranging for stragglers and for plunder. He put onearm under Albert, while he carried both of the rifles himself. They walked on through the thicket and the night graduallydarkened. The silvery quality was gone from the air, and the twoboys were glad. It would not be easy to find them now. In thepass both the firing and the long, whining whoop ceased entirely. The flashes of red or blue appeared no more. Silence reignedthere and in the valley. Dick shivered despite himself. For themoment the silence was more terrible than the noise of battle hadbeen. Black, ominous shadows seemed to float down from themountains, clothing all the valley. A chill wind came up, moaningamong the pines. The valley, so warm and beautiful in the day, now inspired Dick with a sudden and violent repulsion. It was ahateful place, the abode of horror and dread. He wished to escapefrom it. 

They crossed the thicket and came up against the mountain wall. But it was not quite so steep as it had looked in the distance, and in the faint light Dick saw the trace of a trail leading upthe slope among the pines. It was not the trail of human beings, merely a faint path indicating that wild animals, perhapscougars, had passed that way. 

"How are you feeling, Al?" he asked, repeating his anxious query. 

"Better. My strength has come back, " replied his brother. 

"Then we'll go up the mountain. We must get as far away as wecan from those fiends, the Sioux. Thank God, Al, we're sparedtogether!"

Each boy felt a moment of devout thankfulness. They had notfallen, and they were there together! Each also thought of thesingular message that Bright Sun had given to them, but neitherspoke of it. 

They climbed for more than half an hour in silence, save for anoccasional whisper. The bushes helped Albert greatly. He pulledhimself along by means of them, and now and then the two boysstopped that he might rest. He was still excited under theinfluence of the night, the distant battle, and their peril, andhe breathed in short gasps, but did not faint again. Dick thrusthis arm at intervals under his brother's and helped him in theascent. 

After climbing a quarter of an hour, they stopped longer thanusual and looked down at the pass, which Dick reckoned should bealmost beneath them. They heard the faint sound of a shot, saw atiny beam of red appear, then disappear, and after that there wasonly silence and blank darkness. 

"It's all over now, " whispered Albert, and it was a whisper notof caution, but of awe. 

"Yes, it's all over, " Dick said in the same tone. "It's likely, Al, that you and I alone out of all that train are alive. Conwayand all the others are gone. "

"Except Bright Sun, " said Albert. 

The two boys looked at each other again, but said nothing. Theythen resumed their climbing, finding it easier this time. Theyreached a height at which the undergrowth ceased, but the pines, growing almost in ordered rows, stretched onward and upward. 

Dick sent occasional glances toward the pass, but the darknessthere remained unbroken. Every time he turned his eyes that wayhe seemed to be looking into a black well of terror. 

Both Dick and Albert, after the first hour of ascent, had afeeling of complete safety. The Sioux, occupied with their greatambush and victory, would not know there had been two stragglersbehind the train, and even had they known, to search for themamong the dense forests of distant mountain slopes would be afutile task. Dick's mind turned instead to the needs of theirsituation, and he began to appreciate the full danger andhardship of it. 

Albert and he were right in feeling thankful that they werespared together, although they were alone in the wilderness inevery sense of the word. It was hundreds of miles north, east, south, and west to the habitations of white men. Before them, fold on fold, lay unknown mountains, over which only hostilesavages roamed. Both he and Albert had good rifles and beltsfull of cartridges, but that was all. It was a situation todaunt the most fearless heart, and the shiver that suddenly ranover Dick did not come from the cold of the night. 

They took a long rest in a little clump of high pines and saw acold, clear moon come out in the pale sky. They felt the awfulsense of desolation and loneliness, for it seemed to them thatthe moon was looking down on an uninhabited world in which onlythey were left. They heard presently little rustlings in thegrass, and thought at first it was another ambush, though theyknew upon second thought that it was wild creatures moving on themountain side. 

"Come, Al, " said Dick. "Another half hour will put us on top ofthe ridge, and then I think it will be safe for us to stop. "

"I hope they'll be keeping a good room for us at the hotel upthere, " said Albert wanly. 

Dick tried to laugh, but it was a poor imitation and he gave itup. 

"We may find some sort of a sheltered nook, " he said hopefully. 

Dick had become conscious that it was cold, since the fever inhis blood was dying down. Whenever they stopped and their bodiesrelaxed, they suffered from chill. He was deeply worried aboutAlbert, who was in no condition to endure exposure on a bleakmountain, and wished now for the buffalo robe they had regardedas such a fine trophy. 

They reached the crest of the ridge in a half hour, as Dick hadexpected, and looking northward in the moonlight saw the dimoutlines of other ridges and peaks in a vast, intricate maze. Anarrow, wooded valley seemed to occupy the space between theridge on which they stood and the next one parallel to it to thenorthward. 

"It ought to be a good place down there to hide and rest, " saidAlbert. 

"I think you're right, " said Dick, "and we'll go down the slopepart of the way before we camp for the night. "

They found the descent easy. It was still open forest, mostlypine with a sprinkling of ash and oak, and it was warmer on thenorthern side, the winds having but little sweep there. 

The moon became brighter, but it remained cold and pitiless, recking nothing of the tragedy in the pass. It gave Dick a chillto look at it. But he spent most of the time watching among thetrees for some sheltered spot that Nature had made. It was overan hour before he found it, a hollow among rocks, with dwarfpines clustering thickly at the sides and in front. It was so wellhidden that he would have missed it had he not been looking forjust such a happy alcove, and at first he was quite sure that somewild animal must be using it as a den. 

He poked in the barrel of his rifle, but nothing flew out, andthen, pulling back the pine boughs, he saw no signs of a previousoccupation. 

"It's just waiting for us, Al, old fellow, " he said gayly, "butnothing of this kind is so good that it can't be made better. Look at all those dead leaves over there under the oaks. Beendrying ever since last year and full of warmth. "

They raked the dead leaves into the nook, covering the floor ofit thickly, and piling them up on the sides as high as they wouldstay, and then they lay down inside, letting the pine boughs infront fall back into place. It was really warm and cozy in therefor two boys who had been living out of doors for weeks, and Dickdrew a deep, long breath of content. 

"Suppose a panther should come snooping along, " said Albert, "andthink this the proper place for his bed and board?"

"He'd never come in, don't you fear. He'd smell us long beforehe got here, and then strike out in the other direction. "

Albert was silent quite a while, and as he made no noise, Dickthought he was asleep. But Albert spoke at last, though he spokelow and his tone was very solemn. 

"Dick, " he said, "we've really got a lot to be thankful for. Youknow that. "

"I certainly do, " said Dick with emphasis. "Now you go to sleep, Al. "

Albert was silent again, and presently his breathing became verysteady and regular. Dick touched him and saw that he was fastasleep. Then the older boy took off his coat and carefullyspread it on the younger, after which he raked a great lot of thedry leaves over himself, and soon he, too, was sound asleep. 

Dick awoke far in the night and stirred in his bed of leaves. But the movement caused him a little pain, and he wondered dimly, because he had not yet fully come through the gates of sleep, andhe did not remember where he was or what had happened. A tinyshaft of pale light fell on his forehead, and he looked up throughpine branches. It was the moon that sent the beam down upon him, but he could see nothing else. He stirred again and the littlepain returned. Then all of it came back to him. 

Dick reached out his hand and touched Albert. His brother wassleeping soundly, and he was still warm, the coat havingprotected him. But Dick was cold, despite the pines, the rocks, and the leaves. It was the cold that had caused the slight painin his joints when he moved, but he rose softly lest he wakeAlbert, and slipped outside, standing in a clear space betweenthe pines. 

The late moon was of uncommon brilliancy. It seemed a moltenmass of burnished silver, and its light fell over forest andvalley, range and peak. The trees on the slopes stood out likelacework, but far down in the valley the light seemed to shimmerlike waves on a sea of silver mist. It was all inexpressiblycold, and of a loneliness that was uncanny. Nothing stirred, nota twig, not a blade of grass. It seemed to Dick that if even aleaf fell on the far side of the mountain he could hear it. Itwas a great, primeval world, voiceless and unpeopled, brooding ina dread and mystic silence. 

Dick shivered. He had shivered often that night, but now thechill went to the marrow. It was the chill the first man musthave felt when he was driven from the garden and faced theglobe-girdling forest. He came back to the rock covert andleaned over until he could hear his brother breathing beneaththe pine boughs. Then he felt the surge of relief, ofcompanionship--after all, he was not alone in thewilderness!--and returned to the clear space between thepines. There he walked up and down briskly, swinging his arms, exercising all his limbs, until the circulation was fullyrestored and he was warm again. 

Dick felt the immensity of the problem that lay before him--onethat he alone must solve if it were to be solved at all. He andAlbert had escaped the massacre, but how were they to live inthat wilderness of mountains? It was not alone the question offood. How were they to save themselves from death by exposure?Those twinges in his knees had been warning signs. Oddly enough, his mind now fastened upon one thing. He was longing for thelost buffalo robe, his first great prize. It had been so largeand so warm, and the fur was so soft. It would cover both Albertand himself, and keep them warm on the coldest night. If theyonly had it now! He thought more of that robe just then than hedid of the food that they would need in the morning. Cast forthupon a primeval world, this first want occupied his mind to theexclusion of all others. 

He returned to the rocky alcove presently, and lay down again. He was too young and too healthy to remain awake long, despitethe full measure of their situation, and soon he slept soundlyonce more. He was first to awake in the morning, and the beamthat struck upon his forehead was golden instead of silver. It waswarm, too, and cheerful, and as Dick parted the branches andlooked out, he saw that the sun was riding high. It had beendaylight a full three hours at least, but it did not matter. Timewas perhaps the only commodity of which he and Albert nowhad enough and to spare. 

He took his coat off Albert and put it on himself, lest Albertmight suspect, and then began to sing purposely, with loudnessand levity, an old farm rhyme that had been familiar to the boysof his vicinity:

"Wake up, Jake, the day is breaking. The old cow died, her tail shaking. "

Albert sat up, rubbed his eyes, and stared at Dick and thewilderness. 

"Now look at him!" cried Dick. "He thinks he's been called tooearly. He thinks he'd like to sleep eight or ten hours longer!Get up, little boy! Yes, it's Christmas morning! Come and seewhat good old Santa has put in your stocking!"

Albert yawned again and laughed. Really, Dick was such acheerful, funny fellow that he always kept one in good spirits. Good old Dick!

"Old Santa filled our stockings, all right, " continued Dick, "buthe was so busy cramming 'em full of great forests and magnificentscenery that he forgot to leave any breakfast for us, and I'mafraid we'll have to hustle for it. "

They started down the mountain slope, and presently they came toa swift little brook, in which they bathed their faces, removing, at the same time, fragments of twigs and dried leaves from theirhair. 

"That was fine and refreshing, " said Dick, "but it doesn't fillmy stomach. Al, I could bite a tenpenny nail in half and digestboth pieces, too. "

"I don't care for nails, " said Albert, "but I think I could gnawdown a good-sized sapling. Hold me, Dick, or I'll be devouring apine tree. "

Both laughed, and put as good a face on it as they could, butthey were frightfully hungry, nevertheless. But they had grownup on farms, and they knew that the woods must contain food ofsome kind or other. They began a search, and after a while theyfound wild plums, now ripe, which they ate freely. They thenfelt stronger and better, but, after all, it was a light diet andthey must obtain food of more sustenance. 

"There are deer, of course, in this valley, " said Dick, fingeringhis rifle, "and sooner or later we'll get a shot at one of them, but it may be days, and--Al--I've got another plan. "

"What is it?"

"You know, Al, that I can travel pretty fast anywhere. Now thoseSioux, after cutting down the train and wiping out all thepeople, would naturally go away. They'd load themselves up withspoil and scoot. But a lot, scattered here and there, would beleft behind. Some of the teams would run away in all the shootingand shouting. And, Al, you and I need those things! We must havethem if we are going to live, and we both want to live!"

"Do you mean, Dick, that you're going back down there in thatawful pass?"

"That's just about what I had on my mind, " replied Dickcheerfully; "and now I've got it off, I feel better. "

"But you can never get back alive, Dick!" exclaimed Albert, hiseyes widening in horror at the memory of what they had seen andheard the night before. 

"Get back alive? Why, of course I will, " responded Dick. "AndI'll do more than that, too. You'll see me come galloping up themountain, bearing hogsheads and barrels of provisions. But, seriously, Al, it must be done. If I don't go, we'll starve todeath. "

"Then I'm going, too. "

"No, Al, old boy, you're not strong enough just yet, though youwill be soon. There are certainly no Sioux in this littlevalley, and it would be well if you were to go back up the slopeand stay in the pine shelter. It's likely that I'll be gonenearly all day, but don't be worried. You'll have one of therifles with you, and you know how to use it. "

Albert had a clear and penetrating mind, and he saw the truth ofDick's words. They went back up the slope, where he crept withinthe pine shelter and lay down on the leaves, while Dick wentalone on his mission. 

Chapter IVTreasure-Trove

When Dick passed the crest of the ridge and began the descenttoward the fatal pass, his heart beat heavily. The terror andshock of the night before, those distant shots and shouts, returned to him, and it was many minutes before he could shakeoff a dread that was almost superstitious in its nature. Butyouth, health, and the sunlight conquered. The day wasuncommonly brilliant. The mountains rolled back, green on theslopes, blue at the crests, and below him, like a brown robe, laythe wavering plain across which they had come. 

Dick could see no sign of human life down there. No rejoicingSioux warrior galloped over the swells, no echo of a triumphantwar whoop came to his ear. Over mountain and plain alike thesilence of the desert brooded. But high above the pass greatblack birds wheeled on lazy pinions. 

Dick believed more strongly than ever that the Sioux had goneaway. Savage tribes do not linger over a battlefield that isfinished; yet as he reached the bottom of the slope his heartbegan to beat heavily again, and he was loath to leave theprotecting shadow of the pines. He fingered his rifle, passinghis hand gently over the barrel and the trigger. It was a fineweapon, a beautiful weapon, and just at this moment it was awonderful weapon. He felt in its full force, for the first timein his life, what the rifle meant to the pioneer. 

The boy, after much hesitation and a great searching of eye andear, entered the pass. At once the sunlight dimmed. Walls asstraight as the side of a house rose above him three of fourhundred feet, while the distance between was not more than thirtyfeet. Dwarf pines grew here and there in the crannies of thecliffs, but mostly the black rock showed. Dwarf pines also grewat the bottom of the pass close to either cliff, and Dick keptamong them, bending far down and advancing very slowly. 

Fifty yards were passed, and still there was no sound save aslight moaning through the pass, which Dick knew was the sigh ofthe wind drawn into the narrow cleft. It made him shudder, andhad he not been of uncommon courage he would have turned back. 

He looked up. The great black birds, wheeling on lazy pinions, seemed to have sunk lower. That made him shudder, too, but itwas another confirmation of his belief that all the Sioux hadgone. He went eight or ten yards farther and then stopped short. Before him lay two dead horses and an overturned wagon. Bothhorses had been shot, and were still in their gear attached tothe wagon. 

Dick examined the wagon carefully, and as he yet heard and saw nosigns of a human being save himself, his courage grew. It was abig wagon of the kind used for crossing the plains, with boxesaround the inside like lockers. Almost everything of value hadbeen taken by the Sioux, but in one of the lockers Dick was luckyenough to find a large, heavy, gray blanket. He rolled it up atonce, and with a strap cut from the horse's gear tied it on his back, after the fashion of a soldier on the march. 

"The first great treasure!" he murmured exultantly. "Now for thenext!"

He found in the same wagon, jammed under the driver's seat andhidden from hasty view, about the half of a side of bacon--tenpounds, perhaps. Dick fairly laughed when he got his hands uponit, and he clasped it lovingly, as if it were a ten-pound nugget ofpure gold. But it was far better than gold just then. He wrappedit in a piece of canvas which he cut from the cover of the wagon, and tied it on his back above the blanket. 

Finding nothing more of value in the wagon, he resumed hisprogress up the pass. It was well for Dick that he wasstout-hearted, and well for him, too, that he was driven by greatneed, else he would surely have gone back. 

He was now come into the thick of it. Around him everywhere laythe fallen, and the deeds done in Indian warfare were notlacking. Sam Conway lay upon his side, and brutal as the man hadbeen, Dick felt grief when he saw him. Here were others, too, that he knew, and he counted the bodies of the few women who hadbeen with the train. They had died probably in the battle likethe rest. They, like the men, had been hardened, rough, andcoarse of speech and act, but Dick felt grief, too, when he sawthem. Nearly all the animals had been slain also in the fury ofthe attack, and they were scattered far up the pass. 

Dick resolutely turned his face away from the dead and began toglean among the wagons for what the Sioux might have left. Allthese wagons were built like the first that he had searched, andhe was confident that he would find much of value. Nor was hedisappointed. He found three more blankets, and in their ownwagon the buffalo robe that he had lamented. Doubtless, itspresence there was accounted for by the fact that the Sioux didnot consider a buffalo robe a trophy of their victory over whitemen. 

Other treasures were several boxes of crackers, about twentyboxes of sardines, three flasks of brandy, suitable for illness, a heavy riding cloak, a Virginia ham, two boxes of matches, asmall iron skillet, and an empty tin canteen. He might havesearched further, but he realized that time was passing, and thatAlbert must be on the verge of starvation. He had forgotten hisown hunger in the excitement of seek and find, but it came backnow and gnawed at him fiercely. Yet he would not touch any ofthe food. No matter how great the temptation he would not take asingle bite until Albert had the same chance. 

He now made all his treasures into one great package, except thebuffalo robe. That was too heavy to add to the others, and hetied it among the boughs of a pine, where the wolves could notreach it. Then, with the big pack on his back, he began thereturn. It was more weight than he would have liked to carry atan ordinary time, but now in his elation he scarcely felt it. Hewent rapidly up the slope and by the middle of the afternoon wasgoing down the other side. 

As he approached the pine alcove he whistled a familiar tune, popular at the time--"Silver Threads Among the Gold. " He knewthat Albert, if he were there--and he surely must be there--wouldrecognize his whistle and come forth. He stopped, and his hearthammered for a moment, but Albert's whistle took up the second lineof the air and Albert himself came forth jauntily. 

"We win, Al, old boy!" called Dick. "Just look at this pack!"

"I can't look at anything else, " replied Albert in the same joyfultones. "It's so big that I don't see you under it. Dick, haveyou robbed a treasure ship?"

"No, Al, " replied Dick, very soberly. "I haven't robbed atreasure ship, but I've been prowling with success over a lostbattlefield--a ghoul I believe they call such a person, but ithad to be done. I've enough food here to last a week at least, and we may find more. "

He put down his pack and took out the bacon. As Albert looked atit he began unconsciously to clinch and unclinch his teeth. Dicksaw his face, and, knowing that the same eager look was in hisown, he laughed a little. 

"Al, " he said, "you and I know now how wolves often feel, butwe're not going to behave like wolves. We're going to light afire and cook this bacon. We'll take the risk of the flame orsmoke being seen by Sioux. In so vast a country the chances areall in our favor. "

They gathered up pine cones and other fallen wood, and with thehelp of the matches soon had a fire. Then they cut strips ofbacon and fried them on the ends of sharpened sticks, the sputtermaking the finest music in their ears. 

Never before had either tasted food so delicious, and they atestrip after strip. Dick noticed with pleasure how the color cameinto Albert's cheeks, and how his eyes began to sparkle. Sleeping under the pines seemed to have benefited instead ofinjuring him, and certainly there was a wonderful healing balm inthe air of that pine-clad mountain slope. Dick could feel ithimself. How strong he was after eating! He shook his big shoulders. 

"What are you bristling up about?" asked Albert. 

"Merely getting ready to start again, " replied Dick. "You know theold saying, Al, 'you've got to hit while the iron's hot. ' Moretreasure is down there in the pass, but if we wait it won't staythere. Everything that we get now is worth more to us than diamonds. "

"It's so, " said Albert, and then he sighed sadly as he added, "How I wish I were strong enough to go with you and help!"

"Just you wait, " said Dick. "You'll be as strong as a horse in amonth, and then you'll have to do all the work and bring me mybreakfast in the morning as I lie in bed. Besides, you'd have tostay here and guard the treasure that we already have. Betterget into the pine den. Bears and wolves may be drawn by thescent of the food, and they might think of attacking you. "

They put out the fire, and while Albert withdrew into the pineshelter, Dick started again over the mountain. The sun wassetting blood red in the west, and in the east the shadows oftwilight were advancing. It required a new kind of courage toenter the pass in the night, and Dick's shudders returned. Atcertain times there is something in the dark that frightens thebravest and those most used to it. 

Dick hurried. He knew the way down the mountain now, and afterthe food and rest he was completely refreshed. But as fast as hewent the shadows of twilight came faster, and when he reached thebottom of the mountain it was quite dark. The plain before himwas invisible, and the forest on the slope behind him was a solidrobe of black. 

Dick set foot in the pass and then stopped. It was not dread butawe that thrilled him in every vein. He saw nothing before himbut the well of darkness that was the great slash in themountains. The wind, caught between the walls, moaned as in theday, and he knew perfectly well what if was, but it had all thenature of a dirge, nevertheless. Overhead a few dim starswavered in a dusky sky. 

Dick forced himself to go on. It required now moral, as well asphysical, courage to approach that lost battlefield lying underits pall of night. Never was the boy a greater hero than at thatmoment. He advanced slowly. A bush caught him by the coat andheld him an instant. He felt as if he had been seized in a man'sgrasp. He reached the first wagon, and it seemed to him, brokenand rifled, an emblem of desolation. As he passed it a strange, low, whining cry made his backbone turn to ice. But he recoveredand forced an uneasy little laugh at himself. It was only awolf, the mean coyote of the prairies!

He came now into the space where the mass of the wagons and thefallen lay. Dark figures, low and skulking, darted away. Morewolves! But one, a huge timber wolf, with a powerful body andlong fangs, stood up boldly and stared at him with red eyes. Dick's own eyes were used to the darkness now, and he stared backat the wolf, which seemed to be giving him a challenge. He halfraised his rifle, but the monster did not move. It was astranger to guns, and this wilderness was its own. 

It was Dick's first impulse to fire at the space between the redeyes, but he restrained it. He had not come there to fight withwolves, nor to send the report of a shot through the mountains. He picked up a stone and threw it at the wolf, striking him onthe flank. The monster turned and stalked sullenly away, showingbut little sign of fear. Dick pursued his task, and as he advancedsomething rose and, flapping heavily, sailed away. The shiver cameagain, but his will stopped it. 

He was now in the center of the wreckage, which in the darknesslooked as if it had all happened long ago. Nearly every wagonhad been turned over, and now and then dark forms lay between thewheels. The wind moaned incessantly down the pass and over theruin. 

Overcoming his repulsion, Dick went to work. The moon was nowcoming out and he could see well enough for his task. There wasstill much gleaning left by the quick raiders, and everything wouldbe of use to Albert and himself, even to the very gear on thefallen animals. He cut off a great quantity of this at once andput it in a heap at the foot of the cliff. Then he invaded thewagons and again brought forth treasures better than gold. 

He found in one side box some bottles of medicine, the simpleremedies of the border, which he packed very carefully, and inanother he discovered half a sack of flour--fifty pounds, perhaps. A third rewarded him with a canister of tea and atwenty-pound bag of ground coffee. He clutched these treasureseagerly. They would be invaluable to Albert. 

Continuing his search, he was rewarded with two pairs of heavyshoes, an ax, a hatchet, some packages of pins, needles, andthread, and a number of cooking utensils--pots, kettles, pans, and skillets. Just as he was about to quit for the purpose ofmaking up his pack, he noticed in one of the wagons a long, narrow locker made into the side and fastened with a stoutpadlock. The wagon had been plundered, but evidently the Siouxhad balked at the time this stout box would take for opening, andhad passed on. Dick, feeling sure that it must contain somethingof value, broke the padlock with the head of the ax. When helooked in he uttered a cry of delight at his reward. 

He brought forth from the box a beautiful double-barreledbreech-loading shotgun, and the bounty of chance did not stopwith the gun, for in the locker were over a thousand cartridgesto fit it. Dick foresaw at once that it would be invaluable toAlbert and himself in the pursuit of wild ducks, wild geese, and other feathered game. He removed some of the articles fromhis pack, which was already heavy enough, and put the shotgunand cartridges in their place. Then he set forth on the returnjourney. 

As he left the wagons and went toward the mouth of the pass, heheard soft, padding sounds behind him, and knew that the wolveswere returning, almost on his heels. He looked back once, andsaw a pair of fiery red eyes which he felt must belong to themonster, the timber wolf, but Dick was no longer under theuncanny spell of the night and the place; he was rejoicing toomuch in his new treasures, like a miser who has just added agreat sum to his hoard, to feel further awe of the wolves, thedarkness, and a new battlefield. 

Dick's second pack was heavier than his first, but as before, hetrod lightly. He took a different path when he left the pass, and here in the moonlight, which was now much brighter, he sawthe trace of wheels on the earth. The trace ran off irregularlythrough the short bushes and veered violently to and fro like thepath of a drunken man. Dick inferred at once that it had beenmade, not by a wagon entering the pass, but by one leaving it, and in great haste. No doubt the horses or mules had beenrunning away in fright at the firing. 

Dick's curiosity was excited. He wished to see what had becomeof that wagon. The trail continued to lead through the shortbushes that covered the plain just before entering the pass, andthen turned off sharply to the right, where it led to an abruptlittle canyon or gully about ten feet deep. The gully also waslined with bushes, and at first Dick could see nothing else, butpresently he made out a wagon lying on its side. No horses ormules were there; undoubtedly, they had torn themselves loosefrom the gear in time to escape the fall. 

Dick laid down his pack and descended to the wagon. He believedthat in such a place it had escaped the plundering hands of thehasty Sioux, and his belief was correct. The wagon, a large one, was loaded with all the articles necessary for the passage of theplains. Although much tossed about by the fall, nothing washurt. 

Here was a treasure-trove, indeed! Dick's sudden sense of wealthwas so overpowering that he felt a great embarrassment. How washe to take care of such riches? He longed at that moment for thestrength of twenty men, that he might take it all at once and goover the mountain to Albert. 

It was quite a quarter of an hour before he was able to composehimself thoroughly. Then he made a hasty examination of thewagon, so far as its position allowed. He found in it a rifle ofthe same pattern as that used by Albert and himself, asixteen-shot repeater, the most advanced weapon of the time, anda great quantity of cartridges to fit. There was also two of thenew revolvers, with sufficient cartridges, another ax, hatchets, saws, hammers, chisels, and a lot of mining tools. The remainingspace in the wagon was occupied by clothing, bedding, provisions, and medicines. 

Dick judged that the wolves could not get at the wagon as it lay, and leaving it he began his third ascent of the slope. He foundAlbert sound asleep in the pine alcove with his rifle besidehim. He looked so peaceful that Dick was careful not to awakenhim. He stored the second load of treasure in the alcove, and, wrapping one of the heavy blankets around himself, slept heavily. 

He told Albert the next day of the wagon in the gully, andnothing could keep him from returning in the morning forsalvage. He worked there two or three days, carrying heavy loadsup the mountain, and finally, when it was all in their den, heand Albert felt equipped for anything. Nor had the buffalo robebeen neglected. It was spread over much of the treasure. Albert, meanwhile, had assumed the functions of cook, and hedischarged them with considerable ability. His strength wasquite sufficient to permit of his collecting firewood, and hecould fry bacon and make coffee and tea beautifully. But theywere very sparing of the coffee and tea, as they also were of theflour, although their supplies of all three of these were greatlyincreased by the wagon in the gully. In fact, the very lastthing that Dick had brought over the mountain was a hundred-poundsack of flour, and after accomplishing this feat he had rested along time. 

Both boys felt that they had been remarkably fortunate while thiswork was going on. One circumstance, apparently simple initself, had been a piece of great luck, and that was the absenceof rain. It was not a particularly rainy country, but a showercould have made them thoroughly miserable, and, moreover, wouldhave been extremely dangerous for Albert. But nights and daysalike remained dry and cool, and as Albert breathed the marvelousbalsamic air he could almost feel himself transfused with itshealing property. Meanwhile, the color in his cheeks wassteadily deepening. 

"We've certainly had good fortune, " said Dick. 

"Aided by your courage and strength, " said Albert. "It took alot of nerve to go down there in that pass and hunt for what theSioux might have left behind. "

Dick disclaimed any superior merit, but he said nothing of themany tremors that he felt while performing the great task. 

An hour or two later, Albert, who was hunting through theirbelongings, uttered a cry of joy on finding a little package offishhooks. String they had among their stores, and it was easyenough to cut a slim rod for a pole. 

"Now I can be useful for something besides cooking, " he said. "It doesn't require any great strength to be a fisherman, and I'mmuch mistaken if I don't soon have our table supplied withtrout. "

There was a swift creek farther down the slope, and, angling withmuch patience, Albert succeeded in catching several mountaintrout and a larger number of fish of an unknown species, butwhich, like the trout, were very good to eat. 

Albert's exploit caused him intense satisfaction, and Dickrejoiced with him, not alone because of the fish, but alsobecause of his brother's triumph. 

Chapter VThe Lost Valley

They spent a week on the slope, sleeping securely and warmlyunder their blankets in the pine alcove, and fortune favored themthroughout that time. It did not rain once, and there was not asign of the Sioux. Dick did not revisit the pass after the firstthree days, and he knew that the wolves and buzzards had beenbusy there. But he stripped quite clean the wagon which hadfallen in the gully, even carrying away the canvas cover, whichwas rainproof. Albert wondered that the Sioux had not returned, but Dick had a very plausible theory to account for it. 

"The Sioux are making war upon our people, " he said, "and whyshould they stay around here? They have cut off what isdoubtless the first party entering this region in a long time, and now they have gone eastward to meet our troops. Beside, theSioux are mostly plains Indians, and they won't bother much aboutthese mountains. Other Indians, through fear of the Sioux, willnot come and live here, which accounts for this region beinguninhabited. "

"Still a wandering band of Sioux might come through at any timeand see us, " said Albert. 

"That's so, and for other reasons, too, we must move. It'smighty fine, Al, sleeping out in the open when the weather's dryand not too cold, but I've read that the winter in thenorthwestern mountains is something terrible, and we've got toprepare for it. "

It was Dick's idea to go deeper into the mountains. He knew verywell that the chance of their getting out before spring were tooslender to be considered, and he believed that they could findbetter shelter and a more secure hiding place farther in. So heresolved upon a journey of exploration, and though Albert was nowstronger, he must go alone. It was his brother's duty to remainand guard their precious stores. Already bears and mountain lions, drawn by the odors of the food, had come snuffing about thealcove, but they always retreated from the presence of either ofthe brothers. One huge silver tip had come rather alarminglyclose, but when Dick shouted at him he, too, turned and lumberedoff among the pines. 

"What you want to guard against, Al, " said Dick, "is thievesrather than robbers. Look out for the sneaks. We'll fill thecanteen and all our iron vessels with water so that you won'thave to go even to the brook. Then you stay right here by thefire in the daytime, and in the den at night. You can keep a bedof coals before the den when you're asleep, and no wild animalwill ever come past it. "

"All right, Dick, " said Albert courageously; "but don't you getlost over there among those ranges and peaks. "

"I couldn't do it if I tried, " replied Dick in the same cheerfultone. "You don't know what a woodsman and mountaineer I'vebecome, Al, old boy!"

Albert smiled. Yet each boy felt the full gravity of theoccasion when the time for Dick's departure came, at dawn of acool morning, gleams of silver frost showing here and there onthe slopes. Both knew the necessity of the journey, however, andhid their feelings. 

"Be back to-morrow night, Al, " said Dick. 

"Be ready for you, Dick, " said Albert. 

Then they waved their hands to each other, and Dick strode awaytoward the higher mountains. He was well armed, carrying hisrepeating rifle and the large hunting knife which was useful forso many purposes. He had also thrust one of the revolvers intohis belt. 

Flushed with youth and strength, and equipped with such goodweapons, he felt able to take care of himself in any company intowhich he might be thrown. 

He reached the bottom of the slope, and looking back, saw Albertstanding on a fallen log. His brother was watching him and wavedhis hand. Dick waved his in reply, and then, crossing the creek, began the ascent of the farther slope. There the pines and thedistance rendered the brothers invisible to each other, and Dickpressed on with vigor. His recent trips over the lower slopesfor supplies had greatly increased his skill in mountain climbing, and he did not suffer from weariness. Up, up, he went, and thepines grew shorter and scrubbier. But the thin, crisp air was asheer delight, and he felt an extraordinary pleasure in mereliving. 

Dick looked back once more from the heights toward the spotwhere their camp lay and saw lying against the blue a thin graythread that only the keenest eye would notice. He knew it to bethe smoke from Albert's fire and felt sure that all was well. 

While the slope which he was ascending was fairly steep, it waseasy enough to find a good trail among the pines. There waslittle undergrowth and the ascent was not rocky. When Dick stoodat last on the crest of the ridge he uttered a cry of delight andamazement. 

The slope on which he stood was merely a sort of gate to thehigher mountains, or rather it was a curtain hiding the view. 

Before him, range on range and peak on peak, lay mightymountains, some of them shooting up almost three miles above thesea, their crests and heads hid in eternal snow. Far away tonorthward and westward stretched the tremendous maze, and itseemed to Dick to have no end. A cold, dazzling sunlight pouredin floods over the snowy summits, and he felt a great sense ofawe. It was all so grand, so silent, and so near to the Infinite. He saw the full majesty of the world and of the Power that hadcreated it. For a little while his mission and all human passionsand emotions floated away from him; he was content merely tostand there, without thinking, but to feel the immensity andmajesty of it all. 

Dick presently recovered himself and with a little laugh cameback to earth. But he was glad to have had those moments. Hebegan the descent, which was rougher and rockier than the ascenthad been, but the prospect was encouraging. The valley betweenthe ridge on the slope of which he stood and the higher onebeyond it seemed narrow, but he believed that he would find in itthe shelter and hiding that he and Albert wished. 

As he went down the slope became steeper, but once more thepines, sheltered from the snows and cruel winds, grew to a greatsize. There was also so much outcropping of rock that Dick washopeful of finding another alcove deep enough to be convertedinto a house. 

When nearly down, he caught a gleam among the trees that he knewwas water, and again he was encouraged. Here was a certainty ofone thing that was an absolute necessity. Soon he was in thevalley, which he found exceedingly narrow and almost choked witha growth of pine, ash, and aspen, a tiny brook flowing down itscenter. He was tired and warm from the long descent and kneltdown and drank from the brook. Its waters were as cold as ice, flowing down from the crest of one of the great peaks clad, winter and summer, in snow. 

Dick followed the brook for fully a mile, seeking everywhere asuitable place in which he and his brother might make a home, buthe found none. The valley resembled in most of its aspects agreat canyon, and all the fertile earth on either side of the brookwas set closely with pine, ash, and aspen. These would form ashelter from winds, but they would not protect from rain and thegreat colds and snows of the high Rockies. 

Dick noticed many footprints of animals at the margin of thestream, some of great size, which he had no doubt were made bygrizzlies or silver tips. He also believed that the beaver mightbe found farther down along this cold and secluded water, but hewas not interested greatly just then in animals; he was seekingfor that most necessary of all things--something that must behad--a home. 

It seemed to him at the end of his estimated mile that the brookwas going to flow directly into the mountain which rose beforehim many hundreds of feet; but when he came to the rocky wall hefound that the valley turned off at a sharp angle to the left, and the stream, of course, followed it, although it now descendedmore rapidly, breaking three times into little foamy falls fiveor six feet in height. Then another brook came from a deep cleftbetween the mountains on the eastern side and swelled with itsvolume the main stream, which now became a creek. 

The new valley widened out to a width of perhaps a quarter of amile, although the rocky walls on either side rose to a greatheight and were almost precipitous. Springs flowed from thesewalls and joined the creek. Some of them came down the face ofthe cliffs in little cascades of foam and vapor, but othersspouted from the base of the rock. Dick knelt down to drink fromone of the latter, but as his face approached the water he jumpedaway. He dipped up a little of it in his soft hat and tastedit. It was brackish and almost boiling hot. 

Dick was rather pleased at the discovery. A bitter and hotspring might be very useful. He had imbibed--like manyothers--from the teaching of his childhood that any bitter liquidwas good for you. As he advanced farther the valley continued tospread out. It was now perhaps a half mile in width, and wellwooded. The creek became less turbulent, flowing with a depth ofseveral feet in a narrow channel. 

The whole aspect of the valley so far had been that of awilderness uninhabited and unvisited. A mule deer lookedcuriously at Dick, then walked away a few paces and stood there. When Dick glanced back his deership was still curious andgazing. A bear crashed through a thicket, stared at the boy withred eyes, then rolled languidly away. Dick was quick tointerpret these signs. They were unfamiliar with human presence, and he was cheered by the evidence. Yet at the end of anotherhundred yards of progress he sank down suddenly among somebushes and remained perfectly silent, but intently watchful. 

He had seen a column of smoke rising above the pines and aspens. Smoke meant fire, fire meant human beings, and human beings, inthat region, meant enemies. He had no doubt that Sioux were atthe foot of that column of smoke. It was a tragic discovery. Hewas looking for a home for Albert and himself somewhere in thisvalley, but there could be no home anywhere near the Sioux. Heand his brother must turn in another direction, and with painfuleffort lug their stores over the ridges. 

But Dick was resolved to see. There were great springs ofcourage and tenacity in his nature, and he wished, moreover, toprove his new craft as a woodsman and mountaineer. He remainedawhile in the bushes, watching the spire, and presently, to hisamazement, it thinned quickly and was gone. It had disappearedswiftly, while the smoke from a fire usually dies down. It wasDick's surmise that the Sioux had put out their fire byartificial means and then had moved on. Such an act wouldindicate a fear of observation, and his curiosity increasedgreatly. 

But Dick did not forget his caution. He crouched in the bushesfor quite a while yet, watching the place where the smoke hadbeen, but the sky remained clear and undefiled. He heard nothingand saw nothing but the lonely valley. At last he crept forwardslowly, and with the greatest care, keeping among bushes andtreading very softly. He advanced in this manner three or fourhundred yards, to the very point which must have been the base ofthe spire of smoke--he had marked it so well that he could notbe mistaken--and from his leafy covert saw a large open spaceentirely destitute of vegetation. He expected to see there alsothe remains of a camp fire, but none was visible, not a singlecharred stick, nor a coal. 

Dick was astonished. A new and smoking camp fire must leavesome trace. One could not wipe it away absolutely. Heremained a comparatively long time, watching in the edge of thebushes beside the wide and open space. 

He still saw and heard nothing. Never before had a camp firevanished so mysteriously and completely, and with it those whohad built it. At last, his curiosity overcoming his caution, headvanced into the open space, and now saw that it fell awaytoward the center. Advancing more boldly, he found himself nearthe edge of a deep pit. 

The pit was almost perfectly round and had a diameter of aboutten feet. So far as Dick could judge, it was about forty feetdeep and entirely empty. It looked like a huge well dug by thehand of man. 

While Dick was gazing at the pit, an extraordinary and terrifyingthing happened. The earth under his feet began to shake. Atfirst he could not believe it, but when he steadied himself andwatched closely, the oscillating motion was undoubtedly there. It was accompanied, too, by a rumble, dull and low, but whichsteadily grew louder. It seemed to Dick that the round pit wasthe center of this sound. 

Despite the quaking of the earth, he ventured again into the openspace and saw that the pit had filled with water. Moreover, thiswater was boiling, as he could see it seething and bubbling. Ashe looked, clouds of steam shot up to a height of two or threehundred feet, and Dick, in alarm, ran back to the bushes. Heknew that this was the column of vapor he had first seen from adistance, but he was not prepared for what followed. 

There was an explosion so loud that it made Dick jump. Then agreat column of water shot up from the boiling pit to a height ofperhaps fifty feet, and remained there rising and falling. Fromthe apex of this column several great jets rose, perhaps, threetimes as high. 

The column of hot water glittered and shimmered in the sun, andDick gazed in wonder and delight. He had read enough torecognize the phenomenon that he now saw. It was a geyser, acolumn of hot water shooting up, at regular intervals and withgreat force, from the unknown deeps of the earth. 

As he gazed, the column gradually sank, the boiling water in thepit sank, too, and there was no longer any rumble or quaking ofthe earth. Dick cautiously approached the pit again. It was asempty as a dry well, but he knew that in due time the phenomenonwould be repeated. He was vastly interested, but he did not waitto see the recurrence of the marvel, continuing his way down thevalley over heaps of crinkly black slag and stone, which wereage-old lava, although he did not know it, and through groves ofpine and ash, aspen, and cedar. He saw other round pits andwatched a second geyser in eruption. He saw, too, numerous hotsprings, and much steamy vapor floating about. There were alsomineral springs and springs of the clearest and purest coldwater. It seemed to Dick that every minute of his wanderingsrevealed to him some new and interesting sight, while on allsides of the little valley rose the mighty mountains, theirsummits in eternal snow. 

A great relief was mingled with the intense interest that Dickfelt. He had been sure at first that he saw the camp fires ofthe Sioux, but after the revulsion it seemed as if it were aplace never visited by man, either savage or civilized. As hecontinued down the valley, he noticed narrow clefts in themountains opening into them from either side, but he felt surefrom the nature of the country that they could not go back far. The clefts were four in number, and down two of them cameconsiderable streams of clear, cold water emptying into the maincreek. 

The valley now narrowed again and Dick heard ahead a slighthumming sound which presently grew into a roar. He was puzzledat first, but soon divined the cause. The creek, or ratherlittle river, much increased in volume by the tributary brooks, made a great increase of speed in its current. Dick saw beforehim a rising column of vapor and foam, and in another minute ortwo stood beside a fine fall, where the little river took a sheerdrop of forty feet, then rushed foaming and boiling through anarrow chasm, to empty about a mile farther on into a beautifulblue lake. 

Dick, standing on a high rock beside the fall, could see the lakeeasily. Its blue was of a deep, splendid tint, and on every sidepines and cedars thickly clothed the narrow belt of groundbetween it and the mountains. The far end seemed to back upabruptly against a mighty range crowned with snow, but Dick feltsure that an outlet must be there through some cleft in therange. The lake itself was of an almost perfect crescent shape, and Dick reckoned its length at seven miles, with a greatestbreadth, that is, at the center, of about two miles. He judged, too, from its color and its position in a fissure that its depthmust be very great. 

The surface of the lake lay two or three hundred feet lower thanthe rock on which Dick was standing, and he could see its entireexpanse, rippling gently under the wind and telling only of peaceand rest. Flocks of wild fowl flew here and there, showing whiteor black against the blue of its waters, and at the nearer shoreDick thought he saw an animal like a deer drinking, but thedistance was too great to tell certainly. 

He left the rock and pursued his way through dwarf pines andcedars along the edge of the chasm in which the torrent boiledand foamed, intending to go down to the lake. Halfway hestopped, startled by a long, shrill, whistling sound that boresome resemblance to the shriek of a distant locomotive. Thewilderness had been so silent before that the sound seemed tofill all the valley, the ridges taking it up and giving it backin one echo after another until it died away among the peaks. Ina minute or so the whistling shriek was repeated and then two orthree times more. 

Dick was not apprehensive. It was merely a new wonder in thatvalley of wonders, and none of these wonders seemed to haveanything to do with man. The sound apparently came from a pointtwo or three hundred yards to his left at the base of themountain, and turning, Dick went toward it, walking very slowlyand carefully through the undergrowth. He had gone almost thewhole distance seeing nothing but the mountain and the forest, when the whistling shriek was suddenly repeated so close to himthat he jumped. He sank down behind a dwarf pine, and then hesaw not thirty feet away the cause of the sound. 

A gigantic deer, a great grayish animal, stood in a little openspace, and at intervals emitted that tremendous whistle. Itstood as high as a horse, and Dick estimated its weight at morethan a thousand pounds. He was looking at a magnificent specimenof the Rocky Mountain elk, by far the largest member of the deertribe that he had ever seen. The animal, the wind blowing fromhim toward Dick, was entirely unsuspicious of danger, and the boycould easily have put a bullet into his heart, but he had nodesire to do so. Whether the elk was whistling to his mate orsending a challenge to a rival bull he did not know, and afterwatching and admiring him for a little while he crept away. 

But Dick was not wholly swayed by sentiment. He said to himselfas he went away among the pines: "Don't you feel too safe, Mr. Elk, we'll have to take you or some of your brethren later on. I've heard that elk meat is good. "

He resumed his journey and was soon at the edge of the lake, which at this point had a narrow sandy margin. Its waters werefresh and cold, and wold duck, fearless of Dick, swam within afew yards of him. The view here was not less majestic andbeautiful than it had been from the rock, and Dick, sensitive tonature, was steeped in all its wonder and charm. He was glad tobe there, he was glad that chance or Providence had led him tothis lovely valley. He felt no loneliness, no fear for thefuture, he was content merely to breathe and feel the glory of itpermeate his being. 

He picked up a pebble presently and threw it into the lake. Itsank with the sullen plunk that told unmistakably to the boy'sears of great depths below. Once or twice he saw a fish leap up, and it occurred to him that here was another food supply. 

He suddenly pulled himself together with a jerk. He could notsit there all day dreaming. He had come to find a winter homefor Albert and himself, and he had not yet found it. But he hada plan from which he had been turned aside for a while by thesight of the lake, and now he went back to carry it out. 

There were two clefts opening into the mountains from his side ofthe river, and he went into the first on the return path. It waschoked with pine and cedars and quickly ended against a mountainwall, proving to be nothing but a very short canyon. There wasmuch outcropping of rock here, but nothing that would help towarda shelter, and Dick went on to the second cleft. 

This cleft, wider than the other, was the one down which theconsiderable brook flowed, and the few yards or so of fertileground on either side of the stream produced a rank growth oftrees. They were so thick that the boy could see only a littledistance ahead, but he believed that this slip of a tributaryvalley ran far back in the mountains, perhaps a dozen miles. 

He picked his way about a mile and then came suddenly upon ahouse. It stood in an alcove protected by rocks and trees, butsafe from snow slide. It was only a log hut of one room, withthe roof broken in and the door fallen from its hinges, but Dickknew well enough the handiwork of the white man. As heapproached, some wild animal darted out of the open door andcrashed away among the undergrowth, but Dick knew that whitemen had once lived there. It was equally evident that they hadlong been gone. 

It was a cabin of stout build, its thick logs fitted nicelytogether, and the boards of the roof had been strong and welllaid. Many years must have passed to have caused so muchdecay. Dick entered and was saluted by a strong, catlike odor. Doubtless a mountain lion had been sleeping there, and this wasthe tenant that he had heard crashing away among the undergrowth. On one side was a window closed by a sagging oaken shutter, whichDick threw open. The open door and window established a draught, and as the clean sweet air blew through the cabin the odor of thecat began to disappear. 

Dick examined everything with the greatest interest andcuriosity. There was a floor of puncheons fairly smooth, a stonefireplace, a chimney of mud and sticks, dusty wooden hooks, andrests nailed into the wall, a rude table overturned in a corner, and something that looked like a trap. It was the last that toldthe tale to Dick. When he examined it more critically, he had nodoubt that it was a beaver trap. 

Nor did he have any doubt but that this hut had been built bybeaver trappers long ago, either by independent hunters, or bythose belonging to one of the great fur companies. The beaver, he believed, had been found on this very brook, and when theywere all taken the trappers had gone away, leaving the cabinforever, as they had left many another one. It might be at leastforty years old. 

Dick laughed aloud in his pleasure at this good luck. The cabinwas dusty, dirty, disreputable, and odorous, but that draughtwould take away all the odors and his stout arm could soon repairthe holes in the roof, put the door back on its hinges, andstraighten the sagging window shutter. Here was their home, ahouse built by white men as a home, and now about to be used assuch again. Dick did not feel like a tenant moving in, but likean owner. It would be a long, hard task to bring their suppliesover the range but Albert and he had all the time in the world. It was one of the effects of their isolation to make Dick feelthat there was no such thing as time. 

He took another survey of the cabin. It was really a splendidplace, a palace in its contrast with the surrounding wilderness, and he laughed with pure delight. When it was swept and cleaned, and a fire blazing on the flat stone that served for a hearth, while the cold winds roared without, it would be the snuggesthome west of the Missouri. He was so pleased that he undertookat once some primary steps in the process of purification. Hecut a number of small, straight boughs, tied them together with apiece of bark, the leaves at the head thus forming a kind ofbroom, and went to work. 

He raised a great dust, which the draught blew into his eyes, ears, and nose, and he retreated from the place, willing to letthe wind take it away. He would finish the task some other day. Then the clear waters of the brook tempted him. Just above thecabin was a deep pool which may have been the home of the beaverin an older time. Now it was undisturbed, and the waters were sopure that he could see the sand and rock on the bottom. 

Still tingling from the dust, he took off his clothes and divedhead foremost into the pool. He came up shivering andsputtering. It was certainly the coldest water into which hehad ever leaped! After such a dash one might lie on a slab ofice to warm. Dick forgot that every drop in the brook had comefrom melting snows far up on the peaks, but, once in, he resolvedto fight the element. He dived again, jumped up and down, andkicked and thrashed those waters as no beaver had ever done. Gradually he grew warm, and a wonderful exhilaration shot throughevery vein. Then he swam around and around and across andacross the pool, disporting like a young white water god. 

Dick was thoroughly enjoying himself, but when he began to feelcold again in seven or eight minutes he sprang out, ran up anddown the bank, and rubbed himself with bunches of leaves until hewas dry. After he had dressed, he felt that he had actuallygrown in size and strength in the last half hour. 

He was now ravenously hungry. His absorption in his explorationsand discoveries had kept him from thinking of such a thing asfood until this moment, but when Nature finally got in her claimshe made it strong and urgent. He had brought cold supplies withhim, upon which he feasted, sitting in the doorway of the cabin. Then he noticed the lateness of the hour. Shadows werefalling across the snow on the western peaks and ridges. Thegolden light of the sun was turning red, and in the valley theair was growing misty with the coming twilight. 

He resolved to pass the night in the cabin. He secured thewindow shutter again, tied up the fallen door on rude barkhinges, and fastened it on the inside with a stick--hasps forthe bar were there yet--but before retiring he took a long lookin the direction in which Albert and their camp lay. 

A great range of mountains lay between, but Dick felt that hecould almost see his brother, his camp fire, and the pinealcove. He was Albert's protector, and this would be the firstentire night in the mountains in which the weaker boy had beenleft alone, but Dick was not apprehensive about him. He believedthat their good fortune would still endure, and secure in thatbelief he rolled himself up in the blanket which he had broughtin a little pack on his back, and laid himself down in the cornerof the cabin. 

The place was not yet free from dust and odor, but Dick's hardylife was teaching him to take as trifles things that civilizationusually regarded as onerous, and he felt quite comfortable wherehe lay. He knew that it was growing cold in the gorge, and theshelter of the cabin was acceptable. He saw a little strip ofwan twilight through a crack in the window, but it soon faded andpitchy darkness filled the narrow valley. 

Dick fell into a sound sleep, from which he awoke only once inthe night, and then it was a noise of something as of clawsscratching at the door which stirred him. The scratch wasrepeated only once or twice, and with it came the sound of heavy, gasping puffs, like a big animal breathing. Then the creaturewent away, and Dick, half asleep, murmured: "I've put you out ofyour house, my fine friend, bear or panther, whichever you maybe. " In another minute he was wholly asleep again and did notwaken until an edge of glittering sunlight, like a sword blade, came through the crack in the window and struck him across theeyes. 

He bathed a second time in the pool, ate what was left of thefood, and started on the return journey, moving at a brisk pace. He made many calculations on the way. It would take a week tomove all their goods over the range to the cabin, but, oncethere, he believed that they would be safe for a long time;indeed, they might spend years in the valley, if they wished, andnever see a stranger. 

It was afternoon when he approached the pine alcove, but thefamiliar spire of smoke against the blue had assured him alreadythat Albert was there and safe. In fact, Albert saw him first. He had just returned from the creek, and, standing on a rock, afish in his hand, hailed his brother, who was coming up theslope. 

"Halloo, Dick!" he shouted. "Decided to come home, have you?Hope you've had a pleasant visit. "

"Fine trip, Al, old man, " Dick replied. "Great place overthere. Think we'd better move to it. "

"That so? Tell us about it. "

Dick, ever sensitive to Albert's manner and appearance, noticedthat the boy's voice was fuller, and he believed that the dry, piny air of the mountains was still at its healing work. Hejoined Albert, who was waiting for him, and who, after giving hishand a hearty grasp, told him what he had found. 

Chapter VICastle Howard

Albert agreed with Dick that they should begin to more at once, and his imagination was greatly stirred by Dick's narrative. "Why, it's an enchanted valley!" he exclaimed. "And a house isthere waiting for us, too! Dick, I want to see it right away!"

Dick smiled. 

"Sorry, but you'll have to wait a little, Al, old man, " he said. "You're not strong enough yet to carry stores over the big range, though you will be very soon, and we can't leave our preciousthings here unguarded. So you'll have to stay and act asquartermaster while I make myself pack mule. When we have allthe things over there, we can fasten them up in our house, wherebears, panthers, and wolves can't get at them. "

Albert made a wry face, but he knew that he must yield tonecessity. Dick began the task the next morning, and it waslong, tedious, and most wearing. More than once he felt likeabandoning some of their goods, but he hardened his resolutionwith the reflection that all were precious, and not a singlething was abandoned. 

It was more than a week before it was all done, and it was notuntil the last trip that Albert went with him, carrying besideshis gun a small pack. The weather was still propitious. Oncethere had been a light shower in the night, but Albert wasprotected from it by the tarpaulin which they had made of thewagon cover, and nothing occurred to check his progress. He atewith an appetite that he had never known before, and he breathedby night as well as by day the crisp air of the mountains tinglingwith the balsam of the pines. It occurred to Dick that to bemarooned in these mountains was perhaps the best of all thingsthat could have happened to Albert. 

They went slowly over the range toward the enchanted valley, stopping now and then because Albert, despite his improvement, was not yet equal to the task of strenuous climbing, but allthings continued auspicious. There was a touch of autumn on thefoliage, and the shades of red and yellow were appearing on theleaves of all the trees except the evergreens, but everythingtold of vigorous life. As they passed the crest of the range andbegan the descent of the slope toward the enchanted valley, amule deer crashed from the covert and fled away with greatbounds. Flocks of birds rose with whirrings from the bushes. From some point far away came the long, whistling sound that madeAlbert cry out in wonder. But Dick laughed. 

"It's the elk, " he said. "I saw one when I first came into thevalley. I think they are thick hereabout, and I suspect thatthey will furnish us with some good winter food. "

Albert found the valley all that Dick had represented it to be, and more. He watched the regular eruptions of the geysers withamazement and delight; he insisted on sampling the mineralsprings, and intended to learn in time their various properties. The lake, in all its shimmering aspects, appealed to his love ofthe grand and beautiful, and he promptly named it "The HowardSea, after its discoverer, you know, " he said to Dick. Finally, the cabin itself filled him with delight, because he foresaweven more thoroughly than Dick how suitable it would be for ahome in the long winter months. He installed himself ashousekeeper and set to work at once. 

The little cabin was almost choked with their supplies, whichDick had been afraid to leave outside for fear that theprovisions would be eaten and the other things injured by thewild animals, and now they began the task of assorting andputting them into place. 

The full equipment of the wagon that Dick had found in the gully, particularly the tools, proved to be a godsend. They made moreracks on the walls--boring holes with the augers and thendriving in pegs--on which they laid their axes and extra rifles. In the same manner they made high shelves, on which their foodwould be safe from prowling wild beasts, even should they succeedin breaking in the door. But Dick soon made the latterimpossible by putting the door on strong hinges of leather whichhe made from the gear that he had cut from the horses. He alsosplit a new bar from one of the young ash trees and strengthenedthe hasps on the inside. He felt now that when the bar was inplace not even the heaviest grizzly could force the door. 

The task of mending the roof was more difficult. He knew how tosplit rude boards with his ax, but he had only a few nails withwhich to hold them in place. He solved the problem by boringauger holes, into which he drove pegs made from strong twigs. The roof looked water-tight, and he intended to reenforce itlater on with the skins of wild animals that he expected tokill--there had been no time yet for hunting. 

Throughout these operations, which took about a week, they sleptin the open in a rude tent which they made of the wagon cover andset beside the cabin, for two reasons: because Dick believed theopen air at all times to be good for Albert, and because he wasaverse to using the cabin as a dormitory until it was thoroughlycleansed and aired. 

Albert made himself extremely useful in the task of refurbishingthe cabin. He brushed out all the dust, brought water from thebrook and scrubbed the floor, and to dry the latter built theirfirst fire on the hearth with pine cones and other fallen wood. As he touched the match to it, he did not conceal his anxiety. 

"The big thing to us, " he said, "is whether or not this chimneywill draw. That's vital, I tell you, Dick, to a housekeeper. Ifit puffs out smoke and fills the cabin with it, we're to have ahard time and be miserable. If it draws like a porous plasterand takes all the smoke up it, then we're to have an easy time ofit and be happy. "

Both watched anxiously as Albert touched the match to some pineshavings which were to form the kindling wood. The shavingscaught, a light blaze leaped up, there came a warning crackle, and smoke, too, arose. Which way would it go? The little columnwavered a moment and then shot straight up the chimney. It grewlarger, but still shot straight up the chimney. The flames roaredand were drawn in the same direction. 

Albert laughed and clapped his hands. 

"It's to be an easy time and a happy life!" he exclaimed. "Thoseold beaver hunters knew what they were about when they built thischimney!"

"You can cook in here, Al, " said Dick; "but I suggest that wesleep in the tent until the weather grows bad. "

Dick had more than one thing in mind in making this suggestionabout the tent and sleeping. The air of the cabin could be closeat night even with the window open, but in the tent with the flapthrown back--they never closed it--they breathed only a freshbalsamic odor, crisp with the coolness of autumn. He had watchedAlbert all the time. Now and then when he had exerted himselfmore than usual, the younger boy would cough, and at times he wasvery tired, but Dick, however sharply he watched, did not seeagain the crimson stain on the lips that he had noticed the nightof the flight from the massacre. 

But the older brother, two years older only, in fact, but tenyears older, at least, in feeling, did notice a great change inAlbert, mental as well as physical. The younger boy ceased tohave periods of despondency. While he could not do the thingsthat Dick did, he was improving, and he never lamented his lackof strength. It seemed to him a matter of course, so far as Dickcould judge, that in due time he should be the equal of the olderand bigger boy in muscle and skill. 

Albert, moreover, had no regrets for the world without. Theirlife with the wagon train had been far from pleasant, and he hadonly Dick, and Dick had only him. Now the life in the enchantedvalley, which was a real valley of enchantments, was sufficientfor him. Each day brought forth some new wonder, some fresh andinteresting detail. He was a capable fisherman, and he caughttrout in both the brook and the river, while the lake yielded tohis line other and larger fish, the names of which neither boyknew, but which proved to be of delicate flavor when broiled overthe coals. Just above them was a boiling hot spring, and Albertused the water from this for cooking purposes. "Hot and coldwater whenever you please, " he said to Dick. "Nothing to do butto turn the tap. "

Dick smiled; he, too, was happy. He enjoyed life in theenchanted valley, where everything seemed to have conspired intheir favor. When they had been there about a week, and theirhome was ready for any emergency, Dick took his gun and wentforth, the hunting spirit strong within him. They had heard theelk whistling on the mountain side nearly every day, and hebelieved that elk meat would prove tender and good. Anyway hewould see. 

Dick did not feel much concern about their food supply. Hebelieved that vast quantities of big game would come into thisvalley in the winter to seek protection from the mighty snows ofthe northern Rockies, but it was just as well to begin the taskof filling the larder. 

He came out into the main valley and turned toward the lake. Autumn was now well advanced, but in the cool sunshine the lakeseemed more beautiful than ever. Its waters were golden to-day, but with a silver tint at the edges where the pine-clad banksoverhung it. Dick did not linger, however. He turned awaytoward the slopes, whence the whistling call had come theoftenest, and was soon among the pines and cedars. He searchedhere an hour or more, and at last he found two feeding, a maleand a female. 

Dick had the instinct of the hunter, and already he had acquiredgreat skill. Creeping through the undergrowth, he came within easyshot of the animals, and he looked at them a little beforeshooting. The bull was magnificent, and he, if any, seemed a fitsubject for the bullet, but Dick chose the cow, knowing that shewould be the tenderer. Only a single shot was needed, and thenhe had a great task to carry the hide and the body in sections tothe cabin. They ate elk steaks and then hung the rest in thetrees for drying and jerking. Dick, according to his previousplan, used the skin to cover the newly mended places in the roof, fastening it down tightly with small wooden pegs. His forethoughtwas vindicated two days later when a great storm came. Both heand Albert had noticed throughout the afternoon an unusual warmthin the air. It affected Albert particularly, as it made hisrespiration difficult. Over the mountains in the west they sawsmall dark clouds which soon began to grow and unite. Dickthought he knew what it portended, and he and his brother quicklytaking down the tent, carried it and all its equipment inside thecabin. Then making fast the door and leaving the window open, they waited. 

The heat endured, but all the clouds became one that overspreadthe entire heavens. Despite the lateness of the season, thethunder, inexpressibly solemn and majestic, rumbled among thegorges, and there was a quiver of lightening. It was as dark astwilight. 

The rain came, roaring down the clefts and driving against thecabin with such force that they were compelled to close thewindow. How thankful Dick was now for Albert's sake that theyhad such a secure shelter! Nor did he despise it for his own. 

The rain, driven by a west wind, poured heavily, and the airrapidly grew colder. Albert piled dry firewood on the hearth andlighted it. The flames leaped up, and warmth, dryness, and cheerfilled all the little cabin. Dick had been anxiously regardingthe roof, but the new boards and the elk skin were water-tight. Not a drop came through. Higher leaped the flames and the rosyshadows fell upon the floor. 

"It's well we took the tent down and came in here, " said Albert. "Listen to that!"

The steady, driving sweep changed to a rattle and a crackle. Therain had turned to hail, and it was like the patter of rifle fireon the stout little cabin. 

"It may rain or hail or snow, or do whatever it pleases, but itcan't get at us, " said Albert exultingly. 

"No, it can't, " said Dick. "I wonder, Al, what Bright Sun isdoing now?"

"A peculiar Indian, " said Albert thoughtfully, "but it's safe tosay that wherever he is he's planning and acting. "

"At any rate, " said Dick, "we're not likely to know it, whateverit is, for a long time, and we won't bother trying to guess aboutit. "

It hailed for an hour and then changed to rain again, pouringdown in great steadiness and volume. Dick opened the window alittle way once, but the night was far advanced, and it waspitchy black outside. They let the coals die down to a glowingbed, and then, wrapping themselves in their blankets, they sleptsoundly all through the night and the driving rain, their littlecabin as precious to them as any palace was ever to a king. 

Albert, contrary to custom, was the first to awake the nextmorning. A few coals from the fire were yet alive on the hearth, and the atmosphere of the room, breathed over and over againthroughout the night, was close and heavy. He threw back thewindow shutter, and the great rush of pure cold air into theopening made his body thrill with delight. This was a physicalpleasure, but the sight outside gave him a mental rapture evengreater. Nothing was falling now, but the rain had turned backto hail before it ceased, and all the earth was in glitteringwhite. The trees in the valley, clothed in ice, were like lacework, and above them towered the shining white mountains. 

Albert looked back at Dick. His brother, wrapped in his blanket, still slept, with his arm under his head and his face toward thehearth. He looked so strong, so enduring, as he lay theresleeping soundly, and Albert knew that he was both. But acurious feeling was in the younger boy's mind that morning. Hewas glad that he had awakened first. Hitherto he had alwaysopened his eyes to find Dick up and doing. It was Dick who haddone everything. It was Dick who had saved him from theSioux; it was Dick who had practically carried him over the firstrange; Dick had found their shelter in the pine alcove; Dick hadlabored day and night, day after day, and night after night, bringing the stores over the mountain from the lost train, thenhe had found their new home in the enchanted valley, which Albertpersisted in calling it, and he had done nearly all the hard workof repairing and furnishing the cabin. 

It should not always be so. Albert's heart was full of gratitudeto this brother of his who was so brave and resourceful, but hewanted to do his share. The feeling was based partly on prideand partly on a new increase of physical strength. He took adeep inhalation of the cold mountain air and held it long in hislungs. Then he emitted it slowly. There was no pain, no feelingof soreness, and it was the first time he could remember that ithad been so. A new thrill of pleasure, keener and more powerfulthan any other, shook him for a moment. It was a belief, nay, acertainty, or at least a conviction, that he was going to bewhole and sound. The mountains were doing their kindly healing. He could have shouted aloud with pleasure, but instead herestrained himself and went outside, softly shutting the doorbehind him. 

Autumn had gone and winter had come in a night. The trees werestripped of every leaf and in their place was the sheathing ofice. The brook roared past, swollen for the time to a littleriver. The air, though very cold, was dry despite the heavy rainof the night before. Albert shivered more than once, but it wasnot the shiver of weakness. It did not bite to the very marrowof him. Instead, when he exercised legs and arms vigorously, warmth came back. He was not a crushed and shriveled thing. Now he laughed aloud in sheer delight. He had subjectedhimself to another test, and he had passed it in triumph. 

He built up the fire, and when Dick awoke, the pleasant aroma ofcooking filled the room. 

"Why, what's this, Al?" exclaimed the big youth, rubbing hiseyes. 

"Oh, I've been up pretty near an hour, " replied Albert airily. "Saw that you were having a fine sleep, so I thought I wouldn'tdisturb you. "

Dick looked inquiringly at him. He thought he detected a newnote in his brother's voice, a note, too, that he liked. 

"I see, " he said; "and you've been at work sometime, Do you feelfully equal to the task?"

Albert turned and faced his brother squarely. 

"I've been thinking a lot, and feeling a lot more this morning, "he replied. "I've been trying myself out, as they say, and ifI'm not well I'm traveling fast in that direction. Hereafter Ishare the work as well as the rewards. "

Albert spoke almost defiantly, but Dick liked his tone and mannerbetter than ever. He would not, on any account, have saidanything in opposition at this moment. 

"All right, Al, old fellow. That's agreed, " he said. 

Chapter VIIAn Animal Progression

The thin sheath of ice did not last long. On the second day thesun came out and melted it in an hour. Then a warm wind blew andin a few more hours the earth was dry. On the third day Alberttook his repeating rifle from the hooks on the wall and calmlyannounced that he was going hunting. 

"All right, " said Dick; "and as I feel lazy I'll keep house untilyou come back. Don't get chewed up by a grizzly bear. "

Dick sat down in the doorway of the cabin and watched his brotherstriding off down the valley, gun on shoulder, figure very erect. Dick smiled; but it was a smile of pride, not derision. 

"Good old Al! He'll do!" he murmured. 

Albert followed the brook into the larger valley and then wentdown by the side of the lake. Though a skillful shot, he was notyet a good hunter, but he knew that one must make a beginning andhe wanted to learn through his own mistakes. 

He had an idea that game could be found most easily in the forestthat ran down the mountain side to the lake, and he was thinkingmost particularly just then of elk. He had become familiar withthe loud, whistling sound, and he listened for it now but did nothear it. 

He passed the spot at which Dick had killed the big cow elk andcontinued northward among the trees that covered the slopes andflat land between the mountain and the lake. This area broadenedas he proceeded, and, although the forest was leafless now, itwas so dense and there was such a large proportion of evergreens, cedars, and pines that Albert could not see very far ahead. Hecrossed several brooks pouring down from the peaks. All were inflood, and once or twice it was all that he could do with aflying leap to clear them, but he went on, undiscouraged, keepinga sharp watch for that which he was hunting. 

Albert did not know much about big game, but he rememberedhearing Dick say that elk and mule deer would be likely to comeinto the valley for shelter at the approach of winter, and he washopeful that he might have the luck to encounter a whole herd ofthe big elk. Then, indeed, he would prove that he was an equalpartner with Dick in the work as well as the reward. He wishedto give the proof at once. 

He had not been so far up the north end of the valley before, andhe noticed that here was quite an expanse of flat country oneither side of the lake. But the mountains all around the valleywere so high that it seemed to Albert that deer and other wildanimals might find food as well as shelter throughout thewinter. Hence he was quite confident, despite his poor luck sofar, that he should find big game soon, and his hunting feverincreased. He had never shot anything bigger than a rabbit, butAlbert was an impressionable boy, and his imagination at onceleaped over the gulf from a rabbit to a grizzly bear. 

He had the lake, an immense and beautiful blue mirror, on hisright and the mountains on his left, but the space between wasnow nearly two miles in width, sown thickly in spots with pineand cedar, ash and aspen, and in other places quite open. In thelatter the grass was green despite the lateness of the season, and Albert surmised that good grazing could be found there allthrough the winter, even under the snow. Game must be plentifulthere, too. 

The way dropped down a little into a sheltered depression, andAlbert heard a grunt and a great puffing breath. A huge darkanimal that had been lying among some dwarf pines shuffled to itsfeet and Albert's heart slipped right up into his throat. Herewas his grizzly, and he certainly was a monster! Every nerve inAlbert was tingling, and instinct bade him run. Will had a hardtime of it for a few moments, struggling with instinct, but willconquered, and, standing his ground, Albert fired a bullet fromhis repeater at the great dark mass. 

The animal emitted his puffing roar again and rushed, head down, but blindly. Then Albert saw that he had roused not a grizzlybear but an enormous bull buffalo, a shaggy, fierce old fellowwho would not eat him, but who might gore or trample him todeath. His aspect was so terrible that will again came neargoing down before instinct, but Albert did not run. Instead, heleaped aside, and, as the buffalo rushed past, he fired anotherbullet from his repeater into his body just back of the forelegs. 

The animal staggered, and Albert staggered, too, from excitementand nervousness, but he remembered to take aim and fire again andagain with his heavy repeater. In his heat and haste he did nothear a shout behind him, but he did see the great bull stagger, then reel and fall on his side, after which he lay quite still. 

Albert stood, rifle in hand, trembling and incredulous. Could itbe he who had slain the mightiest buffalo that ever trod theearth? The bull seemed to his distended eyes and flushed brainto weigh ten tons at least, and to dwarf the biggest elephant. He raised his hand to his forehead and then sat down beside histrophy, overcome with weakness. 

"Well, now, you have done it, young one! I thought I'd get afinger in this pie, but I came up too late! Say, young fellow, what's your name? Is it Daniel Boone or Davy Crockett?"

It was Dick who had followed in an apparently casual manner. Hehad rushed to his brother's rescue when he saw the bull charging, but he had arrived too late--and he was glad of it; the triumphwas wholly Albert's. 

Albert, recovering from his weakness, looked at Dick, looked atthe buffalo, and then looked back at Dick. All three looks wereas full of triumph, glory, and pride as any boy's look could be. 

"He's as big as a mountain, isn't he, Dick?" he said. 

"Well, not quite that, " replied Dick gravely. "A good-sized hillwould be a better comparison. "

The buffalo certainly was a monster, and the two boys examinedhim critically. Dick was of the opinion that he belonged to thespecies known as the wood bison, which is not numerous among themountains, but which is larger than the ordinary buffalo of theplains. The divergence of type, however, is very slight. 

"He must have been an outlaw, " said Dick; "a vicious old bullcompelled to wander alone because of his bad manners. Still, it's likely that he's not the only buffalo in our valley. "

"Can we eat him?" asked Albert. 

"That's a question. He's sure to be tough, but I remember how weused to make steak tender at home by beating it before it wascooked. We might serve a thousand pounds or two of this bull inthat manner. Besides, we want that robe. "

The robe was magnificent, and both boys felt that it would proveuseful. Dick had gained some experience from his own buffalohunt on the plains, and they began work at once with their sharphunting knives. It was no light task to take the skin, and thebeast was so heavy that they could not get it entirely free untilthey partly chopped up the body with an ax that Dick brought fromthe cabin. Then it made a roll of great weight, but Dick spreadit on the roof of their home to cure. They also cut out greatsections of the buffalo, which they put in the same place fordrying and jerking. 

While they were engaged at this task, Albert saw a pair of fieryeyes regarding them from the undergrowth. 

"See, Dick, " he said, "what is that?"

Dick saw the eyes, the lean ugly body behind it, and heshuddered. He knew. It was the timber wolf, largest andfiercest of the species, brother to him whom he had seen prowlingabout the ruined wagon train. The brute called up painfulmemories, and, seizing his rifle, he fired at a spot midwaybetween the red eyes. The wolf uttered a howl, leaped high inthe air, and fell dead, lying without motion, stretched on hisside. 

"I didn't like the way he looked at us, " explained Dick. 

A horrible growling and snapping came from the bushes presently. 

"What's that?" asked Albert. 

"It's only Mr. Timber Wolf's brethren eating up Mr. Timber Wolf, now that he is no longer of any use to himself. "

Albert shuddered, too. 

It was nightfall when they took away the last of the buffalo forwhich they cared, and as they departed they heard in the twilightthe patter of light feet. 

"It's the timber wolves rushing for what we've left, " said Dick. "Those are big and fierce brutes, and you and I, Al, must nevergo out without a rifle or a revolver. You can't tell whatthey'll try, especially in the winter. "

The entire roof of the cabin was covered the next day with thebuffalo robe and the drying meat, and birds of prey began tohover above it. Albert constituted himself watchman, and, armedwith a long stick, took his place on the roof, where he spent theday. 

Dick shouldered one of the shotguns and went down to the lake. There he shot several fine teal, and in one of the grassy gladesnear it he roused up prairie hen. Being a fine shot, he securedfour of these, and returned to the cabin with his acceptablespoil. 

They had now such a great supply of stores and equipment thattheir place was crowded and they scarcely had room for sleepingon the floor. 

"What we need, " said Dick, "is an annex, a place that can be usedfor a storehouse only, and this valley, which has been so kind tous, ought to continue being kind and furnish it. "

The valley did furnish the annex, and it was Albert who foundit. He discovered a little further up the cleft an enormous oak, old and decayed. The tree was at lease seven feet through, andthe hollow itself was fully five feet in diameter, with a heightof perhaps fourteen feet. It was very rough inside with sharpprojections in every direction which had kept any large animalfrom making his den there, but Albert knew at once that theneeded place had been found. Full of enthusiasm he ran for Dick, who came instantly to see. 

"Fine, " said Dick approvingly. "We'll call it the 'Annex, ' sureenough, and we'll get to work right away with our axes. "

They cut out all the splinters and other projections, smoothingoff the round walls and the floor, and they also extended thehollow overhead somewhat. 

"This is to be a two-story annex, " said Dick. "We need lots ofroom. "

High up they ran small poles across, fixing them firmly in thetree on either side, and lower down they planted many wooden pegsand hooks on which they might hang various articles. 

"Everything will keep dry in here, " said Albert. "I would notmind sleeping in the Annex, but when the door is closed therewon't be a particle of air. "

It was the "door" that gave them the greatest trouble. Theopening by which they entered the hollow was about four feet highand a foot and a half across, and both boys looked at it a longtime before they could see a way to solve the puzzle. 

"That door has to be strong enough to keep everything out, " saidDick. "We mean to keep most of our meat supply in there, andthat, of course, will draw wild animals, little and big; it's thebig ones we've got to guard against. "

After strenuous thinking, they smoothed off all the sides of theopening in order that a flat surface might fit perfectly againstthem. Then Dick cut down a small oak, and split out severalboards--not a difficult task for him, as he had often helped tomake boards in Illinois. The boards were laid together the widthof the opening and were held in place by cross pieces fastenedwith wooden pegs. Among their stores were two augers and twogimlets, and they were veritable godsends; they enabled the boysto make use of pegs and to save the few nails that they had forother and greater emergencies. 

The door was made, and now came the task to "hang" it. "Hang"was merely a metaphorical word, as they fitted it into placeinstead. The wood all around the opening was about a foot thick, and they cut it out somewhat after the fashion of the lintels ofa doorway. Then they fitted in the door, which rested securelyin its grooves, but they knew that the claws of a grizzly bear ormountain lion might scratch it out, and they intended to make itsecure against any such mischance. 

With the aid of hatchet and auger they put three wooden hooks oneither side of the doorway, exactly like those that defend thedoor of a frontier cabin, and into these they dropped three stoutbars. It was true that the bars were on the outside, but no wildanimal would have the intelligence enough to pry up those threebars and scratch the door out of place. Moreover, it could nothappen by accident. It took them three laborious days to makeand fit this door, but when the task was done they contemplatedit with just pride. 

"I call that about the finest piece of carpenter's work ever donein these mountains, " said Albert in tones suffused withsatisfaction. 

"Of course, " said Dick. "Why shouldn't it be, when the bestcarpenters in the world did the job?"

The two laughed, but their pride was real and no jest. It waslate in the afternoon when they finished this task, and on theway to the cabin Albert suddenly turned white and reeled. Dickcaught him, but he remained faint for sometime. He hadovertasked himself, and when they reached the cabin Dick madehim lie down on the great buffalo robe while he cooked supper. But, contrary to his former habit, Albert revived rapidly. Thecolor returned to his face and he sprang up presently, sayingthat he was hungry enough to eat a whole elk. Dick felt a mightsense of relief. Albert in his zeal had merely overexertedhimself. It was not any relapse. "Here's the elk steak and youcan eat ten pounds of it if you want it, " he said. 

They began early the next morning to move supplies to the Annex. High up in the hollow they hung great quantities of dried meat ofbuffalo, elk, and mule deer. They also stored there several elkand mule deer skins, two wolf skins, and other supplies that theythought they would not need for a while. But in the main it waswhat they called a smokehouse, as it was universally known in theMississippi Valley, their former home--that is, a place forkeeping meat cured or to be cured. 

This task filled the entire day, and when the door was securelyfastened in place they returned to the cabin. After supper Dickopened the window, from which they could see the Annex, as theyhad cut away a quantity of the intervening bushes. Albertmeanwhile put out the last coals of the fire. Then he joinedDick at the window. Both had an idea that they were going to seesomething interesting. 

The valley filled with darkness, but the moon came out, and, growing used to the darkness, they could see the Annex fairlywell. 

Dick wet his finger and held it up. 

"The wind is blowing from the Annex toward us, " he said. 

"That's good, " said Albert, nodding. 

They watched for a long time, hearing only the dry rustling ofthe light wind among the bare boughs, but at last Dick softlypushed his shoulder against Albert's. Albert nodded again, withcomprehension. A small dark animal came into the open spacearound the Annex. The boys had difficulty in tracing hisoutlines at first, but once they had them fixed, they followedhis movements with ease. He advanced furtively, stopping atintervals evidently both to listen and look. Some other of hiskind, or not of his kind, might be on the same quest and it washis business to know. 

"Is it a fox?" whispered Albert. 

"I think not, " replied Dick in the same tone. "It must be awolverine. He scents the good things in the Annex and he wants, oh, how he wants, the taste of them!"

The little dark animal, after delicate maneuvering, came close upto the tree, and they saw him push his nose against thecold bark. 

"I know just how he feels, " whispered Albert with some sympathy. "It's all there, but he must know the quest is hopeless. "

The little animal went all around the tree nosing the cold bark, and then stopped again at the side of the door. 

"No use, sir, " whispered Albert. "That door won't open justbecause you're hungry. "

The little animal suddenly cocked up his head and darted swiftlyaway into the shadows. But another and somewhat larger beastcame creeping into the open, advancing with caution toward theAnnex. 

"Aha!" whispered Dick. "Little fellow displaced by a biggerone. That must be a wild cat. "

The wild cat went through the same performance. He nosedeagerly at the door, circled the tree two or three times, butalways came back to the place where that tempting, well-nighirresistible odor assailed him. The boys heard a low growland the scratching of sharp claws on the door. 

"Now he's swearing and fighting, " whispered Albert, "but it willdo him no good. Save your throat and your claws, old fellow. "

"Look, he's gone!" whispered Dick. 

The wild cat suddenly tucked his tail between his legs and fledfrom the opening so swiftly that they could scarcely see him go. 

"And here comes his successor, " whispered Albert. "I suppose, Dick, we might call this an arithmetical or geometricalprogression. "

An enormous timber wolf stalked into the clear space. He bore noresemblance to the mean, sneaking little coyote of the prairie. As he stood upright his white teeth could be seen, and there wasthe slaver of hunger on his lips. He, too, was restive, watchful, and suspicious, but it did not seem to either Dick orAlbert that his movements betokened fear. There was strength inhis long, lean body, and ferocity in his little red eyes. 

"What a hideous brute!" whispered Albert, shuddering. 

"And as wicked as he is ugly, " replied Dick. "I hate the sightof these timber wolves. I don't wonder that the wild cat madehimself scarce so quickly. "

"And he's surely hungry!" said Albert. "See how he stretches outhis head toward our Annex, as if he would devour everythinginside it!"

Albert was right. The big wolf was hungry, hungry through andthrough, and the odor that came from the tree was exquisite andpermeating; it was a mingled odor of many things and everythingwas good. He had never before known a tree to give forth such adelightful aroma and he thrilled in every wolfish fiber as ittickled his nostrils. 

He approached the tree with all the caution of his cautious andcrafty race, and, as he laid his nose upon the bark, that mingledaroma of many things good grew so keen and powerful that hecame as near as a big wolf can to fainting with delight. Hepushed at the places where the door fitted into the tree, butnothing yielded. Those keen and powerful odors that penetrateddelightfully to every marrow of him were still there, but hecould not reach their source. A certain disappointment, a vaguefear of failure mingled with his anticipation, and as thewolverine and the wild cat had done, he moved uneasily around thetree, scratching at the bark, and now and then biting it withteeth that were very long and cruel. 

His troubled circuit brought him back to the door, where thearoma was finest and strongest. There he tore at the lowest barwith tooth and claw, but it did not move. He had the aroma andnothing more, and no big, strong wolf can live on odors only. The vague disappointment grew into a positive rage. He feltinstinctively that he could not reach the good things that thewonderful tree held within itself, but he persisted. He bent hisback, uttered a growl of wrath just as a man swears, and fell toagain with tooth and claw. 

"If I didn't know that door was so very strong, I'd be afraidhe'd get it, " whispered Albert. 

"Never fear, " Dick whispered back with confidence. 

The big wolf suddenly paused in his effort. Tooth and claw werestill, and he crouched hard against the tree, as if he would havehis body to blend with its shadow. A new odor had come to hisnostrils. It did not come from the tree. Nor was it pleasant. Instead, it told him of something hostile and powerful. He wasbig and strong himself, but this that came was bigger andstronger. The growl that had risen in his throat stopped at histeeth. A chill ran down his backbone and the hair upon it stoodup. The great wolf was afraid, and he knew he was afraid. 

"Look!" whispered Albert in rising excitement. "The wolf, too, is stealing away! He is scared by something!"

"And good cause he has to be scared, " said Dick. "See what'scoming!"

A great tawny beast stood for a moment at the edge of theclearing. He was crouched low against the ground, but his bodywas long and powerful, with massive shoulders and fore arms. Hiseyes were yellow in the moonlight, and they stared straight atthe Annex. The big wolf took one hasty frightened look and thenfled silently in the other direction. He knew now that thetreasures of the Annex were not for him. 

"It's a cougar, " whispered Dick, "and it must be the king of themall. Did you ever see such a whopper?"

The cougar came farther into the clearing. He was of great size, but he was a cat--a huge cat, but a cat, nevertheless--and likea cat he acted. He dragged his body along the earth, and hiseyes, now yellow, now green, in the moonlight, were swungsuspiciously from side to side. He felt all that the wolf hadfelt, but he was even more cunning and his approach was slower. It was his habit to spring when close enough, but he saw nothingto spring at except a tree trunk, and so he still crept forwardon noiseless pads. 

"Now, what will Mr. Cougar do?" asked Albert. 

"Just what the others have done, " replied Dick. "He will scratchand bite harder because he is bigger and stronger, but we'vefixed our Annex for just such attacks. It will keep him out. "

Dick was right. The cougar or mountain lion behaved exactly asthe others had done. He tore at the door, then he circled thetree two or three times, hunting in vain for an opening. Everyvein in him was swollen with rage, and the yellowish-green eyesflared with anger. 

"He'd be an ugly creature to meet just now, " whispered Dick. "He's so mad that I believe he'd attack an elephant. "

"He's certainly in no good humor, " replied Dick. "But look, Al!See his tail drop between his legs! Now what under the moon isabout to happen?"

Albert, surcharged with interest and excitement, stared as Dickwas staring. The mighty cat seemed suddenly to crumple up. Hisframe shrank, his head was drawn in, he sank lower to the earth, as if he would burrow into it, but he uttered no sound whatever. He was to both the boys a symbol of fear. 

"What a change! What does it mean?" whispered Albert. 

"It must mean, " replied Dick, "that he, too, has a master andthat master is coming. "

The cougar suddenly bunched himself up and there was a flash oftawny fur as he shot through the air. A second leap and thetrees closed over his frightened figure. Albert believed that hewould not stop running for an hour. 

Into the opening, mighty and fearless, shambled a monstrousbeast. He had a square head, a long, immense body, and the clawsof his great feet were hooked, many inches in length, and assharp and hard as if made of steel. The figure of the beaststood for power and unbounded strength, and his movementsindicated overwhelming confidence. There was nothing for him tofear. He had never seen any living creature that could do himharm. It was a gigantic grizzly bear. 

Albert, despite himself, as he looked at the terrible brute, feltfear. It was there, unconfined, and a single blow of its pawcould sweep the strongest man out of existence. 

"I'm glad I'm in this cabin and that this cabin is strong, " hewhispered tremulously. 

"So am I, " said Dick, and his own whisper was a little shaky. "It's one thing to see a grizzly in a cage, and another to seehim out here in the dark in these wild mountains. And thatfellow must weigh at least a thousand pounds. "

King Bruin shambled boldly across the opening to the Annex. Whyshould he be careful? There might be other animals among thebushes and trees watching him, but they were weak, timid things, and they would run from his shadow. In the wan moonlight, whichdistorted and exaggerated, his huge bulk seemed to the two boysto grow to twice its size. When he reached the tree he reared upagainst it, growled in a manner that made the blood of the boysrun cold, and began to tear with teeth and claws of hookedsteel. The bark and splinters flew, and, for a moment, Dick wasfearful lest he should force the door to their treasure. But itwas only for a moment; not even a grizzly could break or tear hisway through such a thickness of oak. 

"Nothing can displace him, " whispered Albert. "He's the realking. "

"He's not the king, " replied Dick, "and something can displacehim. "

"What do you mean?" asked Albert with incredulity. 

"No beast is king. It's man, and man is here. I'm going to havea shot at that monster who is trying to rob us. We can reach himfrom here with a bullet. You take aim, too, Al. "

They opened the window a little wider, being careful to make nonoise, and aimed their rifles at the bear, who was still tearingat the tree in his rage. 

"Try to hit him in the heart, Al, " whispered Dick, "and I'll tryto do the same. I'll count three in a whisper, and at the'three' we'll fire together. "

The hands of both boys as they leveled their weapons weretrembling, not with fear, but from sheer nervousness. The bear, meanwhile, had taken no notice and was still striving to reachthe hidden treasures. Like the others, he had made the circuitof the Annex more than once, but now he was reared up again atthe door, pulling at it with mighty tooth and claw. It seemed toboth as they looked down the barrels of their rifles and chosethe vulnerable spot that, monstrous and misshapen, he wasconstantly growing in size, so powerful was the effect of themoonlight and their imagination. But it was terrible fact tothem. 

They could see him with great distinctness, and so silent was thevalley otherwise that they could hear the sound of his clawsripping across the bark. He was like some gigantic survival ofanother age. Dick waited until both his brother and himself grewsteadier. 

"Now don't miss, Albert, " he said. 

He counted "One, two, three, " slowly, and at the "three!" thereport of the two rifles came as one. They saw the great beardrop down from the tree, they heard an indescribable roar of painand rage, and then they saw his huge bulk rushing down uponthem. Dick fired three times and Albert twice, but the bearstill came, and then Dick slammed the window shut and fastened itjust as the full weight of the bear was hurled against the cabin. 

Neither boy ever concealed from himself the fact that he was in apanic for a few moments. Their bullets seemed to have had noeffect upon the huge grizzly, who was growling ferociously andtearing at the logs of the cabin. Glad they were that those logswere so stout and thick, and they stood there a little while inthe darkness, their blood chilling at the sounds outside. Presently the roaring and tearing ceased and there was the soundof a fall. It was so dark in the cabin that the brothers couldnot see the faces of each other, but Dick whispered:

"Albert, I believe we've killed him, after all. "

Albert said nothing and they waited a full ten minutes. No soundwhatever came to their ears. Then Dick opened the window an inchor two and peeped out. The great bear lay upon his side quitestill, and Dick uttered a cry of joy. 

"We've killed him, Al! we've killed him!" he cried. 

"Are you sure?" asked Albert. 

"Quite sure. He does not stir in the slightest. "

They opened the door and went out. The great grizzly was reallydead. Their bullets had gone true, but his vitality was soenormous that he had been able to rush upon the cabin and tear atit in his rage until he fell dead. Both boys looked at him withadmiration and awe; even dead, he was terrifying in everyrespect. 

"I don't wonder that the cougar, big and strong as he was, slunkaway in terror when he saw old Ephraim coming, " said Dick. 

"We must have his skin to put with our two buffalo robes, " saidAlbert. 

"And we must take it to-night, " said Dick, "or the wolves will behere while we sleep. "

They had acquired some skill in the art of removing furs andpelts, but it took them hours to strip the coat from the biggrizzly. Then, as in the case of the buffalo, they cut away someportions of the meat that they thought might prove tender. Theyput the hide upon the roof to dry, and, their work over, theywent to sleep behind a door securely fastened. 

Dick was awakened once by what he thought was a sound ofgrowling and fighting outside, but he was so sleepy that it madeno impression upon him. They did not awake fully until nearlynoon, and when they went forth they found that nothing was leftof the great bear but his skeleton. 

"The timber wolves have been busy, " said Dick. 

Chapter VIIIThe Trap Makers

The hide of the bear, which they cured in good style, was amagnificent trophy; the fur was soft and long, and when spreadout came near covering the floor of their cabin. It was a fitmatch for the robe of the buffalo. They did not know much aboutgrizzlies, but they believed that no larger bear would ever bekilled in the Rocky Mountains. 

A few days later Dick shot another buffalo in one of the defiles, but this was a young cow and her flesh was tender. They lived ona portion of it from day to day and the rest they cured and putin the Annex. They added the robe to their store of furs. 

"I'm thinking, " said Dick, "that you and I, Al, might turn furhunters. " This seems to be an isolated corner of the mountains. It may have been tapped out long ago, but when man goes away thegame comes back. We've got a comfortable house, and, with thisas a basis, we might do better hunting furs here than if we werehunting gold in California, where the chances are always againstyou. 

The idea appealed to Albert, but for the present they contentedthemselves with improving their house and surroundings. Otherbears, cougars, and wolves came at night and prowled around theAnnex, but it was secure against them all, and Dick and Albertnever troubled themselves again to keep awake and watch for suchintruders. 

Winter now advanced and it was very cold, but, to Dick's greatrelief, no snow came. It was on Albert's account that he wishedair and earth to remain dry, and it seemed as if Nature weredoing her best to help the boy's recovery. The cough did notcome again, he had no more spells of great exhaustion, thephysical uplift became mental also, and his spirits, because ofthe rebound, fairly bubbled. He was full of ideas, continuallymaking experiments, and had great plans in regard to the valleyand Castle Howard, as he sometimes playfully called their cabin. 

One of the things that pleased Albert most was his diversion ofwater from a hot spring about fifty yards from the cabin andhigher up the ravine. He dug a trench all the way from the poolto the house, and the hot water came bubbling down to their verydoor. It cooled, of course, a little on the way, but it wasstill warm enough for cooking purposes, and Albert was hugelydelighted. 

"Hot water! Cold water! Whatever you wish, Dick, " he said;"just turn on the tap. If my inventive faculty keeps on growing, I'll soon have a shower bath, hot and cold, rigged up here. "

"It won't grow enough for that, " said Dick; "but I want to tellyou, Al, that the big game in the valley is increasing at aremarkable rate. Although cold, it's been a very open winter sofar, but I suppose the instinct of these animals warns them toseek a sheltered place in time. "

"Instinct or the habit of endless generations, " said Albert. 

"Which may be the same thing, " rejoined Dick. 

"There's a whole herd of elk beyond the far end of the lake, I'venoticed on the cliffs what I take to be mountain sheep, andthirty or forty buffalos at least must be ranging about in here. "

"Then, " said Albert, "let's have a try at the buffaloes. Theirrobes will be worth a lot when we go back to civilization, andthere is more room left in the Annex. "

They took their repeaters and soon proved Dick's words to betrue. In a sheltered meadow three or more miles up the valleythey found about twenty buffaloes grazing. Each shot down a fatcow, and they could have secured more had not the minds of bothboys rebelled at the idea of slaughter. 

"It's true we'd like to have the robes, " said Dick, "but we'dhave to leave most of the carcasses rotting here. Even with thewonderful appetites that we've developed, we couldn't eat a wholebuffalo herd in one winter. "

But after they had eaten the tongue, brisket, and tenderloin ofthe two cows, while fresh, these being the tenderest and bestparts of the buffalo, they added the rest of the meat to theirstores in the Annex. As they had done already in several cases, they jerked it, a most useful operation that observant Dick hadlearned when they were with the wagon train. 

It took a lot of labor and time to jerk the buffaloes, butneither boy had a lazy bone in him, and time seemed to stretchaway into eternity before them. They cut the flesh into long, thin strips, taking it all from the bones. Then all these pieceswere thoroughly mixed with salt--fortunately, they could obtainan unlimited supply of salt by boiling out the water from thenumerous salt springs in the valley--chiefly by pounding andrubbing. They let these strips remain inside the hides aboutthree hours, then all was ready for the main process of jerking. 

Albert had been doing the salting and Dick meanwhile had beengetting ready the frame for the jerking. He drove four forkedpoles into the ground, in the form of a square and about sevenfeet apart. The forks were between four and five feet above theground. On opposite sides of the square, from fork to fork, helaid two stout young poles of fresh, green wood. Then from poleto pole he laid many other and smaller poles, generally about aninch apart. They laid the strips of buffalo meat, taken fromtheir salt bath, upon the network of small poles, and beneaththey built a good fire of birch, ash, and oak. 

"Why, it makes me think of a smokehouse at home, " said Albert. 

"Same principle, " said Dick, "but if you let that fire underthere go out, Al, I'll take one of those birch rods and give youthe biggest whaling you ever had in your life. You're strongenough now to stand a good licking. "

Albert laughed. He thought his big brother Dick about thegreatest fellow on earth. But he paid assiduous attention to thefire, and Dick did so, too. They kept it chiefly a great bed ofcoals, never allowing the flames to rise as high as the buffalomeat, and they watched over it twenty-four hours. In order tokeep this watch, they deserted the cabin for a night, sleeping byturns before the fire under the frame of poles, which was nohardship to them. 

The fierce timber wolves came again in the night, attracted bythe savory odor of buffalo meat; and once they crept near andwere so threatening that Albert, whose turn it was at the watch, became alarmed. He awakened Dick, and, in order to teach thesedangerous marauders a lesson, they shot two of them. Then theshrewd animals, perceiving that the two-legged beasts by the firecarried something very deadly with which they slew at a distance, kept for a while to the forest and out of sight. 

After the twenty-four hours of fire drying, the buffalo meat wasgreatly reduced in weight and bulk, though it was packed as fullas ever with sustenance. It was now cured, that is, jerked, andwould keep any length of time. While the frame was ready theyjerked an elk, two mule deer, a big silver-tip bear that Dickshot on the mountain side, and many fish that they caught in thelake and the little river. They would scale the fish, cut themopen down the back, and then remove the bone. After that theflesh was jerked on the scaffold in the same way that the meat ofthe buffalo and deer was treated. 

Before these operations were finished, the big timber wolvesbegan to be troublesome again. Neither boy dared to be anywherenear the jerking stage without a rifle or revolver, and Dickfinally invented a spring pole upon which they could put thefresh meat that was waiting its turn to be prepared--they didnot want to carry the heavy weight to the house for safety, andthen have to bring it back again. 

While Dick's spring pole was his own invention, as far as he wasconcerned, it was the same as that used by thousands of othertrappers and hunters. He chose a big strong sapling which Albertand he with a great effort bent down. Then he cut off a numberof the boughs high up, and in each crotch fastened a big piece ofmeat. The sapling was then allowed to spring back into place andthe meat was beyond the reach of wolf. 

But the wolves tried for it, nevertheless. Dick awakened Albertthe first night after this invention was tried and asked him ifhe wished to see a ghost dance. Albert, wrapped to his eyes inthe great buffalo robe, promptly sat up and looked. 

They had filled four neighboring saplings with meat, and at leasttwenty wolves were gathered under them, looking skyward, but notat the sky--it was the flesh of elk and buffalo that they gazedat so longingly, and delicious odors that they knew assailedtheir nostrils. 

But the wolf is an enterprising animal. He does not merely sitand look at what he wants, expecting it to come to him. Everywolf in the band knew that no matter how hard and long he mightlook that splendid food in the tree would not drop down into hiswaiting mouth. So they began to jump for it, and it was thismidnight and wilderness ballet that Albert opened his eyes towatch. 

One wolf, the biggest of the lot, leaped. It was a fine leap, and might have won him a championship among his kind, but he didnot reach the prize. His teeth snapped together, touching onlyone another, and he fell. Albert imagined that he could hear adisappointed growl. Another wolf leaped, the chief leaped again, a third, a fourth, and a fifth leaped, and then all began to leaptogether. 

The air was full of flying wolfish forms, going up or comingdown. They went up, hearts full of hope, and came down, mouthsempty of everything but disappointed foam. Teeth savagely hitteeth, and growls of wrath were abundant. Albert felt aridiculous inclination to laugh. The whole affair presented itsludicrous aspect to him. 

"Did you ever see so much jumping for so little reward?" hewhispered to Dick. 

"No, not unless they're taking exercise to keep themselves thin, although I never heard of a fat wolf. "

But a wolf does not give up easily. They continued to leapfaster and faster, and now and then a little higher than before, although empty tooth still struck empty tooth. Now and then awolf more prone to complaint than the others lifted up his voiceand howled his rage and chagrin to the moon. It was a genuinemoan, a long, whining cry that echoed far through the forest andalong the slopes, and whenever Albert heard it he felt morestrongly than ever the inclination to laugh. 

"I suppose that a wolf's woes are as real as our own, " hewhispered, "but they do look funny and act funny. "

"Strikes me the same way, " replied Dick with a grin. "Butthey're robbers, or would be if they could. That meat's ours, and they're trying to get it. "

It was in truth a hard case for the wolves. They were very bigand very strong. Doubtless, the selfsame wolf that had beendriven away from the Annex by the mountain lion was among them, and all of them were atrociously hungry. It was not merely anodor now, they could also see the splendid food hanging justabove their heads. Never before had they leaped so persistently, so ardently, and so high, but there was no reward, absolutelynone. Not a tooth felt the touch of flesh. The wolves lookedaround at one another jealously, but the record was as clean astheir teeth. There had been no surreptitious captures. 

"Will they keep it up all night?" whispered Albert. 

"Can't say, " replied Dick. "We'll just watch. "

All the wolves presently stopped leaping and crouched on theearth, staring straight up at the prizes which hung, as ever, most tantalizingly out of reach. The moonlight fell full uponthem, a score or more, and Albert fancied that he could see theirhungry, disappointed eyes. The spectacle was at once weird andludicrous. Albert felt again that temptation to laugh, but herestrained it. 

Suddenly the wolves, as if it were a preconcerted matter, utteredone long, simultaneous howl, full, alike in its rising andfalling note, of pain, anguish, and despair, then they were gonein such swiftness and silence that it was like the instantmelting of ghosts into thin air. It took a little effort of willto persuade Albert that they had really been there. 

"They've given it up, " he said. "The demon dancers have gone. "

"Demon dancers fits them, " said Dick. "It's a good name. Yes, they've gone, and I don't think they'll come back. Wolvesare smart, they know when they're wasting time. "

When they finished jerking their buffalo meat and venison, Dicktook the fine double-barreled shotgun which they had used butlittle hitherto, and went down to the lake in search of succulentwaterfowl. The far shore of the lake was generally very high, but on the side of the cabin there were low places, littleshallow bays, the bottoms covered with grass, which were muchfrequented by wild geese and wild ducks, many of which, owing tothe open character of the winter, had not yet gone southward. The ducks, in particular, muscovy, mallard, teal, widgeon, andother kinds, the names of which Dick did not know, werenumerous. They had been molested so little that they were quitetame, and it was so easy to kill them in quantities that theelement of sport was entirely lacking. 

Dick did not fancy shooting at a range of a dozen yards or sointo a dense flock of wild ducks that would not go away, and hewished also to save as many as he could of their shot cartridges, for he had an idea that he and his brother would remain in thevalley a long time. But both he and Albert wanted good suppliesof duck and geese, which were certainly toothsome and succulent, and they were taking a pride, too, in filling the Annex with thebest things that the mountains could afford. Hence Dick did somedeep thinking and finally evolved a plan, being aided in histhoughts by earlier experience in Illinois marshes. 

He would trap the ducks and geese instead of shooting them, andhe and Albert at once set about the task of making the trap. This idea was not original with Dick. As so many others havebeen, he was, in part, and unconscious imitator. He planted inthe shallow water a series of hoops, graded in height, thelargest being in the deepest water, while they diminishedsteadily in size as they came nearer to the land. They made thehoops of split saplings, and planted them about four feet apart. 

Then the covered all these hoops with a netting, the total lengthof which was about twenty-five feet. They also faced each hoopwith a netting, leaving an aperture large enough for the ducts toenter. It was long and tedious work to make the netting, as thiswas done by cutting the hide of an elk and the hide of a muledeer into strips and plaiting the strips on the hoops. They thenhad a network tunnel, at the smaller end of which theyconstructed an inclosure five or six feet square by means ofstout poles which they thrust into the mud, and the same networkcovering which they used on the tunnel. 

"It's like going in at the big end of a horn and coming out atthe little one into a cell, " said Albert. "Will it work?"

"Work?" replied Dick. "Of course, it will. You just wait andyou'll see. "

Albert looked out upon the lake, where many ducks were swimmingabout placidly, and he raised his hand. 

"Oh, foolish birds!" he apostrophized. "Here is your enemy, man, making before your very eyes the snare that will lead you todestruction, and you go on taking no notice, thinking that thesunshine will last forever for you. "

"Shut up, Al, " said Dick, "you'll make me feel sorry for thoseducks. Besides, you're not much of a poet, anyway. "

When the trap was finished they put around the mouth and allalong the tunnel quantities of the grass and herbs that the ducksseemed to like, and then Dick announced that the enterprise wasfinished. 

"We have nothing further to do about it, " he said, "but to takeout our ducks. "

It was toward twilight when they finished the trap, and both hadbeen in the cold water up to their knees. Dick had long sincebecome hardened to such things, but he looked at Albert ratheranxiously. The younger boy, however, did not begin to cough. Hemerely hurried back to the fire, took off his wet leggings, andtoasted his feet and legs. Then he ate voraciously and sleptlike a log the night through. But both he and Dick went down tothe lake the next morning with much eagerness to see what thetrap contained, if anything. 

It was a fresh winter morning, not cold enough to freeze thesurface of the lake, but extremely crisp. The air contained theextraordinary exhilarating quality which Dick had noticed whenthey first came into the mountains, but which he had neverbreathed anywhere else. It seemed to him to make everythingsparkle, even his blood, and suddenly he leaped up, cracked hisheels together, and shouted. 

"Why, Dick, " exclaimed Albert, "what on earth is the matter withyou?"

"Nothing is the matter with me. Instead, all's right. I'm soglad I'm alive, Al, old man, that I wanted to shout out the factto all creation. "

"Feel that way myself, " said Albert, "and since you've given sucha good example, think I'll do as you did. "

He leaped up, cracked his heels together, and let out a yell thatthe mountains sent back in twenty echoes. Then both boys laughedwith sheer pleasure in life, the golden morning, and their happyvalley. So engrossed were they in the many things that they weredoing that they did not yet find time to miss human faces. 

As they approached the trap, they heard a great squawking andcackling and found that the cell, as Albert called the squareinclosure, contained ten ducks and two geese swimming about in agreat state of trepidation. They had come down the windingtunnel and through the apertures in the hoops, but they did nothave sense enough to go back the same way. Instead they merelyswam around the square and squawked. 

"Now, aren't they silly?" exclaimed Albert. "With the door tofreedom open, they won't take it. "

"I wonder, " said Dick philosophically, "if we human beings arenot just the same. Perhaps there are easy paths out of ourtroubles lying right before us and superior creatures up in theair somewhere are always wondering why we are such fools that wedon't see them. "

"Shut up, Dick, " said Albert, "your getting too deep. I've nodoubt that in our net are some ducks that are rated asuncommonly intelligent ducks as ducks go. "

They forgot all about philosophy a few moments later when theybegan to dispose of their capture. They took them out, one byone, through a hole that they made in the cell and cut off theirheads. The net was soon full up again, and they caught all theducks and geese they wanted with such ridiculous ease that at theend of a week they took it down and stored it in the cabin. 

They jerked the ducks and geese that they did not need forimmediate use, and used the feathers to stuff beds and pillowsfor themselves. The coverings of these beds were furs which theystitched together with the tendons of the deer. 

They began to be annoyed about this time by the depredations ofmountain lions, which, attracted by the pleasant odors, came downfrom the slopes to the number of at least half a dozen, Dicksurmised, and prowled incessantly about the cabin and Annex, taking the place of the timber wolves, and proving moretroublesome and dangerous alike. One of them managed at nightto seize the edge of an elk skin that hung on the roof of thecabin, and the next morning the skin was half chewed up andwholly ruined. 

Both boys were full of rage, and they watched for the lions, butfailed to get a shot at them. But Dick, out of the stores of hismemory, either some suggestion from reading, or trappers' andhunters' tales, devised a gun trap. He put a large piece offresh deer meat in the woods about a quarter of a mile from thecabin. It was gone the next morning, and the tracks about showedthat the lions had been present. 

Then Dick drove two stout forked sticks into the ground, theforks being about a yard above the earth. Upon these he lashedone of their rifles. Then he cut a two-foot section of a verysmall sapling, one end of which he inserted carefully between theground that the trigger of the rifle. The other end wassupported upon a small fork somewhat higher than those supportingthe rifle. Then he procured another slender but long section ofsapling that reached from the end of the short piece in thecrotch some distance beyond the muzzle of the rifle. The endbeyond the muzzle had the stub of a bough on it, but the end inthe crotch was tied there with a strip of hide. Now, if anythingshould pull on the end of this stick, it would cause the shorterstick to spring the trigger of the rifle and discharge it. Dicktested everything, saw that all was firmly and properly in place, and the next thing to do was to bait the trap. 

He selected a piece of most tempting deer meat and fastened ittightly on the hooked end of the long stick. It was obvious thatany animal pulling at this bait would cause the short stick tiedat the other end of it to press against the trigger of the rifle, and the rifle would be fired as certainly as if the trigger hadbeen pulled by the hand of man. Moreover, the barrel of therifle was parallel with the long stick, and the bullet wouldcertainly be discharged into the animal pulling at the bait. 

After the bait had been put on Dick put the cartridge in therifle. He was careful to do this last, as he did not wish totake any chances with the trap while he was testing it. But heand Albert ran a little wall of brush off on either side in orderthat the cougar, if cougar it were, should be induced to approachthe muzzle directly in front. When all the work was finished, the two boys inspected it critically. 

"I believe that our timber wolves would be too smart to come upto that trap, " said Albert. 

"Perhaps, " said Dick; "but the wolf has a fine intellect, andI've never heard that the cougar or puma was particularly notedfor brain power. Anyhow, I know that traps are built for him inthis manner, and we shall see whether it will work. "

"Are we going to hide somewhere near by and watch during thenight?"

"There's no need to make ourselves uncomfortable. If the gungets him, it'll get him whether we are or are not here. "

"That's so, " said Albert. "Well, I'm willing enough to take tothe cabin. These nights are growing pretty cold, I can tellyou. "

Taking a last look at the gun trap and assuring themselves thatit was all right, they hurried away to Castle Howard. The nightwas coming on much colder than any that they had yet had, andboth were glad to get inside. Albert stirred the coals frombeneath the ashes, put on fresh wood, and soon they had a fineblaze. The light flickered over a cabin greatly improved inappearance and wonderfully snug. 

The floor, except directly in front of the hearth, where sparksand coals would pop out, was covered with the well-tanned skinsof buffalo, elk, mule deer, bear, and wolf. The walls were alsothickly hung with furs, while their extra weapons, tools, andclothing hung there on hooks. It was warm, homelike, and showedall the tokens of prosperity. Dick looked around at it with anapproving eye. It was not only a house, and a good house atthat, but it was a place that one might make a base for a planthat he had in mind. Yes, circumstance had certainly favoredthem. Their own courage, skill, and energy had done the rest. 

Albert soon fell asleep after supper, but Dick was more wakeful, although he did not wish to be so. It was the gun trap that kepthis eyes open. He took a pride in doing things well, and hewanted the trap to work right. A fear that it might not do soworried him, but in turn he fell into a sound sleep from which hewas awakened by a report. He thought at first that something hadstruck the house, but when his confused senses were gathered intoa focus he knew that it was a rifle shot. 

"Up, Al, up!" he cried, "I think a cougar has been fooling withour trap!"

Albert jumped up. They threw on their coats and went out into adark and bitterly cold night. If they had not been so eager tosee what had happened, they would have fled back to the refuge ofthe warm cabin, but they hurried on toward the snug little hollowin which the gun trap had been placed. At fifty yards theystopped and went much more slowly, as a terrific growling andsnarling smote their ears. 

"It's the cougar, and we've got him, " said Dick. "He's hit bador he wouldn't be making such a terrible fuss. "

They approached cautiously and saw on the ground, almost in frontof the gun, a large yellowish animal writhing about and tearingthe earth. His snarls and rage increased as he scented the twoboys drawing near. 

"I think his shoulder is broken and his backbone injured, " saidDick. "That's probably the reason he can't get away. I don'tlike to see him suffer and I'll finish him now. "

He sent a bullet through the cougar's head and that was the endof him. In order to save it from the wolves, they took his hidefrom him where he lay, and spread it the next day on the roof ofthe cabin. 

The gun trap was so successful that they baited it again andagain, securing three more cougars, until the animals became toowary to try for the bait. The fourth cougar did not sustain asevere wound and fled up the mountain side, but Dick tracked himby the trail of blood that he left, overtook him far up theslope, and slew him with single shot. All these skins were addedto their collection, and when the last was spread out to dry, Dick spoke of the plan that he had in mind. 

"Al, " he said, "these mountains, or at least this corner of them, seem to be left to us. The Sioux, I suppose, are on the warpathelsewhere, and they don't like mountains much, anyhow. Ourwonderful valley, the slopes, and all the ravines and canyons arefull of game. The beaver must be abundant farther in, and Ipropose that we use our opportunity and turn fur hunters. There's wealth around us for the taking, and we were never sureof it in California. We've got enough ammunition to last us twoyears if we want to stay that long. Besides, Al, old boy, thevalley has been the remaking of you. You know that. "

Albert laughed from sheer delight. 

"Dick, " he said, "you won't have to get a gun and threaten mewith death unless I stay. I'll be glad to be a fur hunter, and, Dick, I tell you, I'm in love with this valley. As you say, it'smade me over again, and oh, it's fine to be well and strong, todo what you please, and not always to be thinking, 'how can Istand this? Will it hurt me?'"

"Then, " said Dick, "it's settled. We'll not think for a longtime of getting back to civilization, but devote ourselves togathering up furs and skins. "

Chapter IXThe Timber Wolves

The cold increased, although snow fell but little, which Dickconsidered good luck, chiefly on Albert's account. He wanted thehardening process to continue and not to be checked by thaws andpermeating dampness. Meanwhile, they plunged with all the energyand fire of youth into the task of fur hunting. They had alreadydone much in that respect, but now it was undertaken as avocation. They became less scrupulous about sparing thebuffaloes, and they shot more than twenty in the defiles of themountains, gathering a fine lot of robes. Several more skins ofthe bear, grizzly, and silver tip were added to their collection, and the elk also furnished an additional store. Many wolverineswere taken in dead falls and snares, and their skins were addedto the rapidly growing heap. 

They baited the trap gun once more, hoping that a fifth cougarmight prove rash enough to dare it. No cougar came, but on thethird night a scornful grizzly swallowed the deer meat as atidbit, and got a bullet in the neck for his carelessness. Inhis rage, he tore the trap to pieces and tossed the rifle to oneside, but, fortunately, he did not injure the valuable weapon, his attention turning instantly to something else. Later on theboys dispatched him as he lay wounded upon the ground. 

Their old clothing was now about worn out and it also becamenecessary to provide garments of another kind in order to guardagainst the great cold. Here their furs became invaluable; theymade moccasins, leggings, caps, and coats alike of them, oftencrude in construction, but always warm. 

They found the beaver father in the mountains, as Dick hadsurmised, and trapped them in great abundance. This was by fartheir most valuable discovery, and they soon had a pack of sixtyskins, which Dick said would be worth more than a thousanddollars in any good market. They also made destructive inroadsupon the timber wolves, the hides of which were more valuablethan those of any other wolf. In fact, they made such havoc thatthe shrewd timber wolf deserted the valley almost entirely. 

As the boys now made their fur hunting a business, they attendedto every detail with the greatest care. They always removed theskin immediately after the death of the animal, or, if taken in atrap, as soon after as possible. Every particle of fat or fleshwas removed from the inside of the skin, and they were careful atthe same time never to cut into the skin itself, as they knewthat the piercing of a fur with a knife would injure its valuegreatly. Then the skin was put to dry in a cold, airy place, free alike from the rays of the sun or the heat of a fire. Theybuilt near the cabin a high scaffold for such purposes, too highand strong for any wild beast to tear down or to reach the fursupon it. Then they built above this on additional poles astrongly thatched bark roof that would protect the skins fromrain, and there they cured them in security. 

"I've heard, " said Dick, "that some trappers put preparations orcompounds on the skins in order to cure them, but since we don'thave any preparations or compounds we won't use them. Besides, our furs seem to cure up well enough without them. "

Dick was right. The cold, dry air of the mountains cured themadmirably. Two or three times they thought to help along theprocess by rubbing salt upon the inner sides. They could alwaysget plenty of salt by boiling out water from the salt springs, but as they seemed to do as well without it, they ceased to takethe trouble. 

The boys were so absorbed now in their interesting and profitabletasks that they lost all count of the days. They knew they werefar advanced into a splendid open winter, but it is probably thatthey could not have guessed within a week of the exact day. However, that was a question of which they thought little. Albert's health and strength continued to improve, and with themental stimulus added to the physical, the tide of life wasflowing very high for both. 

They now undertook a new work in order to facilitate theirtrapping operations. The beaver stream, and another that theyfound a little later, ran far back into the mountains, and thebest trapping place was about ten miles away. After a day's workaround the beaver pond, they had to choose between a long journeyin the night to the cabin or sleeping in the open, the latter nota pleasant thing since the nights had become so cold. Hence, they began the erection of a bark shanty in a well-sheltered covenear the most important of the beaver localities. This was awork of much labor, but, as in all other cases, they persisteduntil the result was achieved triumphantly. 

They drove two stout, forked poles deep into the ground, leavinga projection of about eight feet above the earth. The polesthemselves were about eight feet apart. From fork to fork theyplaced a strong ridgepole. Then they rested against theridgepole from either side other and smaller poles at an angle offorty or fifty degrees. The sloping poles were about a foot anda half apart. These poles were like the scantling or insideframework of a wooden house and they covered it all with spruceand birch bark, beginning at the bottom and allowing each pieceto overlap the one beneath it, after the fashion of a shingledroof. They secured pieces partly with wooden pegs and partlywith other and heavier wooden poles leaned against them. One endof the shelter was closed up with bark wholly, secured withwooden pegs, and the other end was left open in order that itstenants might face the fire which would be built three or fourfeet in front of it. They packed the floor with dead leaves, andput on the top of the leaves a layer of thick bark with thesmooth side upward. 

The bark shanty was within a clump of trees, and its open sidewas not fifteen feet from the face of an abrupt cliff. Hencethere was never any wind to drive the smoke from the fire backinto their faces, and, wrapped in their furs, they slept assnugly in the shanty as if they had been in the cabin itself. But they were too wise to leave anything there in their absence, knowing that it was not sufficient protection against the largerwild animals. In fact, a big grizzly, one night when they wereat the cabin, thrust his nose into the shanty and, lumberingabout in an awkward and perhaps frightened manner, knocked offhalf of one of the bark sides. It took nearly a day's work torepair the damage, and it put Dick in an ill humor. 

"I'd like to get a shot at that bear!" he exclaimed. "He had nobusiness trying to come into a house when he was not invited. "

"But he is an older settler than we are, " said Albert, in awhimsical tone. 

Dick did get a shot at a bear a few days later, and it was agrizzly, at that. The wound was not fatal, and the animal cameon with great courage and ferocity. A second shot from Dick didnot stop him and the boy was in great danger. But Albert, whowas near, sent two heavy bullets, one after the other, into thebeast, and he toppled over, dying. It was characteristic of thehardy life they were leading and its tendency toward therepression of words and emotion that Dick merely uttered a brief, "Thanks, Al, you were just in time, " and Albert nodded in reply. 

The skin of old Ephraim went to join that of his brother who hadbeen taken sometime before, and Dick himself shot a little latera third, which contributed a fine skin. 

The boys did not know how hard they were really working, buttheir appetites would have bee a fine gauge. Toiling incessantlyin a crisp, cold air, as pure as any that the world affords, theywere nearly always hungry. Fortunately, the happy valley, theirown skill and courage, and the supplies that Dick had broughtfrom the last wagon train furnished them an unlimited larder. Game of great variety was their staple, but they had both flourand meal, from which, though they were sparing of their use, theymade cakes now and then. They had several ways of preparing theIndian meal that Dick had taken from the wagon. They would boilit for about an hour, then, after it cooled, would mix it withthe fat of game and fry it, after which the compound was eaten inslices. They also made mealcakes, johnnycakes and hoecakes. 

Albert was fond of fish, especially of the fine trout that theycaught in the little river, and soon he invented or discovered away of cooking them that provided an uncommon delicacy for theirtable. He would slit the trout open, clean it, and the season itwith salt and also with pepper, which they had among their stores. Then he would lay the fish in the hot ashes of a fire that hadburned down to embers, cover it up thoroughly with the hot ashesand embers, and let it cook thirty or forty minutes--thirty minutesfor the little fellows and forty minutes for the big ones. When hethought the fish was done to the proper turn, he would take it fromthe ashes, clean it, and then remove the skin, which would almostpeel off of its own accord. 

The fish was then ready for the eating, and neither Dick norAlbert could ever bear to wait. The flesh looked so tempting andthe odor was so savory that hunger instantly became acute. 

"They are so good, " said Albert, "because my method of cookingpreserves all the juices and flavors of the fish. Nothingescapes. "

"Thanks, professor, " said Dick. "You must be right, so kindlypass me another of those trout, and be quick about it. "

It is a truth that both boys became epicures. Their valleyfurnished so much, and they had a seasoning of hard work and openmountain air that was beyond compare. They even imitated Indianand trapper ways of cooking geese, ducks, quail, sage hens, andother wild fowl that the region afforded. They could cook thesein the ashes as they did the trout, and they also had othermethods. Albert would take a duck, cut it open and clean it, butleave the feathers on. Then he would put it in water, until thefeathers were soaked thoroughly, after which he would cover it upwith ashes, and put hot coals on top of the ashes. When the birdwas properly cooked and drawn from the ashes, the skin could bepulled off easily, taking the feathers, of course, with it. Thena duck, sweet, tender, and delicate, such as no restaurant couldfurnish, was ready for the hardy youngsters. At rare intervalsthey improve on this by stuffing the duck with seasoning andIndian meal. Now and then they served a fat goose the same wayand found it equally good. 

They cooked the smaller birds in a simpler manner, especiallywhen they were at the bark shanty, which they nicknamed the"Suburban Villa. " The bird was plucked of its feathers, drawnand washed, and then they cut it down the back in order to spreadit out. Nothing was left but to put the bird on the end of asharp stick, hold it over the coals, and turn it around until itwas thoroughly broiled or roasted. They also roasted slices ofbig game in the same way. 

As Albert was cooking a partridge in this manner one evening atthe Suburban Villa, Dick, who was sitting on his buffalo-robeblanket in the doorway, watched him and began to make comparisons. He recalled the boy who had left Omaha with the wagon train six oreight months before, a thin, spiritless fellow with a slender, weakneck, hollow, white cheeks, pale lips, and listless eyes. That boydrew coughs incessantly from a hollow chest, and the backs of hishands were ridged when the flesh had gone away, leaving the bonesstanding up. This boy whom Dick contemplated was quite a differentbeing. His face was no longer white, it was instead a mixture ofred and brown, and both tints were vivid. Across one cheek were somebrier scratches which he had acquired the day before, but which he hadnever noticed. The red-brown cheeks were filled out with the effectsof large quantities of good food digested well. As he bent over thefire, a chest of good width seemed to puff out with muscle and windexpansion. Despite the extreme cold, his sleeves were rolled upto the elbow, and the red wrists and hands were well covered withtough, seasoned flesh. The eyes that watched the roasting birdwere intent, alert, keenly interested in that particular task, and in due course, in any other that might present itself. 

Dick drew a long breath of satisfaction. Providence had treatedthem well. Then he called loudly for his share of the bird, saying that he was starving, and in a few moments both fell towork. 

Their fur operations continued to extend. They had really founda pocket, and isolated corner in the high Rockies where thefur-bearing animals, not only abundant, were also increasing. Itwas, too, the dead of winter, the very best time for trapping, and so, as far as their own goings and comings were concerned, they were favored further by the lucky and unusual absence ofsnow. They increased the number of their traps--dead falls, boxtraps, snares, and other kinds, and most of them were successful. 

They knew instinctively the quality of the furs that theyobtained. They could tell at a glance whether they were prime, that is, thick and full, and as they cured them and baled them, they classified them. 

Constant application bred new ideas. In their pursuit of furs, they found that they were not quite so sparing of the game asthey had been at first. Some of their scruples melted away. Albert now recalled a device of trappers of which he had read. This was the use of a substance generally called barkstone, whichthey found to be of great help to them in the capture of thatanimal. 

The barkstone or castoreum, as it is commercially known, wasobtained principally from the beaver himself. The basis of itwas an acrid secretion with a musky odor of great power, found intwo glands just under the root of the beaver's tail. Each glandwas from one and one half to two inches in length. The boys cutout these glands and squeezed the contents into an empty tincan. This at first was of a yellowish-red color, but after awhile, when it dried, it became a light brown. 

This substance formed the main ingredient of barkstone, and intheir medicine chest they found a part of the remainder. Thesecretion was transferred to a bottle and the mixed with itessence of peppermint and ground cinnamon. As Albert rememberedit, ground nutmeg also was needed, but as they had no nutmegthey were compelled to take their chances without it. Then theypoured whisky on the compound until it looked like a paste. 

Then the bottle was stopped up with the greatest care, and inabout a week, when they stole a sniff or two at it, they foundthat the odor had increased ten or a dozen times in power. 

They put eight or ten drops of the barkstone upon the bait forthe beaver, or somewhere near the trap, and, despite some defectsin the composition, it proved an extraordinary success. Thewariest beaver of all would be drawn by it, and their beaverbales grew faster than any other. 

Dick calculated one day that they had at least five thousanddollars worth of furs, which seemed a great sum to both boys. Itcertainly meant, at that time and in that region, a competence, and it could be increased greatly. 

"Of course, " said Dick, "we'll have to think some day of the wayin which we must get these furs out, and for that we will needhorses or mules, but we won't bother our heads about it yet. "

After the long period of clear, open weather, the delayed snowcame. It began to fall one evening at twilight, when both boyswere snug in the cabin, and it came in a very gentle, soothingway, as if it meant no harm whatever. Big, soft flakes fell assoftly as the touch of down, but every time the boys looked outthey were still coming in the same gentle but persistent way. The next morning the big flakes still came down and all that dayand all the next night. When the snow stopped it lay five feetdeep on the level, and uncounted feet deep in the gullies andcanyons. 

"We're snowed in, " said Albert in some dismay, "and we can't goto our traps. Why, this is likely to last a month!"

"We can't walk through it, " said Dick meditatively, "but we canwalk on it. We've got to make snowshoes. They're what we need. "

"Good!" said Albert with enthusiasm. "Let's get to work atonce. "

Deep snows fall in Illinois, and both, in their earlier boyhood, had experimented for the sake of sport with a crude form ofsnowshoe. Now they were to build upon this slender knowledge, for the sake of an immediate necessity, and it was the hardesttask that they had yet set for themselves. Nevertheless, it wasachieved, like the others. 

They made a framework of elastic stripes of ash bent in thewell-known shape of the snowshoe, which bears some resemblanceto the shape of the ordinary shoe, only many times larger andsharply pointed at the rear end. Its length was between five andsix feet, and the ends were tightly wound with strips of hide. This frame was bent into the shoe shape after it had been soakedin boiling water. 

Then they put two very strong strips of hide across the frontpart of the framework, and in addition passed at least a halfdozen stout bands of hide from strip to strip. 

Then came the hard task of attaching the shoe to the foot of theboy who was to wear it. The ball of the foot was set on thesecond crosspiece and the foot was then tied there with a broadstrip of hide which passed over the instep and was secured behindthe ankle. It required a good deal of practice to fasten thefoot so it would not slip up and down; and also in such a mannerthat the weight of the shoe would be proportioned to it properly. 

They had to exercise infinite patience before two pairs ofsnowshoes were finished. There was much hunting in deep snowfor proper wood, many strips and some good hide were spoiled, but the shoes were made and then another equally as greatconfronted the two boys--to learn how to use them. 

Each boy put on his pair at the same time and went forth on thesnow, which was now packed and hard. Albert promptly caughtone of his shoes on the other, toppled over, and went downthrough the crust of the snow, head first. Dick, although inan extremely awkward situation himself, managed to pull hisbrother out and put him in the proper position, with his headpointing toward the sky instead of the earth. Albert brushedthe snow out of his eyes and ears, and laughed. 

"Good start, bad ending, " he said. "This is certainly thebiggest pair of shoes that I ever had on, Dick. They feel atleast a mile long to me. "

"I know that mine are a mile long, " said Dick, as he, too, brought the toe of one shoe down upon the heel of the other, staggered, fell over sideways, but managed to right himself intime. 

"It seems to me, " said Albert, "that the proper thing to do is tostep very high and very far, so you won't tangle up one shoe withthe other. "

"That seems reasonable, " said Dick, "and we'll try it. "

They practiced this step for an hour, making their ankles achebadly. After a good rest they tried it for another hour, andthen they began to make progress. They found that they got alongover the snow at a fair rate of speed, although it remained anawkward and tiring gait. Nevertheless, one could travel anindefinite distance, when it was impossible to break one's wayfar through five or six feet of packed snow, and the shoes met aneed. 

"They'll do, " said Albert; "but it will never be like walking onthe solid earth in common shoes. "

Albert was right. Their chief use for these objects, solaboriously constructed, was for the purpose of visiting theirtraps, some of which were set at least a dozen miles away. Theywished also to go back to the shanty and see that it was allright. They found a number of valuable furs in the traps, butthe bark shanty had been almost crushed in by the weight of thesnow, and they spent sometime strengthening and repairing it. 

In the course of these excursions their skill with the snowshoesincreased and they were also able to improve upon the construction, correcting little errors in measurement and balance. The snowshowed no signs of melting, but they made good progress, nevertheless, with their trapping, and all the furs taken were of the highestquality. 

It would have been easy for them to kill enough game to feed asmall army, as the valley now fairly swarmed with it, althoughnearly all of it was of large species, chiefly buffalo, elk, andbear. There was one immense herd of elk congregated in a greatsheltered space at the northern end of the valley, where they fedchiefly upon twigs and lichens. 

Hanging always upon the flanks of this herd was a band of timberwolves of great size and ferocity, which never neglected anopportunity to pull down a cripple or a straying yearling. 

"I thought we had killed off all these timber wolves, " saidAlbert when he first caught sight of the band. 

"We did kill off most of those that were here when we came, " saidDick, "but others, I suppose, have followed the game from themountains into the valley. "

Albert went alone a few days later to one of their traps up thevalley, walking at a good pace on his snowshoes. A small colonyof beavers had been discovered on a stream that came downbetween two high cliffs, and the trap contained a beaver ofunusually fine fur. Albert removed the skin, put it on hisshoulder, and, tightening his snowshoes, started back to CastleHoward. 

The snow had melted a little recently, and in many places amongthe trees it was not deep, but Albert and Dick had made it apoint to wear their snowshoes whenever they could, for the sakeof the skill resulting from practice. 

Albert was in a very happy frame of mind. He felt always now aphysical elation, which, of course, became mental also. It islikely, too, that the rebound from long and despairing ill healthstill made itself felt. None so well as those who have been illand are cured! He drew great draughts of the frosty air into hisstrong, sound lungs, and the emitted it slowly and with ease. Itwas a fine mechanism, complex, but working beautifully. Moreover, he had an uncommonly large and rich beaver fur over hisshoulder. Such a skin as that would bring twenty-five dollars inany decent market. 

Albert kept to the deep snow on account of his shoes, and wasmaking pretty good time, when he heard a long howl, varied by akind of snappy, growling bark. 

"One of those timber wolves, " said Albert to himself, "and he hasscented the blood of the beaver. "

He thought no more about the wolf until two or three minuteslater when he heard another howl and then two or three more. Moreover, they were much nearer. 

"Now, I wonder what they're after?" thought Albert. 

But he went on, maintaining his good pace, and then he heardbehind him a cry that was a long, ferocious whine rather than ahowl. Albert looked back and saw under the trees, where the snowwas lighter, a dozen leaping forms. He recognized at once theold pests, the timber wolves. 

"Now, I wonder what they're after?" he repeated, and then as thewhole pack suddenly gave tongue in a fierce, murderous howl, hesaw that it was himself. Albert, armed though he was--neitherboy ever went forth without gun or revolver--felt the blood growcold in every vein. These were not the common wolves of theprairie, nor yet the ordinary wolf of the East and Middle West, but the great timber wolf of the Northwest, the largest andfiercest of the dog tribe. He had grown used to the presence oftimber wolves hovering somewhere near, but now they presentedthemselves in a new aspect, bearing down straight upon him, andpushed by hunger. He understood why they were about to attackhim. They had been able to secure but little of the large gamein the valley, and they were drawn on by starvation. 

He looked again and looked fearfully. They seemed to himmonstrous in size for wolves, and their long, yellowish-graybodies were instinct with power. Teeth and eyes alike weregleaming. Albert scarcely knew what to do first. Should he run, taking to the deepest snow, where the wolves might sink to theirbodies and thus fail to overtake him? But in his own haste hemight trip himself with the long, ungainly snowshoes, and theneverything would quickly be over. Yet it must be tried. Hecould see no other way. 

Albert, almost unconsciously prayed for coolness and judgment, and it was well for him that his life in recent months had taughthim hardihood and resource. He turned at once into the openspace, away from the trees, where the snow lay several feet deep, and he took long, flying leaps on his snowshoes. Behind him camethe pack of great, fierce brutes, snapping and snarling, howlingand whining, a horrible chorus that made shivers chase oneanother up and down the boy's spine. But as he reckoned, thedeep snow made them flounder, and checked their speed. 

Before him the open ground and the deep snow stretched straightaway beside the lake until it reached the opening between themountains in which stood Castle Howard. As Albert saw the goodtrack lie before him, his hopes rose, but presently, when helooked back again, they fell with cruel speed. The wolves, despite the depth of the snow, had gained upon him. Sometimes, perhaps, it proved hard enough to sustain the weight of theirbodies, and then they more than made up lost ground. 

Albert noted a wolf which he took at once to be the leader, notonly because he led all the others, but because also of hismonstrous size. Even in that moment of danger he wondered that awolf could grow so large, and that he should have such longteeth. But the boy, despite his great danger, retained hispresence of mind. If the wolves were gaining, then he mustinflict a check upon them. He whirled about, steadied himself amoment on his snowshoes, and fired directly at the huge leader. The wolf had swung aside when he saw the barrel of the rifleraised, but the bullet struck down another just behind him. Instantly, some of the rest fell upon the wounded brute and beganto devour him, while the remainder, after a little hesitation, continued to pursue Albert. 

But the boy had gained, and he felt that the repeating riflewould be for a while like a circle of steel to him. He couldhold them back for a time with bullet after bullet, although itwould not suffice to stop the final rush when it came, if itcame. 

Albert looked longingly ahead. He saw a feather of blue smokeagainst the dazzling white and silver of the sky, and he knewthat it came from their cabin. If he were only there behindthose stout log walls! A hundred wolves, bigger than the bigleader, might tear at them in vain! And perhaps Dick, too, wouldcome! He felt that the two together would have little to fear. 

The wolves set up their fierce, whining howl again, and once moreit showed that they had gained upon the fleeing boy. He turnedand fired once, twice, three times, four times, as fast as hecould pull the trigger, directly into the mass of the pack. Hecould not tell what he had slain and what he had wounded, butthere was a hideous snapping and snarling, and the sight of wolfteeth flashing into wolf flesh. 

Albert ran on and that feather of blue smoke was larger andnearer. But was it near enough? He could hear the wolves behindhim again. All these diversions were only temporary. No matterhow many of their number were slain or wounded, no matter howmany paused to devour the dead and hurt, enough were always leftto follow him. The pursuit, too, had brought reinforcements fromthe lurking coverts of the woods and bushes. 

Albert saw that none of his bullets had struck the leader. Theyellowish-gray monster still hung close upon him, and he was toAlbert like a demon wolf, one that could not be slain. He wouldtry again. He wheeled and fired. The leader, as before, swervedto one side and a less fortunate wolf behind him received thebullet. Albert fired two more bullets, and then he turned tocontinue his flight. But the long run, the excitement, and hisweakened nerves caused the fatal misstep. The toe of onesnowshoe caught on the heel of the other, and as a shout piercedthe air, he went down. 

The huge gray leader leaped at the fallen boy, and as his bodypaused a fleeting moment in midair before it began the descent, arifle cracked, a bullet struck him in the throat, cutting thejugular vein and coming out behind. His body fell lifeless onthe snow, and he who had fired the shot came on swiftly, shoutingand firing again. 

It was well that Dick, sometime after Albert's departure, hadconcluded to go forth for a little hunt, and it was well alsothat in addition to his rifle he had taken the double-barreledshotgun thinking that he might find some winter wild fowl flyingover the snow and ice-covered surface of the lake. His firstshot slew the master wolf, his second struck down another, histhird was as fortunate, his fourth likewise, and then, stillrunning forward, he bethought himself of the shotgun that wasstrapped over his shoulder. He leveled it in an instant andfairly sprayed the pack of wolves with stinging shot. Beforethat it had been each bullet for a wolf and the rest untouched, but now there was a perfect shower of those hot little pellets. It was more than they could stand, big, fierce, and hungry timberwolves though they were. They turned and fled with beaten howlsinto the woods. 

Albert was painfully righting himself, when Dick gave him hishand and sped the task. Albert had thought himself lost, and itwas yet hard to realize that he had not disappeared down thethroat of the master wolf. His nerves were overtaxed, and he wasnear collapse. 

"Thank you, Dick, old boy, " he said. "If you hadn't come whenyou did, I shouldn't be here. "

"No, you wouldn't, " replied Dick grimly. "Those wolves eatfast. But look, Al, what a monster this fellow is! Did you eversee such a wolf?"

The great leader lay on his side upon the snow, and a full sevenfeet he stretched from the tip of his nose to the root of hisstumpy tail. No such wolf as he had ever been put inside a cage, and it was rare, indeed, to find one so large, even in themountains south of the very Far North. 

"That's a skin that will be worth something, " said Dick, "andhere are more, but before we begin the work of taking them off, you'll have to be braced up, Al. You need a stimulant. "

He hurried back to Castle Howard and brought one of the bottlesof whisky, a little store that they had never touched except inthe compounding of the barkstone for the capture of beaver. Hegave Albert a good stiff drink of it, after which the boy feltbetter, well enough, in fact, to help Dick skin the monster wolf. 

"It gives me pleasure to do this, " said Albert, as he wielded theknife. "You thought, Mr. Wolf, that I was going to adorn yourinside; instead, your outside will be used as an adornmenttrodden on by the foot of my kind. "

They secured four other fine and unimpaired skins among theslain, and after dressing and curing, they were sent to join thestores in the Annex. 

Chapter XDick Goes Scouting

Dick did not believe that the timber wolves, after suffering somuch in the pursuit of Albert, would venture again to attackeither his brother or himself. He knew that the wolf was one ofthe shrewdest of all animals, and that, unless the circumstanceswere very unusual indeed, the sight of a gun would be sufficientto warn them off. Nevertheless, he decided to begin a campaignagainst them, though he had to wait a day or two until Albert'sshaken nerves were restored. 

They wished to save their ammunition as much as possible, andthey built three large dead falls, in which they caught six orseven great wolves, despite their cunning. In addition theyhunted them with rifles with great patience and care, neverrisking a shot until they felt quite sure that it would find avital spot. In this manner they slew about fifteen more, and bythat time the wolves were thoroughly terrified. The scent of thebeings carrying sticks which poured forth death and destructionat almost any distance, was sufficient to send the boldest bandof timber wolves scurrying into the shadows of the deepest forestin search of hiding and safety. 

The snow melted and poured in a thousand streams from themountains. The river and all the creeks and brooks roared intorrents, the earth soaked in water, and the two boys spent muchof the time indoors making new clothing, repairing traps andnets, and fashioning all kinds of little implements that were ofuse in their daily life. They could realize, only because theynow had to make them, how numerous such implements were. Yetthey made toasting sticks of hard wood, carved out woodenplatters, constructed a rude but serviceable dining table, addedto their supply of traps of various kinds, and finally made twolarge baskets of split willow. The last task was not asdifficult as some others, as both had seen and taken a part inbasket making in Illinois. The cabin was now crowded toinconvenience. Over their beds, from side to side, and up underthe sloping roof, they had fastened poles, and from all of thesehung furs and skins, buffalo, deer, wolf, wild cat, beaver, wolverine, and others, and also stores of jerked game. The Annexwas in the same crowded condition. The boys had carried thehollow somewhat higher up with their axes, but the extension gavethem far less room than they needed. 

"It's just this, Dick, " said Albert, "we getting so rich that wedon't know what to do with all our property. I used to think ita joke that the rich were unhappy, but now I see where theirtrouble comes in. "

"I know that the trappers cache their furs, that is, bury them orhide them until they can take them away, " said Dick, "but wedon't know how to bury furs so they'll keep all right. Still, we've got to find a new place of some kind. Besides, it would bebetter to have them hidden where only you and I could find them, Al. Maybe we can find such a place. "

Albert agreed, and they began a search along the cliffs. Dickknew that extensive rocky formations must mean a cave or anopening of some kind, if they only looked long enough for it, at last they found in the side of a slope a place that he thoughtcould be made to suit. It was a rocky hollow running back aboutfifteen feet, and with a height and width of perhaps ten feet. It was approached by an opening about four feet in height and twofeet in width. Dick wondered at first that it had not been usedas a den by some wild animal, but surmised that the steepness ofthe ascent and the extreme roughness of the rocky floor had keptthem out. 

But these very qualities recommended the hollow to the boys forthe use that they intended it. Its position in the side of thecliff made it a hard place to find, and the solid rock of itsfloor, walls, and roof insured the dryness that was necessary forthe storage of their furs. 

"We'll call this the Cliff House, " said Albert, "and we'll takepossession at once. "

They broke off the sharper of the stone projections with their axheads, and then began the transfer of the furs. It was no lighttask to carry them up the step slope to the Cliff House, but, forced to do all things for themselves, they had learnedperseverance, and they carried all their stock of beaver furs andall the buffalo robes and bearskins, except those in actual use, together with a goodly portion of the wolfskins, elk hides, andothers. 

Dick made a rude but heavy door which fitted well enough into theopening to keep out any wild animal, no matter how small, and infront of it, in a little patch of soft soil, they set out twotransplanted pine bushes which seemed to take root, and whichDick was sure would grow in the spring. 

When the boys looked up from the bottom of the slope, they saw notrace of the Cliff House, only an expanse of rock, save a littlepatch of earth where two tiny pines were growing. 

"Nobody but ourselves will ever find our furs!" exclaimed Dickexultingly. "The most cunning Indian would not dream thatanything was hidden up there behind those little pines, and thefurs will keep as well inside as if they were in the beststorehouse ever built. "

The discovery and use of the rock cache was a great relief toboth. Their cabin had become so crowded with furs and stores, that the air was often thick and heavy, and they did not havewhat Dick called elbow room. Now they used the cabin almostexclusively for living purposes. Most of the stores were in theAnnex, while the dry and solid Cliff House held the furs. 

"Have you thought, Dick, what you and I are?" asked Albert. 

"I don't catch your meaning. "

"We're aristocrats of the first water, Mr. Richard Howard and Mr. Albert Howard, the Mountain Kings. We can't get along with lessthan four residences. We live in Castle Howard, the mainmansion, superior to anything of its kind in a vast region; thenwe have the Annex, a tower used chiefly as a supply room andtreasure chest; then the Suburban Villa, a light, airy place ofgraceful architecture, very suitable as a summer residence, andnow we have the Cliff House, in a lofty and commanding positionnoted for its wonderful view. We are really a fortunate pair, Dick. "

"I've been thinking that for sometime, " replied Dick rathergravely. 

Hitherto they had confined their operations chiefly to their ownside of the lake, but as they ranged farther and farther insearch of furs they began to prowl among the canyons and narrowvalleys in the mountains on the other side. They made, ratherfar up the northern side, some valuable catches of beaver, but inorder to return with them, they were compelled to come aroundeither the northern or southern end of the lake, and the roundtrip was tremendously long and tiring. 

"It's part of a man's business to economize time and strength, "said Dick, "and we must do it. You and I, Al, are going to makea canoe. "

"How?"

"I don't know just yet, but I'm studying it out. The idea willjump out of my head in two or three days. "

It was four days before it jumped, but when it did, it jumped tosome purpose. 

"First, we'll make a dugout, " he said. "We've got the tools--axes, knives, saws, and augers--and we'd better start with that. "

They cut down a big and perfectly straight pine and chose alength of about twelve feet from the largest part of the trunk. Both boys had seen dugouts, and they knew, in a general way, howto proceed. Their native intelligence supplied the rest. 

They cut off one side of the log until it was flat, thus makingthe bottom for the future canoe. They cut the opposite side awayin the well-known curve that a boat makes, low in the middle andhigh at each end. This part of the work was done with greatcaution, but Dick had an artistic eye, and they made a fairlygood curve. Next they began the tedious and laborious work ofdigging out, using axes, hatchets, and chisel. 

This was a genuine test of Albert's new strength, but he stood itnobly. They chipped away for a long time, until the wood on thesides and bottom was thin but strong enough to stand anypressure. Then they made the proper angle and curve of bow andstern, cut and made two stout broad paddles, and their dugout wasready--a long canoe with a fairly good width, as the originallog had been more than two feet in diameter. It was both lightand strong, and, raising it on their shoulders, they carried itdown to the lake where they put it in the water. 

Albert, full of enthusiasm, sprang into the canoe and made amighty sweep with his paddle. The light dugout shot away, tippedon one side, and as Albert made another sweep with his paddle toright it, it turned over, bottom side up, casting the rash youngpaddler into ten feet of pure cold water. Albert came up with amighty splash and sputter. He was a good swimmer, and he hadalso retained hold of the paddle unconsciously, perhaps. Dickregarded him contemplatively from the land. He had no idea ofjumping in. One wet and cold boy was enough. Beside, rashnessdeserved its punishment. 

"Get the canoe before it floats farther away, " he called out, "and tow it to land. It has cost us too much work to be lost outon the lake. "

Albert swam to the canoe, which was now a dozen yards away, andquickly towed it and the paddle to land. There, shivering, thewater running from him in streams, he stepped upon the solidearth. 

"Run to the cabin as fast as you can, " said Dick. "Take off thosewet things, rub yourself down before the fire; then put ondry clothes and come back here and help me. "

Albert needed no urging, but it seemed to him that he wouldfreeze before he reached the cabin, short as the distance was. Fortunately, there was a good fire on the hearth, and, after hehad rubbed down and put on his dry, warm suit of deerskin, henever felt finer in his life. He returned to the lake, but hefelt sheepish on the way. That had been a rash movement of his, overenthusiastic, but he had been properly punished. His chagrinwas increased when he saw Dick a considerable distance out on thelake in the canoe, driving it about in graceful curves with longsweeps of his paddle. 

"This is the way it ought to be done, " called out Dick cheerily. "Behold me, Richard Howard, the king of canoe men!"

"You've been practicing while I was gone!" exclaimed Albert. 

"No doubt of it, my young friend, and that is why you see meshowing such skill, grace, and knowledge. I give you the samerecipe without charge: Look before you leap, especially if you'regoing to leap into a canoe. Now we'll try it together. "

He brought the canoe back to land, Albert got in cautiously, andfor the rest of the day they practiced paddling, both togetherand alone. Albert got another ducking, and Dick, in a moment ofoverconfidence, got one, too, somewhat to Albert's pleasure andrelief, as it has been truly said that misery loves company, butin two or three days they learned to use the canoe with ease. Then, either together or alone, they would paddle boldly the fulllength of the lake, and soon acquired dexterity enough to use itfor freight, too; that is, they would bring back in it across thelake anything that they had shot or trapped on the other side. 

So completely had they lost count of time that Dick had an ideaspring was coming, but winter suddenly shut down upon themagain. It did not arrive with wind and snow this time, but inthe night a wave of cold came down from the north so intense thatthe sheltered valley even did not repel it. 

Dick and Albert did not appreciate how really cold it was untilthey went from the cabin into the clear morning air, when they werewarned by the numbing sensation that assailed their ears and noses. They hurried into the house and thawed out their faces, whichstung greatly as they were exposed to the fire. Remembering theexperiences of their early boyhood, they applied cold water freely, which allayed the stinging. After that they were very careful towrap up fingers, ears, and noses when they went forth. 

Now, the channel that Albert had made from the water of the hotspring proved of great use. The water that came boiling from theearth cooled off rapidly, but it was not yet frozen when itreached the side of Castle Howard, and they could make use of it. 

The very first morning they found their new boat, of which theywere so proud, hard and fast with ten inches of solid ice allaround it. Albert suggested leaving it there. 

"We have no need of it so long as the lake is covered with ice, "he said, "and when the ice melts it will be released. "

But Dick looked a little farther. The ice might press in on itand crush it, and hence Albert and he cut it out with axes, afterwhich they put it in the lee of the cabin. Meanwhile, when theywished to reach the traps on the farther side of the lake, theycrossed it on the ice, and, presuming that the cold might lastlong, they easily made a rude sledge which they used in place ofthe canoe. 

"If we can't go through the water, we can at least go over it, "said Albert. 

While the great cold lasted, a period of about two weeks, theboys went on no errands except to their traps. The cold was sointense that often they could hear the logs of Castle Howardcontracting with a sound like pistol shots. Then they wouldbuild the fire high and sit comfortably before it. Fortunately, the valley afforded plenty of fuel. Both boys wished now thatthey had a few books, but books were out of the question, andthey sought always to keep themselves busy with the tasks thattheir life in the valley entailed upon them. Both knew that thiswas best. 

The cold was so great that even the wild animals suffered fromit. The timber wolves, despite their terrible lessons, weredriven by it down the valley, and at night a stray one now andthen would howl mournfully near the cabin. 

"He's a robber and would like to be a murderer, " Albert wouldsay, "but he probably smells this jerked buffalo meat that I'mcooking and I'm sorry for him. "

But the wolves were careful to keep out of rifle shot. 

Dick made one trip up the valley and found about fifty buffaloessheltered in a deep ravine and clustering close together forwarmth. They were quite thin, as the grass, although it had beenprotected by the snow, was very scanty at that period of theyear. Dick could have obtained a number of good robes, but hespared them. 

"Maybe I won't be so soft-hearted when the spring comes and youare fatter, " he said. 

The two, about this time, took stock of their ammunition, whichwas the most vital of all things to them. For sometime they hadused both the shot and ball cartridges only in cases ofnecessity, and they were relying more and more on traps, continually devising new kinds, their skill and ingenuityincreasing with practice. 

Dick had brought a great store of cartridges from the last train, especially from the unrifled wagon in the gully, and both boyswere surprised to see how many they had left. They had enough tolast a long time, according to their present mode of life. 

"If you are willing, that settles it, " said Dick. 

"If I am willing for what?" asked Albert. 

"Willing to stay over another year. You see, Al, we've wanderedinto a happy hunting ground. There are more furs, by thehundreds, for the taking, and it seems that this is a lostvalley. Nobody else comes here. Besides, you are doingwonderfully. All that old trouble is gone, and we want it tostay gone. If we stay here another year, and you continue to eatthe way you do and grow the way you do, you'll be able to take abuffalo by the horns and wring its neck. "

Albert grinned pleasantly at his brother. 

"You don't have to beg me to stay, " he said. "I like thisvalley. It has given me life and what is to be our fortune, ourfurs. Why not do all we can while we can? I'm in favor of theextra year, Dick. "

"Then no more need be said about it. The Cliff House isn't halffull of furs yet, but in another year we can fill it. "

The great cold began to break up, the ice on the lake grewthinner and thinner and then disappeared, much of the big gameleft the valley, the winds from the north ceased to blow, and intheir stead came breezes from the south, tipped with warmth. Dick knew that spring was near. It was no guess, he could feelit in every bone of him, and he rejoiced. He had had enough ofwinter, and it gave him the keenest pleasure when he saw tinyblades of new grass peeping up in sheltered places here andthere. 

Dick, although he was not conscious of it, had changed almost asmuch as Albert in the last eight or nine months. He had had noweak chest and throat to cure, but his vigorous young frame hadresponded nobly to the stimulus of self-reliant life. Thephysical experience, as well as the mental, of those eight ornine months, had been equal to five times their number spentunder ordinary conditions, and he had grown greatly in everyrespect. Few men were as strong, as agile, and as alert as he. 

He and Albert, throughout that long winter, had been sufficientunto each other. They had a great sense of ownership, the valleyand all its manifold treasurers belonged to them--a feeling thatwas true, as no one else came to claim it--and they believedthat in their furs they were acquiring and ample provision for astart in life. 

When the first tender shades of green began to appear in thevalley and on the slopes, Dick decided upon a journey. 

"Do you know, Al, how long we have been in this valley?" heasked. 

"Eight or ten months, I suppose, " replied Albert. 

"It must be something like that, and we've been entirely awayfrom our race. If we had anybody to think about us--although wehaven't--they'd be sure that we are dead. We're just asignorant of what is happening in the world, and I want to go on askirmishing trip over the mountains. You keep house while I'mgone. "

Albert offered mild objections, which he soon withdrew, as atheart he thought his brother right, and the next day, early inthe morning, Dick started on his journey. He carried jerkedbuffalo meat in a deerskin pouch that he had made for himself, his customary repeating rifle, revolver, and a serviceablehatchet. 

"Look after things closely, Al, " said Dick, "and don't botherabout setting the traps. Furs are not good in the spring. "

"All right, " responded Albert. "How long do you think you'll begone?"

"Can't say, precisely. Three or four days, I presume, but don'tyou worry unless it's a full week. "

It was characteristic of the strength and self-restraint acquiredby the two that they parted with these words and a hand clasponly, yet both had deep feeling. Dick looked back from the mouthof the cleft toward Castle Howard and saw a boy in front of itwaving a cap. He waved his own in reply and then went forwardmore swiftly down the valley. 

It did not take him long to reach the first slope, and, when hehad ascended a little, he paused for rest and inspection. Springhad really made considerable progress. All the trees except theevergreens had put forth young leaves and, as he looked towardthe north, the mountains unrolled like a vast green blanket thatswept away in ascending folds until it ended, and then the peaksand ridges, white with snow, began. 

Dick climbed father, and their valley was wholly lost to sight. It was not so wonderful after all that nobody came to it. Trappers who knew of it long ago never returned, believing thatthe beaver were all gone forever, and it was too near to thewarlike Sioux of the plains for mountain Indians to make a homethere. 

Dick did not stop long for the look backward--he was too intentupon his mission--but resumed the ascent with light foot andlight heart. He remembered very well the way in which he andAlbert had come, and he followed it on the return. All night, with his buffalo robe about him, he slept in the pine alcove thathad been the temporary home of Albert and himself. He could seeno change in it in all the months, except traces to show thatsome wild animal had slept there. 

"Maybe you'll come to-night, Mr. Bear or Mr. Mountain Lion, tosleep in your little bed. " said Dick as he lay down in hisbuffalo robe, "but you'll find me here before you. "

He was wise enough to know that neither bear nor mountain lionwould ever molest him, and he slept soundly. He descended thelast slopes and came in sight of the plains on the afternoonof the next day. Everything seemed familiar. The events ofthat fatal time had made too deep an impression upon him andAlbert ever to be forgotten. He knew the very rocks and treesand so went straight to the valley in which he had found thewagon filled with supplies. It lay there yet, crumpledsomewhat by time and the weight of snow that had fallen upon itduring the winter, but a strong man with good tools might put itin shape for future service. 

"Now, if Al and I only had horses, we might get it out and takeaway our furs in it, " said Dick, "but I suppose I might as wellwish for a railroad as for horses. "

He descended into the gully and found the tracks of wolves andother wild beasts about the wagon. In their hunger, they hadchewed up every fragment of leather or cloth, and had clawed andscratched among the lockers. Dick had searched those pretty wellbefore, but now he looked for gleanings. He found little ofvalue until he discovered, jammed down in a corner, an oldhistory and geography of the United States combined in one volumewith many maps and illustrations. It was a big octavo book, andDick seized it with the same delight with which a miner snatchesup his nugget of gold. He opened it, took a rapid look throughflying pages, murmured, "Just the thing, " closed it again, andbuttoned it securely inside his deerskin coat. He had notexpected anything; nevertheless, he had gleaned to some purpose. 

Dick left the wagon and went into the pass where the massacre hadoccurred. Time had not dimmed the horror of the place for himand he shuddered as he approached the scene of ambush, but heforced himself to go on. 

The wagons were scattered about, but little changed, although, asin the case of the one in the gully, all the remaining cloth andleather had been chewed by wild animals. Here and there were theskeletons of the fallen, and Dick knew that the wild beasts hadnot been content with leather and cloth alone. He went throughthe wagons one by one, but found nothing of value left except apaper of needles, some spools of thread, and a large pair ofscissors, all of which he put in the package with the history. 

It was nightfall when he finished the task, and retiring to theslope, he made his bed among some pines. He heard wolveshowling twice in the night, but he merely settled himself moreeasily in his warm buffalo robe and went to sleep again. Replenishing his canteen with water the next morning, he startedout upon the plains, intending to make some explorations. 

Dick had thought at first that they were in the Black Hills, buthe concluded later that they were further west. The mountainsabout them were altogether too high for the Black Hills, and hewished to gain some idea of their position upon the map. Thethought reminded him that he had a book with maps in hispocket, and he took out the precious volume. 

He found a map of the Rocky Mountain territory, but most of thespace upon it was vague, often blank, and he could not exactlylocate himself and Albert, although he knew that they were veryfar west of any settled country. 

"I can learn from that book all about the world exceptourselves, " he said, as he put it back in his pocket. But he wasnot sulky over it. His was a bold and adventurous spirit andhe was not afraid, nor was his present trip merely to satisfycuriosity. He and Albert must leave the valley some day, and itwas well to know the best way in which it could be done. 

He started across the plain in a general southwesterly direction, intending to travel for about a day perhaps, camp for the night, and return on the following day to his mountains. He walkedalong with a bold, swinging step and did not look back for anhour, but when he turned at last he felt as if he had venturedupon the open ocean in a treacherous canoe. There werethe mountains, high, sheltered, and friendly, while off to thesouth and west the plains rolled away in swell after swell aslong and desolate as an untraveled sea, and as hopeless. 

Dick saw toward noon some antelope grazing on the horizon, but hewas not a hunter now, and he did not trouble himself to seek ashot. An hour or two later he saw a considerable herd ofbuffaloes scattered about over the plain, nibbling the shortbunch grass that had lived under the snow. They were rather aninspiring sight, and Dick felt as if, in a sense, they werefurnishing him company. They drove away the desolation andloneliness of the plains, and his inclinations toward them werethose of genuine friendliness. They were in danger of no bulletfrom him. 

While he was looking at them, he saw new figures coming over thedistant swell. At first he thought they were antelope, but whenthey reached the crest of the swell and their figures were throwninto relief against the brilliant sky, he saw that they werehorsemen. 

They came on with such regularity and precision, that, for amoment or two, Dick believed them to be a troop of cavalry, buthe learned better when they scattered with a shout and began tochase the buffaloes. Then he knew that they were a band of SiouxIndians hunting. 

The full extent of his danger dawned upon him instantly. He wasalone and on foot. The hunt might bring them down upon him infive minutes. He was about to run, but his figure wouldcertainly be exposed upon the crest of one of the swells, astheirs had been, and he dropped instead into one of a number oflittle gullies that intersected the plain. 

It was an abrupt little gully, and Dick was well hidden from anyeyes not within ten yards of him. He lay at first so he couldnot see, but soon he began to hear shots and the trampling ofmighty hoofs. He knew now that the Sioux were in among thebuffaloes, dealing out death, and he began to have a fear ofbeing trodden upon either by horsemen or huge hoofs. He couldnot bear to lie there and he warned only by sound, so he turned alittle further on one side and peeped over the edge of the gully. 

The hunters and hunter were not as near as he thought; hehad been deceived by sound, the earth being such a goodconductor. Yet they were near enough for him to see thathe was in great danger and should remain well hidden. Hecould observe, however, that the hunt was attended withgreat success. Over a dozen buffaloes had fallen and theothers were running about singly or in little groups, closelypursued by the exultant Sioux. Some were on one side of himand some on the other. There was no chance for him, no matterhow careful he might be, to rise from the gully and sneak awayover the plain. Instead, he crouched more closely and contractedhimself into the narrowest possible space, while the hunt wheeledand thundered about him. 

It is not to be denied that Dick felt many tremors. He had seenwhat the Sioux could do. He knew that they were the mostmerciless of all the northwestern Indians, and he expected onlytorture and death if he fell into their hands, and there was hisbrother alone now in the valley. Once the hunt swung away to thewestward and the sounds of it grew faint. Dick hoped it wouldcontinue in that direction, but by and by it came back again andhe crouched down anew in his narrow quarters. He felt that everybone in him was stiffening with cramp and needlelike pains shotthrough his nerves. Yet he dared not move. And upon top of hispainful position came the knowledge that the Sioux would staythere to cut up the slain buffaloes. He was tempted more thanonce to jump up, run for it and take his chances. 

He noticed presently a gray quality in the air, and as he glancedoff toward the west, he saw that the red sun was burning verylow. Dick's heart sprang up in gladness; it was the twilight, and the blessed darkness would bring chance of escape. Seldomhas anyone watched the coming of night with keener pleasure. Thesun dropped down behind the swells, the gray twilight passed overall the sky, and after it came the night, on black wings. 

Fires sprang up on the plain, fires of buffalo chips lighted bythe Sioux, who were now busy skinning and cutting up the slainbuffaloes. Dick saw the fires all about him, but none was nearerthan a hundred yards, and, despite them, he decided that now washis best time to attempt escape before the moon should come outand lighten up the night. 

He pulled himself painfully from the kind gully. He had lainthere hours, and he tested every joint as he crept a few feet onthe plain. They creaked for a while, but presently thecirculation was restored, and, rising to a stooping position, with his rifle ready, he slipped off toward the westward. 

Dick knew that great caution was necessary, but he had confidencein the veiling darkness. Off to the eastward he could see onefire, around which a half dozen warriors were gathered, busy witha slain buffalo, working and feasting. He fancied that he couldtrace their savage features against the red firelight, but hehimself was in the darkness. 

Another fire rose up, and this was straight before him. Like theothers, warriors were around it, and Dick turned off abruptly tothe south. Then he heard ponies stamping and he shifted hiscourse again. When he had gone about a dozen yards he lay flatupon the plain and listened. He was hardy and bold, but, for alittle while, he was almost in despair. It seemed to him that hewas ringed around by a circle of savage warriors and that hecould not break through it. 

His courage returned, and, rising to his knees, he resumed hisslow progress. His course was now southwesterly, and soon heheard again the stamping of hoofs. It was then that a daringidea came into Dick's head. 

That stamping of hoofs was obviously made by the ponies of theSioux. Either the ponies were tethered to short sticks, or theyhad only a small guard, perhaps a single man. But as they werewith the buffaloes, and unsuspecting of a strange presence, theywould not detail more than one man to watch their horses. It waswisdom for him to slip away one of the horses, mount it when at asafe distance, and then gallop toward the mountains. 

Dick sank down a little lower and crept very slowly toward thepoint from which the stamping of hoofs proceeded. When he hadgone about a dozen yards he heard another stamping of hoofs tohis right and then a faint whinny. This encouraged him. Itshowed him that the ponies were tethered in groups, and the grouptoward which he was going might be without a guard. He continuedhis progress another dozen yards, and then lay flat upon theplain. He had seen two vague forms in the darkness, and hewished to make himself a blur with the earth. They were warriorspassing from one camp fire to another, and Dick saw them plainly, tall men with blankets folded about them like togas, long hair inwhich eagle feathers were braided after the Sioux style, andstrong aquiline features. They looked like chiefs, men ofcourage, dignity, and mind, and Dick contrasted them with theruffians of the wagon train. The contrast was not favorable tothe white faces that he remembered so well. 

But the boy saw nothing of mercy or pity in these redcountenances. Bold and able they might be, but it was no part oftheirs to spare their enemies. He fairly crowded himself againstthe earth, but they went on, absorbed in their own talk, and hewas not seen. He raised up again and began to crawl. The groupof ponies came into view, and he saw with delight that they hadno watchman. A half dozen in number and well hobbled, theycropped the buffalo grass. They were bare of back, but they woretheir Indian bridles, which hung from their heads. 

Dick knew a good deal about horses, and he was aware that theapproach would be critical. The Indian ponies might take alarmor they might not, but the venture must be made. He did notbelieve that he could get beyond the ring of the Sioux fireswithout being discovered, and only a dash was left. 

Dick marked the pony nearest to him. It seemed a strong animal, somewhat larger than the others, and, pulling up a handful ofbunch grass, he approached it, whistling very softly. He heldthe grass in his left hand and his hunting knife in the right, his rifle being fastened to his back. The pony raised his head, looked at him in a friendly manner, then seemed to change hismind and backed away. But Dick came on, still holding out thegrass and emitting that soft, almost inaudible whistle. The ponystopped and wavered between belief and suspicion. Dick was notmore than a dozen feet away now, and he began to calculate whenhe might make a leap and seize the bridle. 

The boy and the pony were intently watching the eyes of each other. Dick, in that extreme moment, was gifted with preternaturalacuteness of mind and vision, and he saw that the pony still wavered. He took another step forward, and the eyes of the pony inclineddistinctly from belief to suspicion; another short and cautious step, and they were all suspicion. But it was too late for the pony. Theagile youth sprang, and dropping the grass, seized him with his lefthand by the bridle. A sweep or two of the hunting knife and thehobbles were cut through. 

The pony reared and gave forth an alarmed neigh, but Dick, quickly replacing the knife in his belt, now held the bridle withboth hands, and those two hands were very strong. He pulled thepony back to its four feet and sprang, with one bound, upon hisback. Then kicking him vigorously in the side, he dashed away, with rifle shots spattering behind him. 

Chapter XIThe Terrible Pursuit

Dick knew enough to bend low down on the neck of the flyingmustang, and he was untouched, although he heard the bulletswhistling about him. The neigh of the pony had betrayed him, buthe was aided by his quickness and the friendly darkness, and hefelt a surge of exultation that he could not control, boy that hewas. The Sioux, jumping upon their ponies, sent forth a savagewar whoop that the desolate prairie returned in moaning echoes, and Dick could not refrain from a reply. He uttered one shout, swung his rifle defiantly over his head, then bending down again, urged his pony to increased speed. 

Dick heard the hoofs of his pursuers thundering behind him, andmore rifle shots came, but they ceased quickly. He knew that theSioux would not fire again soon, because of the distance and theuncertain darkness. It was his object to increase that distance, trusting that the darkness would continue free from moonlight. He took one swift look backward and saw the Sioux, a dozen ormore, following steadily after. He knew that they would hang onas long as any chance of capturing him remained, and he resolvedto make use of the next swell that he crossed. He would swervewhen he passed the crest, and while it was yet between him andhis pursuers, perhaps he could find some friendly covert thatwould hide him. Meanwhile he clung tightly to his rifle, something that one always needed in this wild and dangerousregion. 

He crossed a swell, but there was no friendly increase of thedarkness and he was afraid to swerve, knowing that the Siouxwould thereby gain upon him, since he would make himself thecurve of the bow, while they remained the string. 

In fact, the hasty glance back showed that the Sioux had gained, and Dick felt tremors. He was tempted for a moment to fire uponhis pursuers, but it would certainly cause a loss of speed, andhe did not believe that he could hit anything under suchcircumstances. No, he would save his bullets for a last stand, if they ran him to earth. 

The Sioux raised their war whoop again and fired three or fourshots. Dick felt a slight jarring movement run through his pony, and then the animal swerved. He was afraid that he had troddenin a prairie-dog hole or perhaps a little gully, but in aninstant or two he was running steadily again, and Dick forgot theincident in the excitement of the flight. 

He was in constant fear lest the coming out of the moon shouldlighten up the prairie and make him a good target for the Siouxbullets, but he noted instead, and with great joy, that it wasgrowing darker. Heavy clouds drifted across the sky, and a coldwind arose and began to whistle out of the northwest. It was afriendly black robe that was settling down over the earth. Ithad never before seemed to him that thick night could be sowelcome. 

Dick's pony rose again on a swell higher than the others, and waspoised there for the fraction of a second, a dark silhouetteagainst the darker sky. Several of the Sioux fired. Dick feltonce more that momentary jar of his horse's mechanism, but itdisappeared quickly and his hopes rose, because he saw that thedarkness lay thickly between this swell and the next, and hebelieved that he now could lose his pursuers. 

He urged his horse vigorously. He had made no mistake when hechose this pony as strong and true. The response was instant andemphatic. He flew down the slope, but instead of ascending thenext swell he turned at an angle and went down the depressionthat lay between them. There the darkness was thickest, and theburst of speed by the pony was so great that the shapes of hispursuers became vague and then were lost. Nevertheless, he heardthe thudding of their hoofs and knew that they could also hearthe beat of his. That would guide them for a while yet. Hethought he might turn again and cross the next swell, thusthrowing them entirely off his track, but he was afraid that hewould be cast into relief again when he reached the crest, and socontinued down the depression. 

He heard shouts behind him, and it seemed to him that they werenot now the shouts of triumph, but the shouts of chagrin. Clearly, he was gaining because after the cries ceased, the soundof hoof beats came but faintly. He urged his horse to the lastounce of his speed and soon the sound of the pursuing hoofsceased entirely. 

The depression ended and he was on the flat plain. It was stillcloudy, with no moon, but his eyes were used enough to the darkto tell him that the appearance of the country had changed. Itnow lay before him almost as smooth as the surface of a table, and never relaxing the swift gallop, he turned at another angle. 

He was confident now that the Sioux could not overtake or findhim. A lone object in the vast darkness, there was not a chancein a hundred for them to blunder upon him. But the farther awaythe better, and he went on for an hour. He would not havestopped then, but the good pony suddenly began to quiver, andthen halted so abruptly that Dick, rifle and all, shot over hisshoulder. He felt a stunning blow, a beautiful set of starsflashed before his eyes, and he was gone, for the time, toanother land. 

When Dick awoke he felt very cold and his head ached. He waslying flat upon his back, and, with involuntary motion, he puthis hand to his head. He felt a bump there and the hand cameback damp and stained. He could see that the fingers werered--there was light enough for that ominous sight, althoughthe night had no yet passed. 

Then the flight, the danger, and his fall all came back in a rushto Dick. He leaped to his feet, and the act gave him pain, butnot enough to show that any bone was broken. His rifle, theplainsman's staff and defense, lay at his feet. He quicklypicked it up and found that it, too, was unbroken. In fact, itwas not bent in the slightest, and here his luck had stood himwell. But ten feet away lay a horse, the pony that had been agood friend to him in need. 

Dick walked over to the pony. It was dead and cold. It musthave been dead two to three hours at least, and he had lain thatlong unconscious. There was a bullet hole in its side and Dickunderstood now the cause of those two shivers, like the momentarystopping of a clock's mechanism. The gallant horse had gallopedon until he was stopped only by death. Dick felt sadness andpity. 

"I hope you've gone to the horse heaven, " he murmured. 

Then he turned to thoughts of his own position. Alone and afootupon the prairie, with hostile and mounted Sioux somewhere about, he was still in bad case. He longed now for his mountains, thelost valley, the warm cabin, and his brother. 

It was quite dark and a wind, sharp with cold, was blowing. Itcame over vast wastes, and as it swept across the swells kept upa bitter moaning sound. Dick shivered and fastened his deerskintunic a little tighter. He looked up at the sky. Not a star wasthere, and sullen black clouds rolled very near to the earth. The cold had a raw damp in it, and Dick feared those clouds. 

Had it been day he could have seen his mountains, and he wouldhave made for them at once, but now his eyes did not reach ahundred yards, and that bitter, moaning wind told him nothingsave that he must fight hard against many things if he would keepthe life that was in him. He had lost all idea of direction. North and south, east and west were the same to him, but one mustgo even if one went wrong. 

He tried all his limbs again and found that they were sound. Thewound on his head had ceased to bleed and the ache was easier. He put his rifle on his shoulder, waved, almost unconsciously, afarewell to the horse, as one leaves the grave of a friend, andwalked swiftly away, in what course he knew not. 

He felt much better with motion. The blood began to circulatemore warmly, and hope sprang up. If only that bitter, moaningwind would cease. It was inexpressibly weird and dismal. Itseemed to Dick a song of desolation, it seemed to tell him attimes that it was not worth while to try, that, struggle as hewould, his doom was only waiting. 

Dick looked up. The black clouds had sunk lower and they mustopen before long. If only day were near at hand, then he mightchoose the right course. Hark! Did he not hear hoof beats? Hepaused in doubt, and then lay down with his ear to the earth. Then he distinctly heard the sound, the regular tread of a horse, urged forward in a straight course, and he knew that it could bemade only by the Sioux. But the sound indicated only one horse, or not more than two or three at the most. 

Dick's courage sprang up. Here was a real danger and not themysterious chill that the moaning of the wind brought to him. Ifthe Sioux had found him, they had divided, and it was only a fewof their number that he would have to face. He hugged hisrepeating rifle. It was a fine weapon, and just then he was inlove with it. There was no ferocity in Dick's nature, but theSioux were seeking the life that he wished to keep. 

He rose from the earth and walked slowly on in his originalcourse. He had no doubt that the Sioux, guided by some demoninstinct, would overtake him. He looked around for a good placeof defense, but saw none. Just the same low swells, just thesame bare earth, and not even a gully like that in which he hadlain while the hunt of the buffalo wheeled about him. 

He heard the hoof beats distinctly now, and he became quite surethat they were made by only a single horseman. His own senseshad become preternaturally acute, and, with the conviction thathe was followed by but one, came a rush of shame. Why should he, strong and armed, seek to evade a lone pursuer? He stopped, holding his rifle ready, and waited, a vague, shadowy figure, black on the black prairie. 

Dick saw the phantom horseman rise on a swell, the faint figureof an Indian and his pony, and there was no other. He was gladnow that he had waited. The horse, trained for such work asthis, gave the Sioux warrior a great advantage, but he wouldfight it out with him. 

Dick sank down on one knee in order to offer a smaller target, and thrust his rifle forward for an instant shot. But the Siouxhad stopped and was looking intently at the boy. For fully twominutes neither he nor his horse moved, and Dick almost began tobelieve that he was the victim of an illusion, the creation ofthe desolate plains, the night, the floating black vapors, histense nerves, and heated imagination. He was tempted to try ashot to see if it were real, but the distance and the darknesswere too great. He strengthened his will and remained crouchedand still, his finger ready for the trigger of his rifle. 

The Sioux and his horse moved at last, but they did not comeforward; they rode slowly toward the right, curving in a circleabout the kneeling boy, but coming no nearer. They were stillvague and indistinct, but they seemed blended into one, and thesupernatural aspect of the misty form of horse and riderincreased. The horse trod lightly now, and Dick no longer heardthe sound of footsteps, only the bitter moaning of the wind overthe vast dark spaces. 

The rider rode silently on his circle about the boy, and Dickturned slowly with him, always facing the eyes that faced him. He could dimly make out the shape of a rifle at the saddlebow, but the Sioux did not raise it, he merely rode on in thatceaseless treadmill tramp, and Dick wondered what he meant todo. Was he waiting for the others to come up?

Time passed and there was no sign of a second horseman. Thesingle warrior still rode around him, and Dick still turned withhim. He might be coming nearer in his ceaseless curves, but Dickcould not tell. Although he was the hub of the circle, he beganto have a dizzy sensation, as if the world were swimming abouthim. He became benumbed, as if his head were that of a whirlingdervish. 

Dick became quite sure now that the warrior and his horse wereunreal, a creation of the vapors and the mists, and that hehimself was dreaming. He saw, too, at last that they were comingnearer, and he felt horror, as if something demonic were about toseize him and drag him down. He crouched so long that he feltpain in his knees, and all things were becoming a blur before hiseyes. Yet there had not been a sound but that of the bitter, moaning wind. 

There was a flash, a shot, the sigh of a bullet rushing past, andDick came out of his dream. The Sioux had raised the rifle fromhis saddlebow and fired. But he had been too soon. The shiftingand deceptive quality of the darkness caused him to miss. Dickpromptly raised his own rifle and fired in return. He alsomissed, but a second bullet from the warrior cut a lock from histemple. 

Dick was now alert in every nerve. He had not wanted the life ofthis savage, but the savage wanted his; it seemed also thateverything was in favor of the savage getting it, but his ownspirit rose to meet the emergency; he, too, became the hunter. 

He sank a little lower and saved his fire until the warriorgalloped nearer. Then he sent a bullet so close that he saw oneof the long eagle feathers drop from the hair of the warrior. The sight gave him a savage exultation that he would havebelieved a few hours before impossible to him. The next bulletmight not merely clip a feather!

The Sioux, contrary to the custom of the Indian, did not utter asound, nor did Dick say a word. The combat, save for the reportsof the rifle shots, went on in absolute silence. It lasted a fullten minutes, when the Indian urged his horse to a gallop, threw himself behind the body and began firing under the neck. Abullet struck Dick in the left arm and wounded him slightly, butit did not take any of his strength and spirit. 

Dick sought in vain for a sight of the face of his fleeting foe. He could catch only a glimpse of long, trailing hair beneath thehorse's mane, and then would come the flash of a rifle shot. Another bullet clipped his side, but only cut the skin. Nevertheless, it stung, and while it stung the body it stungDick's wits also into keener action. He knew that the Siouxwarrior was steadily coming closer and closer in his deadlycircle, and in time one of his bullets must strike a vital spot, despite the clouds and darkness. 

Dick steadied himself, calming every nerve and muscle. Then helay down on his stomach on the plain, resting slightly on hiselbow, and took careful aim at the flying pony. He felt someregret as he looked down the sights. This horse might be asfaithful and true as the one that had carried him to temporarysafety, but he must do the deed. He marked the brown patch ofhair that lay over the heart and pulled the trigger. 

Dick's aim was true--the vapors and clouds had not disturbedit--and when the rifle flashed, the pony bounded into theand fell dead. But the agile Sioux leaped clear and darted away. Dick marked his brown body, and then was his opportunity to senda mortal bullet, but a feeling of which he was almost ashamedheld his hand. His foe was running, and he was no longerhunted. The feeling lasted but a moment, and when it passed, theSioux was out of range. A moment later and his misty foe hadbecome a part of the solid darkness. 

Dick stood upright once more. He had been the victor in a combatthat still had for him all the elements of the ghostly. He hadtriumphed, but just in time. His nerves were relaxed andunstrung, and his hands were damp. He carefully reloaded all theempty chambers of his repeating rifle, and without looking at thefalling horse, which he felt had suffered for the wickedness ofanother, strode away again over the plain, abandoning the rifleof the fallen Sioux as a useless burden. 

It took Dick sometime after his fight with the phantom horsemanto come back to real earth. Then he noticed that both the cloudsand the dampness had increased, and presently something cold andwet settled upon his face. It was a flake of snow, and a troopcame at its heels, gentle but insistent, chilling his hands andgradually whitening the earth, until it was a gleaming floorunder a pall of darkness. 

Dick was in dismay. Here was a foe that he could not fight withrifle balls. He knew that the heavy clouds would continue topour forth snow, and the day, which he thought was not far away, would disclose as little as the night. The white pall would hidethe mountains as well as the black pall had done, and he might begoing farther and father from his valley. 

He felt that he had been released from one danger and thenanother, only to encounter a third. It seemed to him, in hisminute of despair, that Fate had resolved to defeat all hisefforts, but, the minute over, he renewed his courage and trudgedbravely on, he knew not whither. It was fortunate for him thathe wore a pair of the heavy shoes saved from the wagon, and puton for just such a journey as this. The wet from the snow wouldhave soon soaked though his moccasins, but, as his thick deerskinleggings fitted well over his shoes, he kept dry, and that was acomfort. 

The snow came down without wind and fuss, but more heavily thanever, persistent, unceasing, and sure of victory. It was notparticularly cold, and the walking kept up a warm and pleasantcirculation in Dick's veins. But he knew that he must not stop. Whether he was going on in a straight line he had no way todetermine. He had often heard that men, lost on the plains, soonbegin to travel in a circle, and he watched awhile for his owntracks; but if they were there, they were covered up by snow toosoon for him to see, and, after all, what did it matter?

He saw after a while a pallid yellowish light showing dimlythrough the snow, and he knew that it was the sunrise. But itilluminated nothing. The white gloom began to replace the blackone. It was soon full day, but the snow was so thick that hecould not see more than two or three hundred yards in anydirection. He longed now for shelter, some kind of hollow, orperhaps a lone tree. The incessant fall of the snow upon hishead and its incessant clogging under his feet were tiring him, but he only trod a plain, naked save for its blanket of snow. 

Dick had been careful to keep his rifle dry, putting the barrelof it under his long deerskin coat. Once as he shifted it, hefelt a lump over his chest, and for an instant or two did notknow what caused it. Then he remember the history and geographyof the United States. He laughed with grim humor. 

"I am lost to history, " he murmured, "and geography will not tellme where I am. "

He crossed a swell--he knew them now more by feeling than bysight--and before beginning the slight assent of the next one hestopped to eat. He had been enough of a frontiersman, beforestarting upon such a trip, to store jerked buffalo in the skinknapsack that he had saved for himself. The jerked meat offeredthe largest possible amount of sustenance in the smallestpossible space, and Dick ate eagerly. Then he felt a greatrenewal of courage and strength. He also drank of the snowwater, that is, he dissolved the snow in his mouth, but he didnot like it much. 

He stood there for a while resting, and resolved only to walkenough to keep himself warm. Certainly, nothing was to be gainedby exhausting himself and the snow which was now a foot deepshowed no signs of abating. The white gloom hung all about himand he could not see the sky overhead. 

Just as he took this resolution, Dick saw a shadow in thecircling white. The shadow was like that of a man, but before hecould see farther there was a little flash of red, a sharp, stinging report, and a bullet clipped the skin of his cheek, burning like fire. Dick was startled, and for full cause--buthe recognized the Sioux warrior who had fought him on horseback. He had stared too long at that man and at a time too deadly notto know that head and face and the set of his figure. He hadfollowed Dick through all the hours and falling snow, bent upontaking his life. A second shot, quickly following the first, showed that he meant to miss no chance. 

The second bullet, like the first, just grazed Dick, and mild oftemper though he habitually was, he was instantly seized with thefiercest rage. He could not understand such hatred, suchferocity, such an eagerness to take human life. And this was theman whom he had spared, whom he could easily have slain when hewas running! The Sioux was raising his rifle for a third bullet, when Dick shot him through the chest. There was no doubt abouthis aim now. It was not disturbed by the whitish mist and thefalling snow. 

The Sioux fell full length, without noise and without struggle, and his gun flew from his hand. His body lay half buried in thesnow, some of the long eagle feathers in his hair thrusting uplike the wing of a slain bird. Dick looked at him withshuddering horror. All the anger was gone from him now, and itis true that in his heart he felt pity for this man, who hadstriven so hard and without cause to take his life. He wouldhave been glad to go away now, but forced himself to approach andlook down at the Indian. 

The warrior lay partly on his side with one arm beneath hisbody. The blood from the bullet hole in his chest dyed the snow, and Dick believed that he had been killed instantly. But Dickwould not touch him. He could not bring himself to do that. Norwould he take any of his arms. Instead, he turned away, afterthe single look, and, bending his head a little to the snow, walked rapidly toward the yellowish glare that told where the sunwas rising. He did not know just why he went in that direction, but it seemed to him the proper thing to walk toward the morning. 

Two hours, perhaps, passed and the fall of snow began tolighten. The flakes still came down steadily, but not in such atorrent. The area of vision widened. He saw dimly, as through amist, three or four hundred yards, perhaps, but beyond was onlythe white blur, and there was nothing yet to tell him whether hewas going toward the mountains or away from them. 

He rested and ate again. Then he recovered somewhat, mentally aswell as physically. Part of the horror of the Indian, his deadlypursuit, and the deadly ending passed. He ached with wearinessand his nerves were quite unstrung, but the snow would cease, theskies would clear, and then he could tell which way lay themountains and his brother. 

He rested here longer than usual and studied the plain as far ashe could see it. He concluded that its character had changedsomewhat, that the swells were high than they had been, and hewas hopeful that he might find shelter soon, a deep gully, perhaps, or a shallow prairie stream with sheltering cottonwoodsalong its course. 

Another hour passed, but he did not make much progress. Thesnow was now up to his knees, and it became an effort to walk. The area of vision had widened, but no mountains yet showedthrough the white mist. He was becoming tired with a tirednessthat was scarcely to be born. If he stood still long enough torest he became cold, a deadly chill that he knew to be theprecursor of death's benumbing sleep would creep over him, andthen he would force himself to resume the monotonous, achingwalk. 

Dick's strength waned. His eyesight, affected by the glare ofthe snow, became short and unsteady, and he felt a dizziness ofthe brain. Things seemed to dance about, but his will was sostrong that he could still reason clearly, and he knew that hewas in desperate case. It was his will that resisted the impulseof his flesh to throw his rifle away as a useless burden, but helaughed aloud when he thought of the map of the United States inthe inside pocket of his coat. 

"They'll find me, if they ever find me, with that upon me, " hesaid aloud, "and they, too, will laugh. "

He stumbled against something and doubled his fist angrily as ifhe would strike a man who had maliciously got in his way. It wasthe solid bark of a big cottonwood that had stopped him, and hisanger vanished in joy. Where one cottonwood was, others werelikely to be, and their presence betokened a stream, a valley, and a shelter of some kind. 

He was still dazed, suffering partially from snow blindness, butnow he saw a line of sturdy cottonwoods and beyond it anotherline. The stream, he knew, flowed between. He went down theline a few hundred yards and came, as he had hoped, into morebroken ground. 

The creek ran between banks six or seven feet high, with a marginbetween stream and bank, and the cottonwoods on these bankswere reinforced by some thick clumps of willows. Between thelargest clump and the line of cottonwoods, with the bank as ashelter for the third side, was a comparatively clear space. The snow was only a few inches deep there, and Dick believedthat he could make a shelter. He had, of course, brought hisblanket with him in a tight roll on his back, and he was hopefulenough to have some thought of building a fire. 

He stooped down to feel in the snow at a likely spot, and the actsaved his life. A bullet, intended for his head, was buried inthe snow beyond him, and a body falling down the bank lay quitestill at his feet. It was the long Sioux. Wounded mortally, hehad followed Dick, nevertheless, with mortal intent, crawling, perhaps most of the time, and with his last breath he had firedwhat he intended to be the fatal shot. 

He was quite dead now, his power for evil gone forever. Therecould be no doubt about it. Dick at length forced himself totouch the face. It had grown cold and the pulse in the wrist wasstill. It yet gave him a feeling of horror to touch the Sioux, but his own struggle for life would be bitter and he could sparenothing. The dead warrior wore a good blanket, which Dick nowtook, together with his rifle and ammunition, but he left all therest. Then he dragged the warrior from the sheltered space to adeep snow bank, where he sank him out of sight. He even took thetrouble to heap more snow upon him in the form of a burial, andhe felt a great relief when he could no longer see the savagebrown features. 

He went back to his sheltered space, and, upon the singleunprotected side threw up a high wall of snow, so high that itwould serve as a wind-break. Then he began to search for fallenbrushwood. Meanwhile, it was turning colder, and a bitter windbegan to moan across the plain. 

Chapter XIIThe Fight with Nature

Dick realized suddenly that he was very cold. The terriblepursuit was over, ending mortally for the pursuer, but he wasmenaced by a new danger. Sheltered though his little valley was, he could, nevertheless, freeze to death in it with great ease. In fact, he had begun already to shiver, and he noticed thatwhile his feet were dry, the snow at last had soaked through hisdeerskin leggings and he was wet from knee to ankle. The snowhad ceased, although a white mist hovered in a great circle andthe chill of the wind was increasing steadily. He must have afire or die. 

He resumed his search, plunging into the snow banks under thecottonwoods and other trees, and at last he brought out deadboughs, which he broke into short pieces and piled in a heap inthe center of the open space. The wood was damp on the outside, of course, but he expected nothing better and was not discouraged. Selecting a large, well-seasoned piece, he carefully cut away allthe wet outside with his strong hunting knife. Then he whittledoff large quantities of dry shavings, put them under the heap ofboughs, and took from his inside a pocket a small package oflucifer matches. 

Dick struck one of the matches across the heel of his shoe. Nospark leaped up. Instead, his heart sank down, sank further, perhaps, than it had ever done before in his life. The match waswet. He took another from the pocket; it, too, was wet, and thenext and the next and all. The damp from the snow, melted by theheat of his body, had penetrated his buckskin coat, although inthe excitement of pursuit and combat he had not noticed it. 

Dick was in despair. He turned to the snow a face no lesswhite. Had he escaped all the dangers of the Sioux for this? Tofreeze to death merely because he did not have a dry lucifermatch? The wind was still rising and it cut to his very marrow. Reality and imagination were allied, and Dick was almostoverpowered. He angrily thrust the wet little package of matchesback into the inside pocket of his coat--his border training ineconomy had become so strong that even in the moment of despairhe would throw away nothing--and his hand in the pocket cameinto contact with something else, small, hard, and polished. Dick instantly felt a violent revulsion from despair to hope. 

The small object was a sunglass. That wagon train was wellequipped. Dick had made salvage of two sunglasses, and in amoment of forethought had given one to Albert, keeping the otherfor himself, each agreeing then and there to carry his always forthe moment of need that might come. 

Dick drew out the sunglass and fingered it as one would a diamondof great size. Then he looked up. A brilliant sun was shiningbeyond white, misty clouds, but its rays came through them dimand weak. The mists or, rather, cloudy vapor might lift or thin, and in that chance lay the result of his fight for life. Whilehe waited a little, he stamped up and down violently, and threwhis arms about with energy. It did not have much effect. Thewet, cold, the raw kind that goes through, was in him and, despiteall the power of his will, he shivered almost continually. But hepersisted for a half hour and then became conscious of an increasingbrightness about him. The white mist was not gone, but it wasthinning greatly, and the rays of the sun fell on the snow brilliantand strong. 

Dick took the dry stick again and scraped off particles of woodso fine that they were almost a power. He did not stop until hehad a little heap more than an inch high. Meanwhile, the sun'srays, pouring through the whitish mist, continued to grow fullerand stronger. 

Dick carefully polished the glass and held it at the right anglebetween the touchwood, that is, the scrapings, and the sun. Therays passing through the glass increased many times in power andstruck directly upon the touchwood. Dick crouched over the woodin order to protect it from the wind, and watched, his breathconstricted, while his life waited on the chance. 

A minute, two minutes, three minutes, five passed and then aspark appeared in the touchwood, and following it came a tinyflame. Dick shouted with joy and shifted his body a little toput shavings on the touchwood. An ill wind struck the feebleblaze, which was not yet strong enough to stand fanning intogreater life, and it went out, leaving a little black ash to markwhere the touchwood had been. 

Dick's nerves were so much overwrought that he cried aloud again, and now it was a cry of despair, not of joy. He looked at thelittle black ash as if his last chance were gone, but his despairdid not last long. He seized the dry stick again and scraped offanother little pile of touchwood. Once more the sunglass andonce more the dreadful waiting, now longer than five minutes andnearer ten, while Dick waited in terrible fear, lest the sunitself should fail him, and go behind impenetrable clouds. 

But the second spark came and after it, as before, followed thelittle flame. No turning aside now to allow a cruel chance to anill wind. Instead, he bent down his body more closely than everto protect the vital blaze, and, reaching out one cautious arm, fed it first with the smallest of the splinters, and then withthe larger in an ascending scale. 

Up leaped the flames, red and strong. Dick's body could notwholly protect them now, but they fought for themselves. Whenthe wind shrieked and whipped against them, they waved backdefiance, and the more the wind whipped them, the higher andstronger they grew. 

The victory was with the flames, and Dick fed them with wood, almost with his body and soul, and all the time as the wind bentthem over they crackled and ate deeper and deeper into the wood. He could put on damp wood now. The flames merely leaped out, licked up the melted snow with a hiss and a sputter, anddeveloped the stick in a mass of glowing red. 

Dick fed his fire a full half hour, hunting continually in thesnow under the trees for brushwood and finding much of it, enoughto start a second fire at the far end of the sheltered place, with more left in reserve. He spent another half hour heaping upthe snow as a bulwark about his den, and then sat down betweenthe two fires to dry and warm, almost to roast himself. 

It was the first time that Dick understood how much pleasurecould be drawn from a fire alone. What beautiful red and yellowflames! What magnificent glowing coals! What a glorious thingto be there, while the wind above was howling over the snowy andforlorn plain! His clothes dried rapidly. He no longershivered. The grateful warmth penetrated every fiber of him andit seemed strange now that he should have been in despair only anhour ago. Life was a wonderful and brilliant thing. There wasno ache in his bones, and the first tingling of his hands, ears, and nose he had relieved with the application of wet snow. Nowhe felt only comfort. 

After a while Dick ate again of his jerked buffalo meat, and withthe food, warmth, and rest, he began to feel sleepy. He plungedinto the snow, hunted out more wood to add to his reserve, andthen, with the two blankets, the Indian's and his own, wrappedabout him, sat down where the heat of the two fires could reachhim from either side, and with a heap of the wood as a rest forhis back. 

Dick did not really intend to go to sleep, but he had beenthrough great labors and dangers and had been awake long. Hedrew up one of the blankets until it covered all of his head andmost of his face, and began to gaze into the coals of the largerfire. The wind--and it was now so cold that the surface of thesnow was freezing--still whistled over him, but the blanketprotected his head from its touch. The whistle instead increasedhis comfort like the patter of rain on a roof to him who is dryinside. 

The fire had now burned down considerable and the beds of coalswere large and beautiful. They enveloped Dick in their warmthand cheer and began to pain splendid words of hope for him. Hecould read what they said in glowing letters, but the singularfeeling of peace and rest deepened all the while. He wonderedvaguely that one could be so happy. 

The white snow became less white, the red fire less red, and agreat gray mist came floating down over Dick's eyes. Up rose ashadowy world in which all things were vague and wavering. Thenthe tired lids dropped down, the gray mist gave way to a softblackness, and Dick sank peacefully into the valley of sleep. 

The boy slept heavily hour after hour, with his hooded head sunkupon his knees, and his rifle lying across his lap, while overhim shrieked the coldest wind of the great northwestern plains. The surface of the frozen ground presented a gleaming sheet likeice, over which the wind acquired new strength and a sharperedge, but the boy in his alcove remained safe and warm. Now andthen a drift of fine snowy particles that would have stung likesmall shot was blown over the barrier, but they only stuck uponthe thick folds of the blankets and the boy slept on. The whitemist dissolved. The sun poured down beams brilliantly cold andhard, and over them was the loom of the mountains, but the boyknew nothing of them, nor cared. 

The fires ceased to flame and became great masses of glowingcoals that would endure long. The alcove was filled with thegrateful warmth, and when the sun was in the zenith, Dick stillslept, drawing long, regular breaths from a deep strong chest. The afternoon grew and waned, twilight came over the desolatesnow fields, the loom of the mountains was gone, and the twilightgave way to an icy night. 

When Dick awoke it was quite dark, save for the heaps of coalswhich still glowed and threw out warmth. He felt at first alittle wonderment that he had slept so long, but he was notalarmed. His forethought and energy had provided plenty of woodand he threw on fresh billets. Once more the flames leaped up tobrighten and to cheer, and Dick, walking to the edge of his snowbank, looked over. The wind had piled up the snow theresomewhat higher before the surface froze, and across the barrierhe gazed upon some such scene as one might behold near the NorthPole. He seemed to be looking over ice fields that stretchedaway to infinity, and the wind certainly had a voice that was acompound of chill and desolation. 

It was so solemn and weird that Dick was glad to duck down againinto his den, and resume the seat where he had slept so long. Heate a little and then tried to slumber again, but he had alreadyslept so much that he remained wide awake. He opened his eyesand let them stay open, after several vain efforts. 

The moonlight now came out with uncommon brilliancy and theplain glittered. But it was the coldest moon that Dick hadever seen. He began to feel desolate and lonely again, and, since he could not sleep, he longed for something to do. Then the knowledge came to him. He put on fresh wood, andbetween firelight and moonlight he could see everythingclearly. 

Satisfied with his light, Dick took from his pocket the Historyof the United States that was accompanying him so strangely inhis adventures, and began to study it. He looked once more atthe map of the Rocky Mountain territories, and judged that he wasin Southern Montana. Although his curiosity as to the exact spotin which he lay haunted him, there was no way to tell, andturning the leaves away from the map, he began to read. 

It was chance, perhaps, that made him open at the story thatnever grows old to American youth--Valley Forge. It was not agreat history, it had no brilliant and vivid style, but thesimple facts were enough for Dick. He read once more of the lasthope of the great man, never greater than then, praying in thesnow, and his own soul leaped at the sting of example. He wasonly a boy, obscure, unknown, and the fate of but two rested withhim, yet he, too, would persevere, and in the end his triumphalso would be complete. He read no further, but closed the bookand returned it carefully to his pocket. Then he stared into thefire, which he built up higher that the cheerful light mightshine before him. 

Dick did not hide from himself even now the dangers of hisposition. He was warm and sheltered for the present, he hadenough of the jerked buffalo to last several days, but sooner orlater he must leave his den and invade the snowy plain with itstop crust of ice. This snow might last two or three weeks or amonth. It was true that spring had come, but it was equallytrue, as so often happens in the great Northwest, that spring hadrefused to stay. 

Dick tried now to see the mountains. The night was full ofbrilliant moonlight, but the horizon was too limited; it endedeverywhere, a black wall against the snow, and still speculatingand pondering, Dick at last fell asleep again. 

When the boy awoke it was another clear, cold day, with the windstill blowing, and there in the northwest he joyously saw thewhite line of the mountains. He believed that he could recognizethe shape of certain peaks and ridges, and he fixed on a spot inthe blue sky which he was sure overhung Castle Howard. 

Dick saw now that he had been going away from the mountains. Hewas certainly farther than he had been when he first met theSioux, and it was probable that he had been wandering then in anirregular course, with its general drift toward the southwest. The mountains in the thin, high air looked near, but hisexperience of the West told him that they were far, forty milesperhaps, and the tramp that lay before him was a mightyundertaking. He prepared for it at once. 

He cut a stout stick that would serve as a cane, looked carefullyto the security of his precious sun glass, and bidding his littleden, which already had begun to wear some of the aspects of ahome, a regretful farewell, started through the deep snow. 

He had wrapped his head in the Indian's blanket, coveringeverything but eyes, nose, and mouth, and he did not suffergreatly from the bitter wind. But it was weary work breaking theway through the snow, rendered all the more difficult by the icycrust on top. The snow rose to his waist and he broke it atfirst with his body, but by and by he used the stick, and thus heplodded on, not making much more than a mile an hour. 

Dick longed now for the shelter of the warm den. The cold wind, despite the protection of the blanket, began to seek out thecrannies in it and sting his face. He knew that he was wet againfrom ankle to knee, but he struggled resolutely on, alike for thesake of keeping warm and for the sake of shortening thedistance. Yet there were other difficulties than those of thesnow. The ground became rough. Now and then he would gosuddenly through the treacherous snow into an old buffalo wallowor a deep gully, and no agility could keep him from falling onhis face or side. This not only made him weary and sore, but itwas a great trial to his temper also, and the climax came when hewent through the snow into a prairie brook and came out with hisshoes full of water. 

Dick shivered, stamped his feet violently, and went on painfullybreaking his way through the snow. He began to have that dullstupor of mind and body again. He could see nothing on thesurface of the white plain save himself. The world was entirelydesolate. But if the Sioux were coming a second time he did notcare. He was amused at the thought of the Sioux coming. Therewere hidden away somewhere in some snug valley, and were toosensible to venture upon the plain. 

Late in the afternoon the wind became so fierce, and Dick was sotired, that he dug a hole in the deepest snow bank he could find, wrapped the blankets tightly around him, and crouched there forwarmth and shelter. Then, when the muscles were at rest, hebegan to feel the cold all through his wet feet and legs. Hetook off his shoes and leggings inside the shelter of hisblankets, and chafed feet and legs with vigorous hands. Thisrestored warmth and circulation, but he was compelled after awhile to put on his wet garments again. He had gained a rest, however, and as he did not fear the damp so much while he wasmoving, he resumed the painful march. 

The mountains seemed as far away as ever, but Dick knew that hehad come five or six miles. He could look back and see his ownpath through the deep snow, winding and zigzagging toward thenorthwest. It would wind and zigzag no matter how hard he triedto go in a straight line, and finally he refused to look back anymore at the disclosure of his weakness. 

He sought more trees before the sun went down, as his glass couldno longer be of use without them, but found none. There could beno fire for him that night, and digging another deep hole in thesnow he slept the darkness through, nevertheless, warmly andcomfortably, like an Eskimo in his ice hut. He did not suffer asmuch as he had thought he would from his wet shoes and leggings, and in the night, wrapped within the blankets they dried on him. 

Dick spent the second day in alternate tramps of an hour andrests of half an hour. He was conscious that he was growingweaker from this prodigious exertion, but he was not willing toacknowledge it. In the afternoon he came upon a grove ofcottonwoods and some undergrowth and he tried to kindle a fire, but the sun was not strong enough for his glass, and, after anhour's wasted effort, he gave it up, discouraged greatly. Beforenight the wind, which had been from the northwest, shifted to thesouthwest and became much warmer. By and by it snowed againheavily and Dick, who could no longer see his mountains, beingafraid that he would wander in the wrong direction, dug anotherburrow and went to sleep. 

He was awakened by the patter of something warm upon his face, and found that the day and rain had come together. Dick oncemore was struck to the heart with dismay. How could he standthis and the snow together? The plain would now run rivers ofwater and he must trudge through a terrible mire, worse even thanthe snow. 

He imagined that he could see his mountains through the rainsheets, and he resumed his march, making no effort now to keepanything but his rifle and ammunition dry. He crossed more thanone brook, either permanent or made by the rain and melting snow, and sloshed though the water, ankle deep, but paid no attentionto it. He walked with intervals of rest all through the day andthe night, and the warm rain never ceased. The snow melted at aprodigious rate, and Dick thought several times in the night thathe heard the sound of plunging waters. These must be cataractsfrom the snow and rain, and he was convinced that he was near themountains. 

The day came again, the rain ceased, the sun sprang out, the warmwinds blew, and there were the mountains. Perhaps the snow hadnot been so heavy on them as on the plain, but most of it wasgone from the peaks and slopes and they stood up, sheltering andbeautiful, with a shade of green that the snow had not been ableto take away. 

The sight put fresh courage in Dick's heart, but he was veryweak. He staggered as he plowed through the mixed snow andmud, and plains and mountains alike were rocking about in amost uncertain fashion. 

In a ravine at the foot of the mountains he saw a herd of abouttwenty buffaloes which had probably taken refuge there from thesnowstorm, but he did not molest them. Instead, he shook hisrifle at them and called out:

"I'm too glad to escape with my own life to take any of yours. "

Dick's brain was in a feverish state and he was not whollyresponsible for what he said or did, but he began the ascent witha fairly good supply of strength and toiled on all the day. Henever knew where he slept that night, but he thinks it was in aclump of pines, and the next morning when he continued, he feltthat he had made a wonderful improvement. His feet were lightand so was his head, but he had never before seen slopes andpeaks and pines and ash doing a daylight dance. They whirledabout in the most eccentric manner, yet it was all exhilarating, in thorough accord with his own spirits, and Dick laughed aloudwith glee. What a merry, funny world it was! Feet and head bothgrew lighter. He shouted aloud and began to sing. Then he feltso strong and exuberant that he ran down one of the slopes, waving his cap. An elk sprang out of a pine thicket, stared amoment or two with startled eyes at the boy, and then dashed awayover the mountain. 

Dick continued to sing, and waved his fur cap at the fleeingelk. It was the funniest thing he had ever seen in his life. The whirling dance of mountain and forest became bewildering inits speed and violence. He was unable to keep his feet, andplunged forward into the arms of his brother, Albert. Theneverything sank away from him. 

Chapter XIIIAlbert's Victory

When Dick opened his eyes again he raised his hand once more towave it at the fleeing elk and then he stopped in astonishment. The hand was singularly weak. He had made a great effort, butit did not go up very far. Nor did his eyes, which had openedslowly and heavily, see any elk. They saw instead rows and rowsof furs and then other rows hanging above one another. His eyestraveled downward and they saw log walls almost covered with fursand skins, but with rifles, axes, and other weapons andimplements on hooks between. A heavy oaken window shutter wasthrown back and a glorious golden sunlight poured into the room. 

The sunlight happened to fall upon Dick's own hand, and that wasthe next object at which he looked. His amazement increased. Could such a thin white hand as that belong to him who had latelyowned such a big red one? He surveyed it critically, inparticular, the bones showing so prominently in the back of it, and then he was interrupted by a full, cheerful voice whichcalled out:

"Enough of that stargazing and hand examination! Here, drinkthis soup, and while you're doing it, I'll tell you how glad I amto see you back in your right mind! I tell you you've beenwhooping out some tall yarns about an Indian following you for ayear or two through snow a mile or so deep! How you fought himfor a month without stopping! And how you then waded foranother year through snow two or three times as deep as thefirst!"

It was his brother Albert, and he lay on his own bed of furs andskins in their own cabin, commonly called by them Castle Howard, snugly situated in the lost or enchanted valley. And here wasAlbert, healthy, strong, and dictatorial, while he, stretchedweakly upon a bed, held our a hand through which the sun couldalmost shine. Truly, there had been great changes!

He raised his head as commanded by Albert--the thin, pallid, drooping Albert of last summer, the lusty, red-faced Albert ofto-day--and drank the soup, which tasted very good indeed. Hefelt stronger and held up the thin, white hand to see if it hadnot grown fatter and redder in the last ten seconds. Albertlaughed, and it seemed to Dick such a full, loud laugh, as if itwere drawn up from a deep, iron-walled chest, inclosing lungsmade of leather, with an uncommon expansion. It jarred uponDick. It seemed too loud for so small a room. 

"I see you enjoyed that soup, Dick, old fellow, " continued Albertin the same thundering tones. "Well, you ought to like it. Itwas chicken soup, and it was made by an artist--myself. I shota fat and tender prairie hen down the valley, and here she is insoup. It's only a step from grass to pot and I did it allmyself. Have another. "

"Think I will, " said Dick. 

He drank a second tin plate of the soup, and he could feel lifeand strength flowing into every vein. 

"How did I get here, Al?" he asked. 

"That's a pretty hard question to answer, " replied Albert, smiling and still filling the room with his big voice. "You werepartly brought, partly led, partly pushed, you partly walked, partly jumped, and partly crawled, and there were even littlestretches of the march when you were carried on somebody'sshoulder, big and heavy as you are. Dick, I don't know any namefor such a mixed gait. Words fail me. "

Dick smiled, too. 

"Well, no matter how I got here, it's certain that I'm here, " hesaid, looking around contentedly. 

"Absolutely sure, and it's equally as sure that you've been herefive days. I, the nurse, I, the doctor, and I, the spectator, can vouch for that. There were times when I had to hold you inyour bed, there were times when you were so hot with fever that Iexpected to see you burst into a mass of red and yellow flames, and most all the while you talked with a vividness andimagination that I've never known before outside of the ArabianNights. Dick, where did you get the idea about a Sioux Indianfollowing you all the way from the Atlantic to the Pacific, withstops every half hour for you and him to fight?"

"It's true, " said Dick, and then he told the eager boy the story ofhis escape from the Sioux band, the terrible pursuit, thestorm, and his dreadful wandering. 

"It was wonderful luck that I met you, Al, old fellow, " he saiddevoutly. 

"Not luck exactly, " said Albert. "You were coming back to thevalley on our old trail, and, as I had grown very anxious aboutyou, I was out on the same path to see if I could see any sign ofyou. It was natural that we should meet, but I think that, afterall, Dick, Providence had the biggest hand in it. "

"No doubt, " said Dick, and after a moment's pause he added, "Didit snow much up here?"

"But lightly. The clouds seem to have avoided these mountains. It was only from your delirium that I gathered the news of thegreat storm on the plains. Now, I think you've talked enough foran invalid. Drop you head back on that buffalo robe and go tosleep again. "

It seemed so amazing to Dick ever to receive orders from Albertthat he obeyed promptly, closed his eyes, and in five minutes wasin sound slumber. 

Albert hovered about the room, until he saw that Dick was asleepand breathing strongly and regularly. Then he put his hand onDick's brow, and when he felt the temperature his own eyes werelighted up by a fine smile. That forehead, hot so long, was coolnow, and it would be only a matter of a few days until Dick washis old, strong and buoyant self again. Albert never told hisbrother how he had gone two days and nights without sleep, watching every moment by the delirious bedside, how, taking thechances, he had dosed him with quinine from their medical stores, and how, later, he had cooked for him the tenderest and mostdelicate food. Nor did he speak of those awful hours--so manyof them--when Dick's life might go at any time. 

Albert knew now that the great crisis was over, and rejoicing, hewent forth from Castle Howard. It was his intention to killanother prairie chicken and make more of the soup that Dick likedso much. As he walked, his manner was expansive, indicating adeep satisfaction. Dick had saved his life and he had savedDick's. But Dick was still an invalid and it was his duty, meanwhile to carry on the business of the valley. He was soleworkman, watchman, and defender, and his spirit rose to meet theresponsibility. He would certainly look after his brother aswell as anyone could do it. 

Albert whistled as he went along, and swung his gun in debonairfashion. It would not take him, an expert borderer and woodsman, long to get that prairie chicken, and after that, as he had saidbefore, it was only a step from grass to pot. 

It was perhaps the greatest hour of Albert Howard's life. He, the helped, was now the helper; he, the defended, was now thedefender. His chest could scarcely contain the mighty surge ofexultation that heart and lungs together accomplished. He wasfar from having any rejoicings over Dick's prostration; herejoiced instead that he was able, since the prostration hadcome, to care for both. He had had the forethought and courageto go forth and seek for Dick, and the strength to save him whenfound. 

Albert broke into a rollicking whistle and he still swung hisshotgun somewhat carelessly for a hunter and marksman. Hepassed by one of the geysers just as it was sending up itshigh column of hot water and its high column of steam. "That'sthe way I feel, old fellow, " he said. "I could erupt with justas much force. "

He resumed his caution farther on and shot two fine, fat prairiehens, returning with them to Castle Howard before Dick awoke. When Dick did awake, the second installment of the soup was readyfor him and he ate it hungrily. He was naturally so strong andvigorous and had lived such a wholesome life that he recovered, now that the crisis was past, with astonishing rapidity. ButAlbert played the benevolent tyrant for a few days yet, insistingthat Dick should sleep a great number of hours out of everytwenty-four, and making him eat four times a day of the tenderestand most succulent things. He allowed him to walk but a littleat first, and, though the walks were extended from day to day, made him keep inside when the weather was bad. 

Dick took it all, this alternate spoiling and overlordship, withamazing mildness. He had some dim perception of the true stateof affairs, and was willing that his brother should enjoy histriumph to the full. But in a week he was entirely well again, thin and pale yet, but with a pulsing tide in his veins as strongas ever. Then he and Albert took counsel with each other. Alltrace of snow was gone, even far up on the highest slope, and thevalley was a wonderful symphony in green and gold, gold on thelake and green on the new grass and the new leaves of the trees. 

"It's quite settled, " said Albert, "that we're to stay anotheryear in the valley. "

"Oh, yes, " said Dick, "we had already resolved on that, and myexcursion on the plains shows that we were wise in doing so. Butyou know, Al, we can't do fur hunting in the spring and summer. Furs are not in good condition now. "

"No, " said Albert, "but we can get ready for the fall and winter, and I propose that we undertake right away a birchbark canoe. The dugout is a little bit heavy and awkward, hard to control ina high wind, and we'll really need the birch bark. "

"Good enough, " said Dick. "We'll do it. "

With the habits of promptness and precision they had learned fromold Mother Necessity, they went to work at once, planning andtoiling on equal terms, a full half-and-half partnership. Bothwere in great spirits. 

In this task they fell back partly on talk that they had heardfrom some of the men with whom they had started across theplains, and partly on old reading, and it took quite a lot oftime. They looked first for large specimens of the white birch, and finally found several on one of the lower slopes. This wasthe first and, in fact, the absolutely vital requisite. Withoutit they could do nothing, but, having located their bark supply, they left the trees and began at the lake edge the upperframework of their canoe, consisting of four strips of cedar, twofor either side of the boat, every one of the four having alength of about fifteen feet. These strips had a width of aboutan inch, with a thickness a third as great. 

The strips were tied together in pairs at the ends, and the twopairs were joined together at the same place after the generalfashion in use for the construction of such canoes. 

The frame being ready, they went to their white birch trees forthe bark. They marked off the utmost possible length on thelargest and finest tree, made a straight cut through the bark ateither end, and triumphantly peeled off a splendid piece, largeenough for the entire canoe. Then they laid it on the ground ina nice smooth place and marked off a distance two feet less thantheir framework or gunwales. They drove into the ground at eachend of this space two tall stakes, three inches apart. The barkwas then laid upon the ground inside up and folded evenlythroughout its entire length. After that it was lifted and setbetween the stakes with the edges up. The foot of barkprojecting beyond each stake was covered in each case withanother piece of bark folded firmly over it and sewed to thesides by means of an awl and deer tendon. 

This sewing done, they put a large stone under each end of thebark construction, causing it to sag from the middle in eitherdirection into the curve suitable for a canoe. The gunwale whichthey had constructed previously was now fitted into the bark, andthe bark was stitched tightly to it, both at top and bottom, witha further use of awl and tendon, the winding stitch being used. 

They now had the outside of the canoe, but they had drawn many along breath and perspired many a big drop before it was done. They felt, however, that the most serious part of the task wasover, and after a short rest they began on the inside, which theylined with long strips of cedar running the full length of theboat. The pieces were about an inch and a half in width andabout a third of an inch in thickness and were fitted veryclosely together. Over these they put the ribs of touch ash, which was very abundant in the valley and on the slopes. Stripstwo inches wide and a half inch thick were bent crosswise acrossthe interior of the curve, close together, and were firmlyfastened under the gunwales with a loop stitch of the strongtendon through the bark. 

To make their canoe firm and steady, they securely lashed threestring pieces across it and then smeared deeply all the seamswith pitch, which they were fortunate enough to secure from oneof the many strange springs and exudations in the valley. Theynow had a strong, light canoe, fifteen feet long and a littleover two feet wide at the center. They had been compelled toexercise great patience and endurance in this task, particularlyin the work with the awl and tendons. Skillful as they hadbecome with their hands, they acquired several sore fingers inthe task, but their pride was great when it was done. Theylaunched the canoe, tried it several times near the shore inorder to detect invisible seams, and then, when all such werestopped up tightly with pitch, they paddled boldly out into deepand far waters. 

The practice they had acquired already with the dugout helpedthem greatly with the birch bark, and after one or two duckingsthey handled it with great ease. As amateurs sometimes do, theyhad achieved either by plan or accident a perfect design andfound that they had a splendid canoe. This was demonstrated whenthe two boys rowed a race, after Dick had recovered his fullstrength--Dick in the dugout and Albert in the birch bark. Therace was the full length of the lake, and the younger and smallerboy won an easy triumph. 

"Well paddled, Al!" said Dick. 

"It wasn't the paddling, Dick, " replied Albert, "it was lightbark against heavy wood that did it. "

They were very proud of their two canoes and made a littlelanding for them in a convenient cove. Here, tied to trees withskin lariats, they were safe from wind and wave. 

An evening or two after the landing was made secure, Dick, whohad been out alone, came home in the dark and found Albertreading a book by the firelight. 

"What's this?" he exclaimed. 

"I took it out of the inside pocket of your coat, when I help youhere in the snow, " replied Albert. "I put it on a shelf and inthe strain of your illness forgot all about it until to-day. "

"That's my History and Map of the United States, " said Dick, smiling. "I took it from the wagon which yielded up so much tous. It wouldn't tell me where I was in the storm; but, do youknow, Al, it helped me when I read in there about that greatestof all men praying in the snow. "

"I know who it is whom you mean, " said Albert earnestly, "and Iintend to read about him and all the others. It's likely, Dick, before another year is past, that you and I will become about thefinest historians of our country to be found anywhere between theAtlantic and Pacific. Maybe this is the greatest treasure of allthat the wagon has yielded up to us. "

Albert was right. A single volume, where no other could beobtained, was a precious treasure to them, and it made many anevening pass pleasantly that would otherwise have been dull. They liked especially to linger over the hardships of theborderers and of their countrymen in war, because they found somany parallels to their own case, and the reading always broughtthem new courage and energy. 

They spent the next month after the completion of the canoe inmaking all kinds of traps, including some huge dead falls forgrizzly bear and silver tip. 

They intended as soon as the autumn opened to begin their furoperations on a much larger scale than those of the year before. Numerous excursions into the surrounding mountains showedabundant signs of game and no signs of an invader, and theycalculated that if all went well they would have stored safely bynext spring at least twenty thousand dollars' worth of furs. 

The summer passed pleasantly for both, being filled with work inwhich they took a great interest, and hence a great pleasure. They found another rock cavity, which they fitted up like thefirst in anticipation of an auspicious trapping season. 

"They say, 'don't put all your eggs in one basket, '" saidAlbert, "and so we won't put all our furs in one cave. The Siouxmay come sometime or other, and even if they should get our threeresidences, Castle Howard, the Annex, and the Suburban Villa, andall that is in them, they are pretty sure to miss our caves andour furs. "

"Of course some Indians must know of this valley, " said Dick, "and most likely it's the Sioux. Perhaps none ever wander inhere now, because they're at war with our people and are usingall their forces on the plains. "

Albert thought it likely, and both Dick and he had moments whenthey wondered greatly what was occurring in the world without. But, on the whole, they were not troubled much by the affairs ofthe rest of the universe. 

Traps, house building, and curing food occupied them throughoutthe summer. Once the days were very hot in the valley, whichserved as a focus for the rays of the sun, but it was invariablycool, often cold, at night. They slept usually under a tent, orsometimes, on their longer expeditions in that direction, at thebark hut. Dick made a point of this, as he resolved that Albertshould have no relapse. He could not see any danger of such acatastrophe, but he felt that another year of absolutely freshand pure mountain air, breathed both night and day, would put hisbrother beyond all possible danger. 

The life that both led even in the summer was thoroughlyhardening. They bathed every morning, if in the tent by CastleHoward, in the torrent, the waters of which were always icy, flowing as they did from melting snows on the highest peaks. They swam often in the lake, which was also cold always, and atone of the hot springs they hollowed out a pool, where they couldtake a hot bath whenever they needed it. 

The game increased in the valley as usual toward autumn, and theyreplenished their stores of jerked meat. They had spared theirammunition entirely throughout the summer and now they used itonly on buffalo, elk, and mule deer. They were fortunate enoughto catch several big bears in their huge dead falls, and, withvery little expenditure of cartridges, they felt that they couldopen their second winter as well equipped with food as they hadbeen when they began the first. They also put a new barkthatching on the roof of Castle Howard, and then felt ready foranything that might come. 

"Rain, hail, sleet, snow, and ice, it's all the same to us, " saidDick. 

They did not resume their trapping until October came, as theyknew that the furs would not be in good condition until then. They merely made a good guess that it was October. They hadlong since lost all count of days and months, and took theirreckoning from the change of the foliage into beautiful redsand yellows and the increasing coldness of the air. 

It proved to be a cold but not rainy autumn, a circumstance thatfavored greatly their trapping operations. They had learned muchin the preceding winter from observation and experience, and nowthey put it to practice. They knew many of the runways or pathsfrequented by the animals, and now they would place their trapsin these, concealing them as carefully as possible, and, actingon an idea of Albert's, they made buckskin gloves for themselves, with which they handled the traps, in order to leave, ifpossible, no human odor to warn the wary game. Such devices asthis and the more skillful making of their traps caused thesecond season to be a greater success than the first, good as thelatter had been. They shot an additional number of buffaloes andelk, but what they sought in particular was the beaver, and theywere lucky enough to find two or three new and secluded littlestreams, on which he had built his dams. 

The valuable furs now accumulated rapidly, and it was wiseforethought that had made them fit up the second cave or hollow. They were glad to have two places for them, in case one wasdiscovered by an enemy stronger than themselves. 

Autumn turned into winter, with snow, slush, and ice-cold rain. The preceding winter had been mild, but this bade fair to breaksome records for severe and variegated weather. Now came thetrue test for Albert. To trudge all day long in snow, icy rainor deep slush, to paddle across the lake in a nipping wind, withthe chilly spray all over him, to go for hours soaking wet onevery inch of his skin--these were the things that would havesurely tried the dwellers in the houses of men, even those withhealthy bodies. 

Albert coughed a little after his first big soaking, but after ahot bath, a big supper, and a long night's sleep, it left, not toreturn. He became so thoroughly inured now to exposure thatnothing seemed to affect him. Late in December--so theyreckoned the time--when, going farther than usual into a longcrevice of the mountains, they were overtaken by a heavysnowstorm. They might have reached the Suburban Villa by night, or they might not, but in any event the going would have beenfull of danger, and they decided to camp in the broadest part ofthe canyon in which they now were, not far from the little brookthat flowed down it. 

They had matches with them--they were always careful to keepthem dry now--and after securing their dry shavings they lighteda good fire. Then they are their food, and looked up withoutfear at the dark mountains and the thick, driving snow. Theywere partially sheltered by the bank and some great ash trees, and, for further protection, they wrapped about themselves theblankets, without which they never went on any long journey. 

Having each other for company, the adventure was like a picnic toboth. It was no such desperate affair as that of Dick's when hewas alone on the plain. They further increased their shelterfrom the snow by an artful contrivance of brush and fallenboughs, and although enough still fell upon them to makemiserable the house-bred, they did not care. Both fell asleepafter a while, with flurries of snow still striking upon theirfaces, and were awakened far in the night by the roar of anavalanche farther up the canyon; but they soon went to sleepagain and arose the next day with injury. 

Thus the winter passed, one of storm and cold, but the trappingwas wonderful, and each boy grew in a remarkable manner instrength, endurance, and skill. When signs of spring appearedagain, they decided that it was time for them to go. Had it notbeen for Dick's misadventure on the plain, and their belief thata great war was now in progress between the Sioux and the whitepeople, one might have gone out to return with horses and mulesfor furs, while the other remained behind to guard them. But inview of all the dangers, they resolved to keep together. Thefurs would be secreted and the rest of their property must takeits chances. 

So they made ready. 

Chapter XIVPrisoners

It gave both Dick and Albert a severe wrench to leave theirbeautiful valley. They had lived in it now nearly two years, andit had brought strength and abounding life to Albert, infinitevariety, content, and gratitude to Dick, and what seemed afortune--their furs--to both. It was a beautiful valley, inwhich Nature had done for them many strange and wonderful things, and they loved it, the splendid lake, the grassy levels, therushing streams, the noble groves, and the great mountains allabout. 

"I'd like to live here, Dick, " said Albert, "for some years, anyway. After we take out our furs and sell 'em, we can comeback and use it as a base for more trapping. "

"If the Indians will let up, " said Dick. 

"Do you think we'll meet 'em?"

"I don't know, but I believe the plains are alive with hostileSioux. "

But Albert could not foresee any trouble. He was too young, tosanguine, too full now of the joy of life to think of difficulties. 

They chose their weapons for the march with great care, eachtaking a repeating rifle, a revolver, a hunting knife, and ahatchet, the latter chiefly for camping purposes. They alsodivided equally among themselves what was left of the ballcartridges, and each took his sunglass and half of the remainingmatches. The extra weapons, including the shotguns and shotcartridges, they hid with their furs. They also put in the cavesmany more of their most valuable possessions, especially thetools and remnants of medical supplies. They left everythingelse in the houses, just as they were when they were using them, except the bark hut, from which they took away all furnishings, as it was too light to resist the invasion of a large wild beastlike a grizzly bear. But they fastened up Castle Howard and theAnnex so securely that no wandering beast could possibly breakin. They sunk their canoes in shallow water among reeds, andthen, when each had provided himself with a large supply ofjerked buffalo and deer meat and a skin water bag, they wereready to depart. 

"We may find our houses and what is in them all right when wecome back, or we may not, " said Dick. 

"But we take the chance, " said Albert cheerfully. 

Early on a spring morning they started down the valley by thesame way in which they had first entered it. They walked alongin silence for some minutes, and then, as if by the same impulse, the two turned and looked back. There was their house, which hadsheltered them so snugly and so safely for so long, almost hiddennow in the foliage of the new spring. There was a bit ofmoisture in the eyes of Albert, the younger and more sentimental. 

"Good-by, " he said, waving his hand. "I've found life here. "

Dick said nothing, and they turned into the main valley. Theywalked with long and springy steps, left the valley behind them, and began to climb the slopes. Presently the valley itselfbecame invisible, the mountains seeming to close in and blot itout. 

"A stranger would have to blunder on it to find it, " said Dick. 

"I hope no one will make any such blunder, " said Albert. 

The passage over the mountains was easy, the weather continuingfavorable, and on another sunshiny morning they reached theplains, which flowed out boundlessly before them. These, too, were touched with green, but the boys were perplexed. The spacewas so vast, and it was all so much alike, that it did not lookas if they could ever arrive anywhere. 

"I think we'd better make for Cheyenne in Wyoming Territory, "said Dick. 

"But we don't know how far away it is, nor in what direction, "said Albert. 

"No; but if we keep on going we're bound to get somewhere. We'vegot lots of time before us, and we'll take it easy. "

They had filled their skin water bags, made in the winter, at thelast spring, and they set out at a moderate pace over the plain. Dick had thought once of visiting again the scene of the train'sdestruction in the pass, but Albert opposed it. 

"No, " he said, "I don't want to see that place. "

This journey, they knew not whither, continued easy and pleasantthroughout the day. The grass was growing fast on the plains, and all the little steams that wound now and then between theswells were full of water, and, although they still carried thefilled water bags, Dick inferred that they were not likely tosuffer from thirst. Late in the afternoon they saw a small herdof antelope and a lone buffalo grazing at a considerabledistance, and Dick drew the second and comforting inference thatgame would prove to be abundant. He was so pleased with theseinferences that he stated them to Albert, who promptly drew athird. 

"Wouldn't the presence of buffalo and antelope indicate thatthere are not many Indians hereabouts?" he asked. 

"It looks likely, " replied Dick. 

They continued southward until twilight came, when they built ina hollow a fire of buffalo chips, which were abundant all overthe plain, and watched their friendly mountains sink away in thedark. 

"Gives me a sort of homesick feeling, " said Albert. "They'vebeen good mountains to us. Shelter and home are there, but outhere I feel as if I were stripped to the wind. "

"That describes it, " said Dick. 

They did not keep any watch, but put out their fire and sleptsnugly in their blankets. They were awakened in the morning bythe whine of a coyote that did not dare to come too near, andresumed their leisurely march, to continue in this manner forseveral days, meeting no human being either white or red. 

They saw the mountains sink behind the sky line and then theyfelt entirely without a rudder. There was nothing to go by nowexcept the sun, but they kept to their southern course. Theywere not greatly troubled. They found plenty of game, as Dickhad surmised, and killed an antelope and a fat young buffalo cow. 

"We may travel a long journey, Al, " said Dick with somesatisfaction, "but it's not hard on us. It's more like loafingalong on an easy holiday. "

On the fifth day they ran into a large buffalo herd, but did notmolest any of its members, as they did not need fresh meat. 

"Seems to me, " said Dick, "that Sioux would be after this herd ifthey weren't busy elsewhere. It looks like more proof that theSioux are on the warpath and are to the eastward of us, fightingour own people. "

"The Sioux are a great and warlike tribe, are they not?" askedAlbert. 

"The greatest and most warlike west of the Mississippi, " repliedDick. "I understand that they are really a group of closelyrelated tribes and can put thousands of warriors in the field. "

"Bright Sun, I suppose, is with them?"

"Yes, I suppose so. He is an Indian, a Sioux, no matter if hewas at white schools and for years with white people. He mustfeel for his own, just as you and I, Al, feel for our own race. "

They wandered three or four more days across the plains, and werestill without sign of white man or red. They experienced nohardship. Water was plentiful. Game was to be had for thestalking and life, had they been hunting or exploring, would havebeen pleasant; but both felt a sense of disappointment--theynever came to anything. The expanse of plains was boundless, theloneliness became overpowering. They had not the remotest ideawhether they were traveling toward any white settlement. Humanlife seemed to shun them. 

"Dick, " said Albert one day, "do you remember the story of theFlying Dutchman, how he kept trying for years to round the Capeof Storms, and couldn't do it? I wonder if some such penalty isput on us, and if so, what for?"

The thought lodged in the minds of both. Oppressed by long andfruitless wanderings, they began to have a superstition that theywere to continue them forever. They knew that it was unreasonable, but it clung, nevertheless. There were the rolling plains, thehigh, brassy sky, and the clear line of the horizon on all sides, with nothing that savored of human life between. 

They had hoped for an emigrant train, or a wandering band ofhunters, or possibly a troop of cavalry, but days passed and theymet none. Still the same high, brassy sky, still the sameunbroken horizons. The plains increased in beauty. There was afine, delicate shade of green on the buffalo grass, and wonderfullittle flowers peeped shy heads just above the earth, but Dickand Albert took little notice of either. They had sunk into anuncommon depression. The terrible superstition that they were towander forever was strengthening its hold upon them, despiteevery effort of will and reason. In the hope of better successthey changed their course two or three times, continuing in eachcase several days in that direction before the next change wasmade. 

"We've traveled around so much now, " said Albert despondently, "that we couldn't go back to our mountains if we wanted to doit. We don't know any longer in what direction they lie. "

"That's so, " said Dick, with equal despondency showing in histone. 

His comment was brief, because they talked but little now, andevery day were talking less. Their spirits were affected toomuch to permit any excess of words. But they came finally torougher, much more broken country, and they saw a line of treeson the crest of hills just under the sunset horizon. The sight, the break in the monotony, the cheerful trees made them lift uptheir drooping heads. 

"Well, at any rate, here's something new, " said Dick. "Let'sconsider it an omen of good luck, Al. "

They reached the slope, a long one, with many depressions andhollows, containing thick groves of large trees, the heightsbeyond being crowned with trees of much taller growth. Theywould have gone to the summit, but they were tired with a longday's tramp and they had not yet fully aroused themselves fromthe lethargy that had overtaken them in their weary wanderings. 

"Night's coming, " said Albert, "so let's take to that hollow overthere with the scrub ash in it. "

"All right, " said Dick. "Suits me. "

It was a cozy little hollow, deeply shaded by the ash trees, buttoo rocky to be damp, and they did not take the trouble to lighta fire. They had been living for some time on fresh buffalo andantelope, and had saved their jerked meat, on which they now drewfor supper. 

It was now quite dark, and each, throwing his blanket lightlyaround his shoulders, propped himself in a comfortable position. Then, for the first time in days, they began to talk in the easy, idle fashion of those who feel some degree of contentment, achange made merely by the difference in scene, the presence ofhills, trees, and rocks after the monotonous world of the plains. 

"We'll explore that country to-morrow, " said Dick, nodding hishead toward the crest of the hills. "Must be something overthere, a river, a lake, and maybe trappers. "

"Hope it won't make me homesick again for our valley, " saidAlbert sleepily. "I've been thinking too much of it, anyway, inthe last few days. Dick, wasn't that the most beautiful lake ofours that you ever saw? Did you ever see another house as snugas Castle Howard? And how about the Annex and the SuburbanVilla? And all those beautiful streams that came jumping downbetween the mountains?"

"If you don't shut up, Al, " said Dick, "I'll thrash you with thisgood handy stick that I've found here. "

"All right, " replied Albert, laughing; "I didn't mean to harrowup your feelings any more than I did my own. "

Albert was tired, and the measure of content that he now felt wassoothing. Hence, his drowsiness increased, and in ten minutes hewent comfortably to sleep. Dick's eyes were yet open, and hefelt within himself such new supplies of energy and strength thathe resolved to explore a little. The task that had seemed sohard two or three hours before was quite easy now. Albert wouldremain sleeping safely where he was, and, acting promptly, Dickleft the hollow, rifle on shoulder. 

It was an easy slope, but a long one. As he ascended, the treesgrew more thickly and near the ascent were comparatively freefrom undergrowth. Just over the hill shone a magnificent fullmoon, touching the crest with a line of molten silver. 

Dick soon reached the summit and looked down the far slope into avalley three or four hundred yards deep. The moon shed its fullglory into the valley and filled it with rays of light. 

The valley was at least two miles wide, and down its centerflowed a fine young river, which Dick could see here and there instretches, while the rest was hidden by forest. In fact, thewhole valley seemed to be well clothed with mountain forest, except in one wide space where Dick's gaze remained after it hadalighted once. 

Here was human life, and plenty of it. He looked down upon acircle of at least two hundred lodges, tent-shaped structures ofsaplings covered with bark, and he had heard quite enough aboutsuch things to know these were the winter homes of the Sioux. The moonlight was so clear and his position so good that he wasable to see figures moving about the lodges. 

The sight thrilled Dick. Here he had truly come upon human life, but not the kind he wished to see. But it was vastly interesting, and he sought a closer look. His daring told him to go down theslope toward them, and he obeyed. The descent was not difficult, and there was cover in abundance--pines, ash, and oak. 

As he was very careful, taking time not to break a twig or set astone rolling, and stopping at intervals to look and listen, hewas a half hour in reaching the valley, where, through the trees, he saw the Indian village. He felt that he was rash, but wishingto see, he crept closer, the cover still holding good. He was, in a way, fascinated by what he saw. It had the quality of adream, and its very unreality made him think less of the danger. But he really did not know how expert he had become as awoodsman and trailer through his long training as a trapper, where delicacy of movement and craft were required. 

He believed that the Indians, in such a secure location, wouldnot be stirring beyond the village at this late hour, and he hadlittle fear of anything except the sharp-nosed dogs that arealways prowling about an Indian village. He was within threehundred yards of the lodges when he heard the faint sound ofvoices and footsteps. He instantly lay down among the bushes, but raised himself a little on his elbow in order to see. 

Three Indians were walking slowly along a woodland path towardthe village, and the presence of the path indicated the villagehad been here for many months, perhaps was permanent. TheIndians were talking very earnestly and they made gestures. Oneraised his voice a little and turned toward one of hiscompanions, as if he would emphasize his words. Then Dick sawhis face clearly, and drew a long breath of surprise. 

It was Bright Sun, but a Bright Sun greatly changed. He waswholly in native attire--moccasins, leggings, and a beautifulblue blanket draped about his shoulders. A row of eagle feathersadorned his long black hair, but it was the look and manner ofthe man that had so much significance. He towered above theother Indians, who were men of no mean height; but it was not hisheight either, it was his face, the fire of his eyes, the proudeagle beak which the Sioux had not less than the Roman, and theswift glance of command that could not be denied. Here was agreat chief, a leader of men, and Dick was ready to admit it. 

He could easily have shot Bright Sun dead as he passed, but hedid not dream of doing such a thing. Yet Bright Sun, whileseeming to play the part of a friend, had deliberately led thewagon train into a fatal ambush--of that Dick had no doubt. Hefelt, moreover, that Bright Sun was destined to cause great woeto the white people, his own people, but he could not fire; norwould he have fired even if the deed had been without danger tohimself. 

Dick, instead, gave Bright Sun a reluctant admiration. He lookedwell enough as the guide in white men's clothes, but in his ownnative dress he looked like one to be served, not to serve. Thethree paused for a full two minutes exactly opposite Dick, and hecould have reached out and touched them with the barrel of hisrifle; but they were thinking little of the presence of an enemy. Dick judged by the emphasis of their talk that it was on a matterof some great moment, and he saw all three of them point at timestoward the east. 

"It's surely war, " he thought, "and our army if somewhere offthere in the east. "

Dick saw that Bright Sun remained the dominating figurethroughout the discussion. Its whole effect was that of BrightSun talking and the others listening. He seemed to communicatehis fire and enthusiasm to his comrades, and soon they nodded avigorous assent. Then the three walked silently away toward thevillage. 

Dick rose from his covert, cast a single glance at the directionin which the three chiefs had disappeared, and then began toretrace his own steps. It was his purpose to arouse Albert andflee at once to a less dangerous region. But the fate of Dickand his brother rested at that moment with a mean, mangy, mongrelcur, such as have always been a part of Indian villages, a curthat had wandered farther from the village than usual that nightupon some unknown errand. 

Dick had gone about thirty yards when he became conscious of alight, almost faint, pattering sound behind him. He steppedswiftly into the heaviest shadow of trees and sought to see whatpursued. He thought at first it was some base-born wolf of thehumblest tribe, but, when he looked longer, he knew that it wasone of the meanest of mean curs, a hideous, little yellowishanimal, sneaking in his movements, a dog that one would gladlykick out of his way. 

Dick felt considerable contempt for himself because he had beenalarmed over such a miserable little beast, and resumed his swiftwalk. Thirty yards farther he threw a glance over his shoulder, and there was the wretched cur still following. Dick did notlike it, considering it an insult to himself to be trailed byanything so ugly and insignificant. He picked up a stone, buthesitated a moment, and then put it down again. If he threw thestone the dog might bark or howl, and that was the last thingthat he wanted. Already the cur, mean and miserable as helooked, had won a victory over him. 

Dick turned into a course that he would not have taken otherwise, thinking to shake off his pursuer, but at the next open space hesaw him still following, his malignant red eyes fixed upon theboy. The cur would not have weighed twenty cowardly pounds, buthe became a horrible obsession to Dick. He picked up a stoneagain, put it down again, and for a mad instant seriouslyconsidered the question of shooting him. 

The cur seemed to become alarmed at the second threat, and brokesuddenly into a sharp, snarling, yapping bark, much like that ofa coyote. It was terribly loud in the still night, and colddread assailed Dick in every nerve. He picked up the stone thathe had dropped, and this time he threw it. 

"You brute!" he exclaimed, as the stone whizzed by the cur's ear. 

The cur returned the compliment of names with compounded manytimes over. His snarling bark became almost continuous, andalthough he did not come any nearer, he showed sharp white teeth. Dick paused in doubt, but when, from a point nearer the village, he heard a bark in reply, then another, and then a dozen, he ranwith all speed up the slope. He knew without looking back thatthe cur was following, and it made him feel cold again. 

Certainly Dick had good cause to run. All the world was up andlistening now, and most of it was making a noise, too. He hearda tumult of barking, growling, and snapping toward the village, and then above it a long, mournful cry that ended in an ominousnote. Dick knew that it was a Sioux war whoop, and that themean, miserable little cur had done his work. The village wouldbe at his heels. Seized with an unreasoning passion, he whirledabout and shot the cur dead. It was a mad act, and he instantlyrepented it. Never had there been another rifle shot so loud. It crashed like the report of a cannon. Mountain and valley gaveit back in a multitude of echoes, and on the last dying echocame, not a single war whoop, but the shout of many, the fierce, insistent, falsetto yell that has sounded the doom of many aborderer. 

Dick shuddered. He had been pursued once before by a singleman, but he was not afraid of a lone warrior. Now a scorewould be at his heels. He might shake them off in the dark, butthe dogs would keep the scent, and his chief object was to go fast. He ran up the slope at his utmost speed for a hundred yards ormore, and then remembering in time to nurse his strength, heslackened his footsteps. 

He had thought of turning the pursuit away from the hollow inwhich Albert lay, but now that the alarm was out they would findhim, anyway, and it was best for the two to stand or falltogether. Hence, he went straight for the hollow. 

It was bitter work running up a slope, but his two years of lifein the open were a great help to him now. The strong heart andthe powerful lungs responded nobly to the call. He ran lightly, holding his rifle in the hollow of his arm, ready for use if needbe, and he watch warily lest he make an incautious footstep andfall. The moonlight was still full and clear, but when he tookan occasional hurried glance backward he could not yet see hispursuers. He heard, now and then, however, the barking of a dogor the cry of a warrior. 

Dick reached the crest of the hill, and there for an instant ortwo his figure stood, under the pines, a black silhouette againstthe moonlight. Four or five shots were fired at the livingtarget. One bullet whizzed so near that it seemed to Dick toscorch his face. 

He had gathered fresh strength, and that hot bullet gave a newimpetus also. He ran down the slope at a great speed now, and hehad calculated craftily. He could descend nearly twice as fastas they could ascend, and while they were reaching the crest hewould put a wide gap between them. 

He kept well in the shadow now as he made with long leapsstraight toward the hollow, and he hoped with every heart beatthat Albert, aroused by the shots, would be awake and ready. "Albert!" he cried, when he was within twenty feet of their camp, and his hope was rewarded. Albert was up, rifle in hand, crying:

"What is it, Dick?"

"The Sioux!" exclaimed Dick. "They're not far away! You heardthe shots! Come!"

He turned off at an angle and ran in a parallel line along theslope, Albert by his side. He wished to keep to the forests andthickets, knowing they would have little chance of escape on theplain. As they ran he told Albert, in short, choppy sentences, what had happened. 

"I don't hear anything, " said Albert, after ten minutes. "Maybethey've lost us. "

"No such good luck! Those curs of theirs would lead them. No, Al, we've got to keep straight on as long as we can!"

Albert stumbled on a rock, but, quickly recovering himself, putgreater speed in every jump, when he heard the Indian shoutbehind him. 

"We've got to shoot their dogs, " said Dick. "We'll have no otherchance to shake them off. "

"If we get a chance, " replied Albert. 

But they did not see any chance just yet. They heard theoccasional howl of a cur, but both curs and Indians remainedinvisible. Yet Dick felt that the pursuers were gaining. Theywere numerous, and they could spread. Every time he and Albertdiverged from a straight line--and they could not help doing sonow and then--some portion of the pursuing body came nearer. Itwas the advantage that the many had over the few. 

Dick prayed for darkness, a shading of the moon, but it did notcome, and five minutes later he saw the yellow form of a curemerge into an open space. He took a shot at it and heard ahowl. He did not know whether he had killed the dog or not, buthe hoped he had succeeded. The shot brought forth a cry to theirright, and then another to the left. It was obvious that theSioux, besides being behind them, were also on either side ofthem. They were gasping, too, from their long run, and knew thatthey could not continue much farther. 

"We can't shake them off, Al, " said Dick, "and we'll have tofight. This is as good a place as any other. "

They dropped down into a rocky hollow, a depression not morethan a foot deep, and lay on their faces, gasping for breath. Despite the deadly danger Dick felt a certain relief that hedid not have to run any more--there comes a time when amoment's physical rest will overweigh any amount of mortalperil. 

"If they've surrounded us, they're very quiet about it, " saidAlbert, when the fresh air had flowed back into his lungs. "Idon't see or hear anything at all. "

"At least we don't hear those confounded dogs any more, " saidDick. "Maybe there was only one pursuing us, and that shot ofmine got him. The howls of the cur upset my nerves more than theshouts of the Sioux. "

"Maybe so, " said Albert. 

Then they were both quite still. The moonlight was silveryclear, and they could see pines, oaks, and cedars waving in agentle wind, but they saw nothing else. Yet Dick was well awarethat the Sioux had not abandoned the chase; they knew well wherethe boys lay, and were all about them in the woods. 

"Keep close, Albert, " he said. "Indians are sly, and the Siouxare the slyest of them all. They're only waiting until one of uspops up his head, thinking they're gone. "

Albert took Dick's advice, but so long a time passed without signfrom the Sioux that he began to believe that, in some mysteriousmanner, they had evaded the savages. The belief had grown almostinto a certainty, when there was a flash and a report from apoint higher up the slope. Albert felt something hot andstinging in his face. But it was only a tiny fragment of rockchipped off by the bullet as it passed. 

Both Dick and Albert lay closer, as if they would pressthemselves into the earth, and soon two or three more shots werefired. All came from points higher up the slope, and none hit aliving target, though they struck unpleasantly close. 

"I wish I could see something, " exclaimed Albert impatiently. "It's not pleasant to be shot at and to get no shot in return. "

Dick did not answer. He was watching a point among some scrubpines higher up the slope, where the boughs seemed to him to bewaving too much for the slight wind. Looking intently, hethought he saw a patch of brown through the evergreen, and hefired at it. A faint cry followed the shot, and Dick felt astrange satisfaction; they were hunting him--well, he had givena blow in return. 

Silence settled down again after Dick's shot. The boys layperfectly still, although they could hear each other'sbreathing. The silvery moonlight seemed to grow fuller andclearer all the time. It flooded the whole slope. Boughs andtwigs were sheathed in it. Apparently, the moon looked down upona scene that was all peace and without the presence of a humanbeing. 

"Do you think they'll rush us?" whispered Albert. 

"No, " replied Dick. "I've always heard that the Indian takes aslittle risk as he possibly can. "

They waited a little longer, and then came a flare of rifle shotsfrom a point farther up the slope. Brown forms appeared faintly, and Dick and Albert, intent and eager, began to fire in reply. Bullets sang by their ears and clipped the stones around them, but their blood rose the higher and they fired faster and faster. 

"We'll drive 'em back!" exclaimed Dick. 

They did not hear the rapid patter of soft, light footstepscoming from another direction, until a half dozen Sioux were uponthem. Then the firing in front ceased abruptly, and Dick andAlbert whirled to meet their new foes. 

It was too late. Dick saw Albert struggling in the grasp of twobig warriors, and then saw and heard nothing more. Hehad received a heavy blow on the head from the butt of a rifleand became unconscious. 

Chapter XVThe Indian Village

When Dick awoke from his second period of unconsciousness itwas to awake, as he did from the first, under a roof, but not, as in the case of the first, under his own roof. He saw abovehim an immense sloping thatch of bark on poles, and his eyes, wandering lower, saw walls of bark, also fastened to poles. He himself was lying on a large rush mat, and beside the doorof the great tepee sat two Sioux warriors cleaning their rifles. 

Dick's gaze rested upon the warriors. Curiously, he felt at thattime neither hostility nor apprehension. He rather admiredthem. They were fine, tall men, and their bare arms and legswere sinewy and powerful. Then he thought of Albert. He wasnowhere to be seen, but from the shadow of the wall on his rightcame a tall figure, full of dignity and majesty. It was BrightSun, who looked down at Dick with a gaze that expressed inquiryrather than anger. 

"Why have you come here?" he asked. 

Although Dick's head ached and he was a captive, the questionmade a faint appeal to his sense of humor. 

"I didn't come, " he replied; "I was brought. "

Bright Sun smiled. 

"That is true, " he said, speaking the precise English of theschools, with every word enunciated distinctly. "You werebrought, and by my warriors; but why were you upon these hills?"

"I give you the best answer I can, Bright Sun, " replied Dickfrankly; "I don't know. My brother and I were lost upon theplains, and we wandered here. Nor have I the remotest idea nowwhere I am. "

"You are in a village of the tribe of the Mendewahkanton Sioux, of the clan Queyata-oto-we, " replied Bright Sun gravely, "theclan and tribe to which I belong. The Mendewahkantons are one ofthe first tribes of the Seven Fireplaces, or the Great SiouxNation. But all are great--Mendewahkanton, Wahpeton, Sisseton, Yankton, Teton, Ogalala, and Hunkpapa--down to the last clan ofevery tribe. "

He began with gravity and an even intonation, but his voice rosewith pride at the last. Nothing of the white man's training wasleft to him but the slow, precise English. It was the Indian, the pride of his Indian race, that spoke. Dick recognized it andrespected it. 

"And this?" said Dick, looking around at the great house of barkand poles in which he lay. 

"This, " replied Bright Sun, pride again showing in this tone, "isthe house of the Akitcita, our soldiers and policemen, the menbetween twenty and forty, the warriors of the first rank, wholive here in common, and into whose house women and childrenmay not enter. I have read in the books at your schools how theSpartan young men lived together as soldiers in a common house, eating rough food and doing the severest duty, and the wholeworld has long applauded. The Sioux, who never heard of theSpartans, have been doing the same far back into the shadowytime. We, too, are a race of warriors. "

Dick looked with renewed interest at the extraordinary man beforehim, and an amazing suggestion found lodgment in his mind. Perhaps the Sioux chief thought himself not merely as good as thewhite man, but better, better than any other man except those ofhis own race. It was so surprising that Dick forgot for a momentthe question that he was eagerly awaiting a chance to ask--wherewas his brother Albert?

"I've always heard that the Sioux were brave, " said Dick vaguely, "and I know they are powerful. "

"We are the Seven Fireplaces. What the Six Nations once were inthe East, we now are in the West, save that we are far morenumerous and powerful, and we will not be divided. We haveleaders who see the truth and who know what to do. "

The pride in his tone was tinged now with defiance, and Dickcould but look at him in wonder. But his mind now came back tothe anxious question:

"Where is my brother Albert, who was taken with me? You havenot killed him?"

"He has not been hurt, although we are at war with your people, "replied Bright Sun. "He is here in the village, and he, likeyou, is safe for the present. Some of the warriors wished tokill both you and him, but I have learned wisdom in these mattersfrom your people. Why throw away pawns that we hold? I keepyour brother and you as hostages. "

Dick, who had raised himself up in his eagerness, sank backagain, relieved. He could feel that Bright Sun told the truth, and he had faith, too, in the man's power as well as his word. Yet there was another question that he wished to ask. 

"Bright Sun, " he said, "it was you, our guide, who led the traininto the pass that all might be killed?"

Bright Sun shrugged his shoulders, but a spark leaped from hiseyes. 

"What would you ask of me?" he replied. "In your code it wascunning, but the few and small must fight with cunning. Thelittle man, to confront the big man, needs the advantage ofweapons. The Sioux make the last stand for the Indian race, andwe strike when and where we can. "

The conscience of the chief was clear, so far as Dick could see, and there was nothing that he could say in reply. It was BrightSun himself who resumed:

"But I spared you and your brother. I did that which caused youto be absent when the others were slain. "

"Why?"

"Because you were different. You were not like the others. Itmay be that I pitied you, and it may be also that I like you--alittle--and--you were young. "

The man's face bore no more expression than carven oak, but Dickwas grateful. 

"I thank you, Bright Sun, " he said, "and I know that Albertthanks you, too. "

Bright sun nodded, and then fixed an intent gaze upon Dick. 

"You and your brother escaped, " he said. "That was nearly twoyears ago, and you have not gone back to your people. Wherehave you been?"

Dick saw a deep curiosity lurking behind the intent gaze, butwhatever he might owe to Bright Sun, he had no intention ofgratifying it. 

"Would you tell me where you have been in the last two years andall that you have done?" the chief asked. 

"I cannot answer; but you see that we have lived, Albert and I, "Dick replied. 

"And that you have learned the virtues of silence, " said BrightSun. "I ask you no more about it to-day. Give me your word forthe present that you will not try to escape, and your life andthat of your brother will be the easier. It would be useless, anyhow, for you to make such an attempt. When you feel that youhave a chance, you can withdraw your promise. "

Dick laughed, and the laugh was one of genuine good humor. 

"That's certainly fair, " he said. "Since I can't escape, I mightas well give my promise not to try it for the time being. Well, I give it. "

Bright Sun nodded gravely. 

"Your brother will come in soon, " he said. "He has already givenhis promise, that is, a conditional one, good until he can conferwith you. "

"I'll confirm it, " said Dick. 

Bright Sun saluted and left the great lodge. Some warriors nearthe door moved aside with the greatest deference to let himpass. Dick lay on his rush mat, gazing after him, and deeplyimpressed. 

When Bright Sun was gone he examined the lodge again. It wasobvious that it was a great common hall or barracks for warriors, and Bright Sun's simile of the Spartans was correct. Morewarriors came in, all splendid, athletic young men of a high andconfident bearing. A few were dressed in the white man'scostume, but most of them were in blankets, leggings, andmoccasins, and had magnificent rows of feathers in their hair. Every man carried a carbine, and most of them had revolversalso. Such were the Akitcita or chosen band, and in this villageof about two hundred lodges they numbered sixty men. Dick didnot know then that in times of peace all guests, whether white orred, were entertained in the lodge of the Akitcita. 

Impressed as he had been by Bright Sun, he was impressed also bythese warriors. Not one of them spoke to him or annoyed him inany manner. They went about their tasks, cleaning and polishingtheir weapons, or sitting on rough wooden benches, smoking pipeswith a certain dignity that belonged to men of strength andcourage. All around the lodge were rush mats, on which theyslept, and near the door was a carved totem pole. 

A form darkened the doorway, and Albert came in. He rushed toDick when he saw that he was conscious again, and shook his handwith great fervor. The warriors went on with their tasks ortheir smoking, and still took no notice. 

"This is a most wonderful place, Dick, " exclaimed theimpressionable Albert, "and Bright Sun has treated us well. Wecan go about the village if we give a promise, for the time, thatwe'll not try to escape. "

"He's been here, " said Dick, "and I've given it. "

"Then, if you feel strong enough, let's go on and take a look. "

"Wait until I see if this head of mine swims around, " said Dick. 

He rose slowly to his feet, and his bandaged head was dizzy atfirst, but as he steadied himself it became normal. Albertthrust out his hand to support him. It delighted him that hecould be again of help to his older and bigger brother, and Dick, divining Albert's feeling, let it lie for a minute. Then theywent to the door, Dick walking quite easily, as his strength cameback fast. 

The warriors of the Akitcita, of whom fully a dozen were nowpresent in the great lodge, still paid no attention to the twoyouths, and Dick surmised that it was the orders of Bright Sun. But this absolute ignoring of their existence was uncanny, nevertheless. Dick studies some of the faces as he passed. Boldand fearless they were, and not without a certain nobility, butthere was little touch of gentleness or pity, it was rather thestrength of the wild animal, the flesh-eater, that seeks its prey. Sioux they were, and Sioux they would remain in heart, nomatter what happened, wild warriors of the northwest. Dickperceived this fact in a lightening flash, but it was thelightening flash of conviction. 

Outside the fresh air saluted Dick, mouth and nostrils, and theache in his head went quite away. He had seen the valley bymoonlight, when it was beautiful, but not as beautiful as theirown valley, the one of which they would not tell to anybody. Butit was full of interest. The village life, the life of the wild, was in progress all about him, and in the sunshine, amidst suchpicturesque surroundings, it had much that was attractive to thestrong and brave. 

Dick judged correctly that the village contained about twohundred winter lodges of bark and poles, and could thereforefurnish about four hundred warriors. It was evident, too, thatit was the scene of prosperity. The flesh of buffalo, elk, anddeer was drying in the sun, hanging from trees or on littleplatforms of poles. Children played with the dogs or practicedwith small bows and arrows. In the shadow of a tepee six oldwomen sat gambling, and the two boys stopped to watch them. 

The Indians are more inveterate gamblers than the whites, and theold women, wrinkled, hideous hags of vast age, played their gameswith an intent, almost breathless, interest. 

They were playing Woskate Tanpan, or the game of dice, as it isknown to the Sioux. Three women were on each side, and theyplayed it with tanpan (the basket), kansu (the dice), andcanyiwawa (the counting sticks). The tanpan, made of willowtwigs, was a tiny basket, about three inches in diameter at thebottom, but broader at the top, and about two inches deep. Intothis one woman would put the kansu or dice, a set of six plumstones, some carved and some not carved. She would put her handover the tanpan, shake the kansu just as the white dice playerdoes, and then throw them out. The value of the throw would beaccording to the kind and number of carvings that were turned upwhen the kansu fell. 

The opposing sides, three each, sat facing each other, and thestakes for which they played--canyiwawa (the countingsticks)--lay between them. These were little round sticks aboutthe thickness of a lead pencil, and the size of each heap wentup or down, as fortune shifted back or forth. They could makethe counting sticks represent whatever value they chose, thisbeing agreed upon beforehand, and the old Sioux women had beenknown to play Woskate Tanpan two days and nights without everrising from their seats. 

"What old harpies they are!" said Dick. "Did you ever seeanybody so eager over anything?"

"They are no worse than the men, " replied Albert. "A lot ofwarriors are gambling, too. "

A group of the men were gathered on a little green farther on, and the brothers joined them, beginning to share at once theinterest that the spectators showed in several warriors who wereplaying Woskate Painyankapi, or the game of the Wands and theHoop. 

The warriors used in the sport canyleska (the hoop) and cansakala(the wands). The hoops were of ash, two or three feet indiameter, the ash itself being about an inch in diameter. Everyhoop was carefully marked off into spaces, something like theface of a watch. 

Cansakala (the wands) were of chokecherry, four feet long andthree fourths of an inch in diameter. One end of every wand wassquared for a distance of about a foot. The wands were in pairs, the two being fastened together with buckskin thongs about nineinches in length, and fastened at a point about one third of thelength of the wands from the rounded ends. 

A warrior would roll the hoop, and he was required to roll itstraight and correctly. If he did not do so, the umpire made himroll it over, as in the white man's game of baseball the pitchercannot get a strike until he pitches the ball right. 

When the hoop was rolled correctly, the opposing player droppedhis pair of wands somewhere in front of it. It was his object soto calculate the speed and course of the hoop when it fell itwould lie upon his wands. If he succeeded, he secured his pointsaccording to the spaces on each wand within which the hoop lay--anexceedingly difficult game, requiring great skill of hand andjudgment of eye. That if was absorbing was shown by the greatinterest with which all the spectators followed it and by theireager betting. 

"I don't believe I could learn to do that in ten years, " saidAlbert; "you've got to combine too many things and to combinethem fast. "

"They must begin on it while they're young, " said Dick; "but theIndian has a mind, and don't you forget it. "

"But they're not as we are, " rejoined Albert. "Nothing can evermake them so. "

Here, as in the house of the Akitcita, nobody paid any attentionto the two boys, but Dick began to have a feeling that he waswatched, not watched openly as man watches man, but in thefurtive dangerous way of the great wild beasts, the man-eaters. The feeling grew into a conviction that, despite what they weredoing, everybody in the camp--warrior, squaw, and child--waswatching Albert and him. He knew that half of this was fancy, but he was sure that the other half was real. 

"Albert, " he said, "I wouldn't make any break for liberty now, even if I hadn't given my promise. "

"Nor I, " said Albert. "By the time we had gone ten feet thewhole village would be on top of us. Dick, while I'm here I'mgoing to make the best of it I can. "

In pursuance of this worthy intention Albert pressed forward andalmost took the cansakala from the hands of a stalwart warrior. The man, amazed at first, yielded up the pair of wands with agrin. Albert signaled imperiously to the warrior with the hoop, and he, too, grinning, sent canyleska whirling. 

Albert cast the wands, and the hoop fell many feet from them. Ashout of laughter arose. The white youth was showing himself apoor match for the Sioux, and the women and children camerunning to see this proof of the superiority of their race. 

The warrior from whom he had taken them gravely picked up thecansakala and handed them back to Albert, the other warrior againsent canyleska rolling, and again Albert threw the wands with thesame ill fortune. A third and fourth time he tried, with butslight improvement, and the crowd, well pleased to see him fail, thickened all the time, until nearly the whole village waspresent. 

"It's just as hard as we thought it was, Dick, and harder, " saidAlbert ruefully. "Here, you take it and see what you can do. "

He handed cansakala to Dick, who also tried in vain, while thecrowd enjoyed the sport, laughing and chatting to one another, asthey will in their own villages. Dick made a little moreprogress than Albert had achieved, but not enough to score anypoints worth mentioning, and he, too, retired discomfited, whilethe Sioux, especially the women, continued to laugh. 

"I don't like to be beaten that way, " said Albert in a nettledtone. 

"Never mind, Al, old fellow, " said Dick soothingly. "Rememberit's their game, not ours, and as it makes them feel good, it'sall the better for us. Since they've beaten us, they're apt tolike us and treat us better. "

It was hard for Albert to take the more philosophical view, whichwas also the truthful one, but he did his best to reconcilehimself, and he and Dick moved on to other sights. 

Dick noticed that the village had been located with greatjudgment. On one side was the river, narrow but swift and deep;on the other, a broad open space that would not permit an enemyto approach through ambush, and beyond that the forest. 

The tepees stood in a great circle, and, although Dick did notknow it, their camps were always pitched according to rule, eachgens or clan having its regular place in the circle. The tribeof the Mendewahkantons--a leading one of the Seven Fireplaces orCouncil Fires of the great Sioux nation--was subdivided intoseven gentes or clans; the Kiyukas, or Breakers, so calledbecause they disregarded the general marriage law and marriedoutside their own clan; the Que-mini-tea, or Mountain Wood andWater people; the Kap'oja, or Light Travelers; the Maxa-yuta-cui, the People who Eat no Grease; the Queyata-oto-we, or the Peopleof the Village Back from the River; the Oyata Citca, the BadNation, and the Tita-otowe, the People of the Village on thePrairie. 

Each clan was composed of related families, and all this greattribe, as the boys learned later, had once dwelled around SpiritLake, Minnesota, their name meaning Mysterious Lake Dwellers, but had been pushed westward years before by the advancing waveof white settlement. This was now a composite village, including parts of every gens of the Mendewahkantons, but therewere other villages of the same tribe scattered over a largearea. 

When Dick and Albert reached the northern end of the village theysaw a great number of Indian ponies, six or seven hundredperhaps, grazing in a wide grassy space and guarded by half-grownIndian boys. 

"Dick, " said Albert, "if we only had a dozen of those we could goback and get our furs. "

"Yes, " said Dick, "if we had the ponies, if we knew where we arenow, if we were free of the Sioux village, and if we could findthe way to our valley, we might do what you say. "

"Yes, it does take a pile of 'ifs, '" said Albert, laughing, "andso I won't expect it. I'll try to be resigned. "

So free were they from any immediate restriction that it almostseemed to them that they could walk away as they chose, up thevalley and over the hills and across the plains. How were theSioux to know that these two would keep their promised word?But both became conscious again of those watchful eyes, ferocious, like the eyes of man-eating wild beasts, and bothshivered a little as they turned back into the great circle ofbark teepees. 

Chapter XVIThe Gathering of the Sioux

Dick and Albert abode nearly two weeks in the great lodge of theAkitcita, that is, as guests, although they were prisoners, whoselives might be taken at any time, and they had splendidopportunities for observing what a genuine Spartan band theAkitcita were. Everyone had his appointed place for arms and hisrush or fur mat for sleeping. There was no quarreling, nounseemly chatter, always a grave and dignified order and thesense of stern discipline. Not all the Akitcita were everpresent in the daytime, but some always were. All tribalbusiness was transacted here. The women had to bring wood andwater to it daily, and the entire village supplied it every daywith regular rations of tobacco, almost the only luxury of theAkitcita. 

Both Dick and Albert were keenly observant, and they did nothesitate also to ask questions of Bright Sun whenever they hadthe chance. They learned from him that the different tribes ofthe Sioux had general councils at irregular intervals, that therewas no hereditary rank among the chiefs, it being usually aquestion of energy and merit, although the rank was sometimesobtained by gifts, and ambitious man giving away all that he hadfor the prize. There were no women chiefs, and women were notadmitted to the great council. 

The boys perceived, too, that much in the life of the Sioux wasgoverned by ancient ritual; nearly everything had its religiousmeaning, and both boys having an inherent respect for religion ofany kind, were in constant fear lest they should violateunwillingly some honored law. 

The two made friendly advances to the members of the Akitcitabut they were received with a grave courtesy that did not invitea continuance. They felt daily a deepening sense of racialdifference. They appreciated the humane treatment they hadreceived, but they and the Sioux did not seem to come into touchanywhere. And this difference was accentuated in the case ofBright Sun. The very fact that he had been educated in theirschools, that he spoke their language so well, and that he knewtheir customs seemed to widen the gulf between them into a sea. They felt that he had tasted of their life, and liked it not. 

The two, although they could not like Bright Sun, began to have acertain deference for him. The old sense of power he had createdin their minds increased greatly, and now it was not merely amatter of mind and manner; all the outward signs, the obviousrespect in which he was held by everybody and the way in whichthe eyes of the warriors, as well as those of women and children, followed him, showed that he was a great leader. 

After ten days or so in the great lodge of the Akitcita, Dick andAlbert were removed to a small bark tepee of their own, to whichthey were content to go. They had no arms, not even a knife, butthey were already used to their captivity, and however greattheir ultimate danger might be, it was far away for them to thinkmuch about it. 

They observed, soon after their removal, that the life of thevillage changed greatly. The old women were not often to befound in the shadow of the lodges playing Woskate Tanpan, the mengave up wholly Woskate Painyankapi, and throughout the village, no matter how stoical the Sioux might be, there was a perceptibleair of excitement and suspense. Often at night the boys heardthe rolling of the Sioux war drums, and the medicine men mademedicine incessantly inside their tepees. Dick chafed greatly. 

"Big things are afoot, " he would say to Albert. "We know thatthe Sioux and our people are at war, but you and I, Al, don'tknow a single thing that has occurred. I wish we could get awayfrom here. Our people are our own people, and I'd like to tellthem to look out. "

"I feel just as you do, Dick, " Albert would reply; "but we mightrecall our promise to Bright Sun. Besides, we wouldn't have theghost of a chance to escape. I feel that a hundred eyes arelooking at me all the time. "

"I feel that two hundred are looking at me, " said Dick, with agrim little laugh. "No, Al, you're right. We haven't a chanceon earth to escape. "

Five days after their removal to the small lodge there was asudden and great increase in the excitement in the village. Intruth, it burst into a wild elation, and all the women andchildren, running toward the northern side of the village, beganto shout cries of welcome. The warriors followed more sedately, and Dick and Albert, no one detaining them, joined in the throng. 

"Somebody's coming, Al, that's sure, " said Dick. 

"Yes, and that somebody's a lot of men, " said Albert. "Look!"

Three or four hundred warriors, a long line of them, were comingdown the valley, tall, strong, silent men, with brilliantheaddresses of feathers and bright blankets. Everyone carried acarbine or rifle, and they looked what they were--a trulyformidable band, resolved upon some great attempt. 

Dick and Albert inferred the character of the arrivals from theshouts that they heard the squaws and children utter: "Sisseton!""Wahpeton!" "Ogalala!" "Yankton!" "Teton!" "Hunkpapa!"

The arriving warriors, many of whom were undoubtedly chiefs, gravely nodded to their welcome, and came silently on as theadmiring crowd opened to receive them. 

"It's my opinion, " said Dick, "that the Seven Fireplaces areabout to hold a grand council in the lodge of the Akitcita. "

"I don't think there's any doubt about it, " replied Albert. 

They also heard, amidst the names of the tribes, the names ofgreat warriors or medicine men, names which they were destined tohear many times again, both in Indian and English--Sitting Bull, Rain-in-the-Face, Little Big Man, and others. Then they meantnothing to either Dick or Albert. 

All the chiefs, led by Bright Sun, went directly to the lodge ofthe Akitcita, and the other warriors were taken into the lodgesof their friends, the Mendewahkantons. Then the women ran to thelodges and returned with the best food that the village couldfurnish. It was given to the guests, and also many pounds ofchoice tobacco. 

Dick and Albert had made no mistake in their surmise. The greatcouncil of the Seven Fireplaces of the Sioux was in session. Allthat day the chiefs remained in the lodge of the Akitcita, andwhen night was far advanced they were still there. 

Dick and Albert shared the excitement of the village, althoughknowing far less of its nature, but they knew that a grandcouncil of the Seven Fireplaces would not be held without greatcause, and they feared much for their people. It was a warm, close night, with a thin moon and flashes of heat lightening onthe hilly horizon. Through the heavy air came the monotonousrolling of a war drum, and the chant of a medicine man makingmedicine in a tepee near by went on without ceasing. 

The boys did not try to sleep, and unable to stifle curiosity, they came from the little bark lodge. One or two Sioux warriorsglanced at them, but none spoke. The Sioux knew that the villagewas guarded so closely by a ring of sentinels that a cat couldnot have crept through without being seen. The boys walked onundisturbed until they came near the great council lodge, wherethey stopped to look at the armed warriors standing by the door. 

The dim light and the excited imaginations of the boys made thelodge grow in size and assume fantastic shapes. So many greatchiefs had come together for a mighty purpose, and Dick was surethat Bright Sun, sitting in the ring of his equals, urged on theproject, whatever it might be, and would be the dominating figurethrough all. 

Although they saw nothing, they were fascinated by what theywished to see. The great lodge held them with a spell that theydid not seek to break. Although it was past midnight, theystayed there, staring at the blank walls. Warriors passed andgave them sharp glances, but nothing was said to them. The airremained close and heavy. Heat lightening continued to flare onthe distant hills, but no rain fell. 

The chiefs finally came forth from the great council. There wasno light for them save the cloudy skies and one smoking torchthat a warrior held aloft, but the active imagination of the twoboys were again impressed. Every chief seemed to show in hisface and manner his pride of race and the savage strength thatwell became such a time and place. Some bore themselves morehaughtily and were more brilliantly adorned than Bright Sun, buthe was still the magnet from which power and influence streamed. Dick and Albert did not know why they knew it, but they knew it. 

The chiefs did not go away to friendly lodges, but after theycame forth remained in a group, talking. Dick surmised that theyhad come to an agreement upon whatever question they debated;now they were outside for fresh air, and soon would return to thelodge of the Akitcita, which, according to custom, would shelterthem as guests. 

Bright Sun noticed the brothers standing in the shadow of thelodge, and, leaving the group, he walked over to them. Hismanner did not express hostility, but he made upon both boys thatold impression of power and confidence, tinged now with a certainexultation. 

"You would know what we have been doing?" he said, speakingdirectly to Dick, the older. 

"We don't ask, " replied Dick, "but I will say this, Bright Sun:we believe that the thing done was the thing you wished. "

Bright Sun permitted himself a little smile. 

"You have learned to flatter, " he said. 

"It was not meant as flattery, " said Dick; "but there issomething more I have to say. We wish to withdraw our pledge notto attempt to escape. You remember it was in the agreement wecould withdraw whenever we chose. "

"That is true, " said Bright Sun, giving Dick a penetrating look. "And so you think that it is time for you to go?"

"We will go, if we can, " said Dick boldly. 

Bright Sun, who had permitted himself a smile a little while ago, now permitted himself a soft laugh. 

"You put it well, " he said in his precise English, "'if wecan. ' But the understanding is clear. The agreement is at an end. However, you will not escape. We need you as hostages, andI will tell you, too, that we leave this village and valleyto-morrow. We begin a great march. "

"I am not surprised, " said Dick. 

Bright Sun rejoined the other chiefs, and all of them went backinto the lodge of the Akitcita, while Dick and Albert returned totheir own little tepee. There, as each lay on his rush mat, theytalked in whispers. 

"What meaning do you give to it, Dick?" asked Albert. 

"That all the Sioux tribes are going to make a mighty effortagainst our people, and they're going to make it soon. Why elseare they holding this great council of the Seven Fireplaces? Itell you, Al, big things are afoot. Oh, if we could only find achance to get away!"

Albert rolled over to the door of the lodge and peeped out. Several warriors were pacing up and down in front of the rows oftepees. He rolled back to his rush mat. 

"They've got inside as well as outside guards now, " he whispered. 

"I thought it likely, " Dick whispered back. "Al, the best thingthat you and I can do now is to go to sleep. "

They finally achieved slumber, but were up early the next morningand saw Bright Sun's words come true. The village was dismantledwith extraordinary rapidity. Most of the lighter lodges weretaken down, but how much of the place was left, and what peoplewere left with it, the boys did not know, because they departedwith the warriors, each riding a bridleless pony. Althoughmounted, their chance of escape was not increased. Warriors wereall about them, they were unarmed, and their ponies, uncontrolledby bridles, could not be made to leave their comrades. 

Dick and Albert, nevertheless, found an interest in this journey, wondering to what mysterious destination it would lead them. They heard behind them the chant of the old women driving theponies that drew the baggage on poles, but the warriors aroundthem were silent. Bright Sun was not visible. Dick surmisedthat he was at the head of the column. 

The clouds of the preceding night had gone away, and the day wascooler, although it was now summer, and both Dick and Albertfound a certain pleasure in the journey. In their presentof suspense any change was welcome. 

They rode straight up the valley, a long and formidableprocession, and as they went northward the depression became bothshallower and narrower. Finally, they crossed the river at arather deep ford and rode directly ahead. Soon the hills and theforest that clothed them sank out of sight, and Dick and Albertwere once again in the midst of the rolling immensity of theplains. They could judge the point of the compass by the sun, but they knew nothing else of the country over which theytraveled. They tried two or three times to open conversationwith the warriors about them, trusting that the latter knewEnglish, but they received no reply and gave up the attempt. 

"At any rate, I can talk to you, Al, " said Dick after the lastfutile attempt. 

"Yes, but you can't get any information out of me, " repliedAlbert with a laugh. 

The procession moved on, straight as an arrow, over the swells, turning aside for nothing. Some buffaloes were seen on thehorizon, but they were permitted to crop the bunch grassundisturbed. No Indian hunter left the ranks. 

They camped that night on the open prairie, Dick and Albertsleeping in their blankets in the center of the savage group. Itmight have seemed to the ordinary observer that there waslooseness and disorder about the camp, but Dick was experiencedenough to know that all the Mendewahkantons were posted in thecircle according to their clans, and that the delegates weredistributed with them in places of honor. 

Dick noticed, also, that no fires were built, and that thewarriors had scrutinized the entire circle of the horizon withuncommon care. It could signify but one thing to him--whitepeople, and perhaps white troops, were near. If so, he prayedthat they were in sufficient force. He was awakened in the nightby voices, and raising himself on his elbow he saw a group ofmen, at least a hundred in number, riding into the camp. 

The latest arrivals were Sioux warriors, but of what tribe hecould not tell. Yet it was always the Sioux who were coming, andit would have been obvious to the least observant that Dick'sforeboding about a mighty movement was right. They were joinedthe next day by another detachment coming from the southwest, androde on, full seven hundred warriors, every man armed with thewhite man's weapons, carbine or rifle and revolver. 

"I pity any poor emigrants whom they may meet, " thought Dick;but, fortunately, they met none. The swelling host continued itsmarch a second day, a third, and a fourth through sunshinyweather, increasing in warmth, and over country that changed butlittle. Dick and Albert saw Bright Sun only once or twice, buthe had nothing to say to them. The others, too, maintained theirimpenetrable silence, although they never offered any illtreatment. 

They were joined every day by bands of warriors, sometimes notmore than two or three at a time, and again as many as twenty. They came from all points of the compass, but, so far as Dick andAlbert could see, little was said on their arrival. Everythingwas understood. They came as if in answer to a call, took theirplaces without ado in the savage army, and rode silently on. Dick saw a great will at work, and with it a great discipline. Amaster mind had provided for all things. 

"Al, " he said to his brother, "you and I are not in the plan atall. We've been out of the world two years, and we're just thatmany years behind. "

"I know it's 1876, " said Albert, with some confidence, but headded in confession: "I've no idea what month it is, although itmust be somewhere near summer. "

"About the beginning of June, I should think, " said Dick. 

An hour after this little talk the country became more hilly, andpresently they saw trees and high bluffs to their right. Bothboys understood the signs. They were approaching a river, andpossibly their destination. 

"I've a feeling, " said Dick, "that we're going to stop now. Thewarriors look as if they were getting ready for a rest. "

He was quickly confirmed in his opinion by the appearance ofmounted Indians galloping to meet them. These warriors showedno signs of fatigue or a long march, and it was now obvious thata village was near. 

The new band greeted the force of Bright Sun with joy, and thestern silence was relaxed. There was much chattering andlaughing, much asking and answering of questions, and soon Indianwomen and Indian boys, with little bows and arrows, came over thebluffs, and joining the great mounted force, followed on itsflanks. 

Dick and Albert were on ponies near the head of the column, andtheir troubles and dangers were forgotten in their eager interestin what they were about to see. The feeling that a first step ina great plan was accomplished was in the air. They could see itin the cessation of the Sioux reserve and in the joyous manner ofthe warriors, as well as the women. Even the ponies picked uptheir heads, as if they, too, saw rest. 

The procession wound round the base of a hill, and then each boyuttered a little gasp. Before them lay a valley, about a milewide, down the center of which flowed a shallow yellow riverfringed with trees and also with undergrowth, very dense inplaces. But it was neither the river nor trees that had drawnthe little gasps from the two boys, it was an Indian village, orrather a great town, extending as far as they could see--andthey saw far--on either side of the stream. There were hundredsand hundreds of lodges, and a vast scene of animated and variedlife. Warriors, squaws, children, and dogs moved about; smokerose from scores and scores of fires, and on grassy meadowsgrazed ponies, thousands in number. 

"Why, I didn't think there was so big an Indian town in all theWest!" exclaimed Albert. 

"Nor did I, " said Dick gravely, "and I'm thinking, Al, that it'sgathered here for a purpose. It must be made up of all the Siouxtribes. "

Albert nodded. He knew the thought in Dick's mind, and hebelieved it to be correct. 

Chance so had it that Bright Sun at this moment rode near themand heard their words. Dick of late had surmised shrewdly thatBright Sun treated them well, not alone for the sake of theirvalue as hostages, but for a reason personal to himself. He hadbeen associated long with white people in their schools, but hewas at heart and in fact a great Sioux chief; he had felt thewhite man's assumption of racial superiority, and he would havethese two with the white faces witness some great triumph that heintended to achieve over these same white people. This beliefwas growing on Dick, and it received more confirmation whenBright Sun said:

"You see that the Sioux nation has many warriors and is mighty. "

"I see that it is so, Bright Sun, " replied Dick frankly. "I didnot know you were so numerous and so powerful; but bear in mind, Bright Sun, that no matter how many the Sioux may be, the whitemen are like the leaves of the tree--thousands, tens ofthousands may fall, and yet only their own kin miss them. "

But Bright Sun shook his head. 

"What you say is true, " he said, "because I have seen and I know;but they are not here. The mountains, the plains, the wildernesskeep them back. "

Dick forebore a retort, because he felt that he owed Bright Sunsomething, and the chief seemed to take it for granted that hewas silenced by logic. 

"This is the Little Big Horn River, " Bright Sun said, "and youbehold now in this village, which extends five miles on eitherside of it, the Seven Fireplaces of the Sioux. All tribes aregathered here. "

"And it is you who have gathered them, " said Dick. He waslooking straight into Bright Sun's eyes as he spoke, and he sawthe pupils of the Sioux expand, in fact dilate, with a suddenoverwhelming sense of power and triumph. Dick knew he hadguessed aright, but the Sioux replied with restraint:

"If I have had some small part in the doing of it, I feel proud. "

With that he left them, and Dick and Albert rode on into thevalley of the river, in whatsoever direction their bridlelesshorses might carry them, although that direction was bound to bethe one in which rode the group surrounding them. 

Some of the squaws and boys, who caught sight of Dick and Albertamong the warriors, began to shout and jeer, but a chief sternlybade them to be silent, and they slunk away, to the great reliefof the two lads, who had little relish for such attention. 

They were full in the valley now, and on one side of them wasthick undergrowth that spread to the edge of the river. A fewhundred yards father the undergrowth ceased, sand taking itsplace. All the warriors turned their ponies abruptly away fromone particular stretch of sand, and Dick understood. 

"It's a quicksand, Al, " he said; "it would suck up pony, rider, and all. "

They left the quicksand behind and entered the village, passingamong the groups of lodges. Here they realized more fully thanon the hills the great extent of the Indian town. Itsinhabitants seemed a myriad to Dick and Albert, so long used tosilence and the lack of numbers. 

"How many warriors do you suppose this place could turn out, Dick?" asked Albert. 

"Five thousand, but that's only a guess. It doesn't look muchlike our own valley, does it, Al?"

"No, it doesn't, " replied Albert with emphasis; "and I can tellyou, Dick, I wish I was back there right now. I believe that'sthe finest valley the sun ever shone on. "

"But we had to leave sometime or other, " said Dick, "and howcould we tell that we were going to run into anything like this?But it's surely a big change for us. "

"The biggest in the world. "

The group in which they rode continued along the river about twomiles, and then stopped at a point where both valley and villagewere widest. A young warrior, speaking crude English, roughlybade them dismount, and gladly they sprang from the ponies. Albert fell over when he struck the ground, his legs were crampedso much by the long ride, but the circulation was soon restored, and he and Dick went without resistance to the lodge that waspointed out to them as their temporary home and prison. 

It was a small lodge of poles leaning toward a common center atthe top, there lashed together firmly with rawhide, and the wholecovered with skins. It contained only two rude mats, two bowlsof Sioux pottery, and a drinking gourd, but it was welcome toDick and Albert, who wanted rest and at the same time securityfrom the fierce old squaws and the equally fierce young boys. They were glad enough to lie a while on the rush mats and rubtheir tired limbs. When they were fully rested they became veryhungry. 

"I wonder if they mean to starve us to death?" said Albert. 

A negative answer was given in about ten minutes by two oldsquaws who appeared, bearing food, some venison, and moreparticularly wa-nsa, a favorite dish with the Sioux, a compoundmade of buffalo meat and wild cherries, which, after being dried, are pounded separately until they are very fine; then the two arepounded together for quite a while, after which the whole isstored in bladders, somewhat after the fashion of the white man'ssausage. 

"This isn't bad at all, " said Albert when he bit into hisportion. "Now, if we only had something good to drink. "

Neither of the old squaws understood his words, but one of themanswered his wish, nevertheless. She brought cherry-bark tea inabundance, which both found greatly to their liking and they ateand drank with deep content. A mental cheer was added also totheir physical good feeling. 

"Thanks, madam, " said Albert, when one of the old squaws refilledthe little earthen bowl from which he drank the cherry-bark tea. "You are indeed kind. I did not expect to meet with suchhospitality. "

The Indian woman did not understand his words, but anybody couldunderstand the boy's ingratiating smile. She smiled back at him. 

"Be careful, Al, old man, " said Dick with the utmost gravity. "These old Indian women adopt children sometimes, or perhaps shewill want to marry you. In fact, I think the latter is morelikely, and you can't help yourself. "

"Don't, Dick, don't!" said Albert imploringly. "I am willing topay a high price for hospitality, but not that. "

The women withdrew, and after a while, when the boys felt fullyrested, they stepped outside the lodge, to find two tall youngSioux warriors on guard. Dick looked at them inquiringly, andone of them said in fair English:

"I am Lone Wolf, and this is Tall Pine. You can go in thevillage, but we go with you. Bright Sun has said so, and weobey. "

"All right, Mr. Lone Wolf, " said Dick cheerfully. "Four arecompany, two are none. We couldn't escape if we tried; butBright Sun says that you and your friend Mr. Pine Tree are to beour comrades on our travels, well and good. I don't know anyother couple in this camp that I'd choose before you two. "

Lone Wolf and Pine Tree were young, and maybe their youth causedthem to smile slightly at Dick's pleasantry. Nor did they annoythe boys with excessive vigilance, and they answered manyquestions. It was, indeed, they said, the greatest village inthe West that was now gathered on the banks of the Little BigHorn. Sioux from all tribes had come including those onreservations. All the clans of the Mendewahkantons, forinstance, were represented on the reservations, but all of themwere represented here, too. 

It was a great war that was now going on, they said, and they hadtaken many white scalps, but they intimated that those they hadtaken were few in comparison with the number they would take. Dick asked them of their present purpose, but here they grewwary. The white soldiers might be near or they might be far, butthe god of the Sioux was Wakantaka, the good spirit, and the godof the white man was Wakansica, the bad spirit. 

Dick did not consider it worth while to argue with them. Indeed, he was in no position to do so. The history of the world in thelast two years was a blank to him and Albert. But he observedthroughout the vast encampment the same air of expectancy andexcitement that had been noticeable in the smaller village. Healso saw a group of warriors arrive, their ponies loaded withrepeating rifles, carbines and revolvers. He surmised that theyhad been obtained from French-Canadian traders, and he knew wellfor what they were meant. Once again he made his silent prayerthat if the white soldiers came they could come in great force. 

Dick observed in the huge village all the signs of an abundantand easy life, according to Sioux standards. Throughout itsconfines kettles gave forth the odors pleasing to an Indian'snostrils. Boys broiled strips of venison on twigs before thefires. Squaws were jerking buffalo and deer meat in a hundredplaces, and strings of fish ready for the cooking hung before thelodges. Plenty showed everywhere. 

Dick understood that if one were really a wild man, with allinstincts of a wild man inherited through untold centuries ofwild life, he could find no more pleasing sight than this greatencampment abounding in the good things for wild men that theplains, hills, and water furnished. He saw it readily from thepoint of view of the Sioux and could appreciate their confidence. 

Albert, who was a little ahead of Dick, peered between twolodges, and suddenly turned away with a ghastly face. 

"What's the trouble, Al?" asked Dick. 

"I saw a warrior passing on the other side of those lodges, "replied Albert, "and he had something at his belt--the yellowhair of a white man, and there was blood on it. "

"We have taken many scalps already, " interrupted the young Sioux, Lone Wolf, some pride showing in his tone. 

Both Dick and Albert shuddered and were silent. The gulf betweenthese men and themselves widened again into quite a sea. Theirthoughts could not touch those of the Sioux at any point. 

"I think we'd better go back to our own lodge, " said Dick. 

"No, " said Lone Wolf. "The great chief, Bright Sun, hascommanded us when we return to bring you into his presence, andit is time for us to go to him. "

"What does he want with us?" asked Albert. 

"He knows, but I do not, " replied Lone Wolf sententiously. 

"Lead on, " said Dick lightly. "Here, we go wherever we areinvited. "

They walked back a full mile, and Lone Wolf and Pine Tree led theway to a great lodge, evidently one used by the Akitcita, although Dick judged that in so great a village as this, whichwas certainly a fusion of many villages, there must be at least adozen lodges of the Akitcita. 

Lone Wolf and Pine Tree showed Dick and Albert into the door, butthey themselves remained outside. The two boys paused justinside the door until their eyes became used to the half gloom ofthe place. Before them stood a dozen men, all great chiefs, andin the center was Bright Sun, the dominating presence. 

Despite their natural courage and hardihood and the wild life towhich they had grown used, Dick and Albert were somewhat awedby the appearance of these men, every one of whom was of sternpresence, looking every inch a warrior. They had discarded thelast particle of white man's attire, keeping only the white man'sweapons, the repeating rifle and revolver. Every one wore, moreor less loosely folded about him, a robe of the buffalo, and inall cases the inner side of this robe was painted throughout inthe most vivid manner with scenes from the hunt or warpath, chiefly those that had occurred in the life of the wearer. Manycolors were used in these paintings, but mostly those of cardinaldyes, red and blue being favorites. 

"These, " said Bright Sun, speaking more directly to Dick, "are mighty chiefs of the Sioux Nation. This is Ta Sun KeKa-Kipapi-Hok'silan (Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses). "

He nodded toward a tall warrior, who made a slight and graveinclination. 

"I'd cut out at least half of that name, " said Dick under hisbreath. 

"And this, " continued Bright Sun in his measured, preciseEnglish, "is Ite-Mogu'Ju (Rain-in-the-Face), and this Kun-Sun'ka(Crow Dog), and this Pizi (Gall), and this Peji (Grass)". 

Thus he continued introducing them, giving to every one his longIndian appellation until all were named. The famous Sitting Bull(Tatanka Yotanka) was not present. Dick learned afterwards thathe was at that very moment in his own tepee making medicine. 

"What we wish to know, " said Bright Sun--"and we have ways tomake you tell us--is whether you saw the white troops before wetook you?"

Dick shivered a little. He knew what Bright Sun meant by thephrase "we have ways to make you tell, " and he knew also thatBright Sun would be merciless if mercy stood in the way ofgetting what he wished. No shred of the white man's training wasnow left about the Indian chief save the white man's speech. 

"I have not seen a white man in two years, " replied Dick, "norhas my brother. We told you the truth when you took us. "

Bright Sun was silent for a space, regarding him with black eyesseeking to read every throb of his heart. Dick was conscious, too, that the similar gaze of all the others was upon him. Buthe did not flinch. Why should he? He had told the truth. 

"Then I ask you again, " said Bright Sun, "where have you been allthis time?"

"I cannot tell you, " replied Dick. "It is a place that we wishto keep secret. It is hidden far from here. But it is one towhich no one else goes. I can say that much. "

Rain-in-the-Face made an impatient movement, and said somewords in the Sioux tongue. Dick feared it was a suggestionthat he be put to the torture, and he was glad when Bright Sunshook his head. 

"There are such places, " said Bright Sun, "because the mountainsare high and vast and but few people travel among them. It maybe that he tells the truth. "

"It is the truth. I swear it!" said Dick earnestly. 

"Then why do you refuse to tell of this place?" asked Bright Sun. 

"Because we wish to keep it for ourselves, " replied Dick frankly. 

The faintest trace of a smile was visible in Bright Sun's eyes. 

"Wherever it may be it belongs to us, " said the chief; "but Ibelieve that you are telling the truth. Nor do I hesitate totell you that we have asked these questions because we wish tolearn all that we can. The soldiers of your people are advancingunder the yellow-haired general, Custer, Terry, Gibbon, andothers. They come in great force, but the Sioux, in greaterforce and more cunning will destroy them. "

Dick was silent. He knew too little to make any reply to thestatements of Bright Sun. Rain-in-the-Face and Crazy Horse spoketo Bright Sun, and they seemed to be urging something. But thechief again shook his head, and they, too, became silent. It wasobvious to both boys that his influence was enormous. 

"You can go, " he said to Dick and Albert, and they gladly leftthe lodge. Outside, Lone Wolf and Pine Tree fell in on eitherside of them and escorted them to their own tepee, in front ofwhich they stood guard while the boys slept that night. 

Chapter XVIIThe Great Sun Dance

Dick and Albert remained in their tepee throughout the nextmorning, but in the afternoon they were allowed to go in thevillage a second time. Lone Wolf and Pine Tree, who had slept inthe morning, were again their guards. Both saw at once that somegreat event was at hand. The excitement in the village hadincreased visibly, and a multitude was pouring toward a certainpoint, a wide, grassy plain beside the Little Big Horn. LoneWolf and Pine Tree willingly took the captives with the crowd, and the two boys looked upon a sight which few white men havebeheld in all its savage convulsions. 

The wide, grassy space before them had been carefully chosen bythe great medicine men of the nation, Sitting Bull at their head. Then the squaws had put up a great circular awning, like acircus tent, with part of the top cut out. This awning was overone hundred and fifty feet in diameter. After this, the medicinemen had selected a small tree, which was cut down by a young, unmarried squaw. Then the tree, after it had been trimmed of allits branches and consecrated and prayed over by the medicine men, was erected in the center of the inclosed space, rising from theground to a height of about twenty feet. 

To the top of the pole were fastened many long thongs of rawhidereaching nearly to the ground, and as Dick and Albert looked aswarm of young men in strange array, or rather lack of array, came forth from among the lodges and entered the inclosed space. Dick had some dim perception of what was about to occur, butLone Wolf informed him definitely. 

"The sun dance, " he said. "Many youths are about to become greatwarriors. "

The greatest of sun dances, a sun dance of the mighty alliedSioux tribes, was about to begin. Forward went the neophytes, every one clad only in a breechclout ornamented with beads, colored horsehair and eagle feathers, and with horse tailsattached to it, falling to the ground. But every square inch ofthe neophyte's skin was painted in vivid and fantastic colors. Even the nails on his fingers and toes were painted. Moreover, everyone had pushed two small sticks of tough wood under the skinon each side of the breast, and to those two sticks was fasteneda rawhide cord, making a loop about ten inches long. 

"What under the sun are those sticks and cords for?" askedAlbert, shuddering. 

"Wait and we'll see, " replied Dick, who guessed too well theirpurpose, although he could not help but look. 

The neophytes advanced, and every one tied one of the longrawhide thongs depending from the top of the pole to the loop ofcord that hung from his breast. When all were ready they formeda great circle, somewhat after the fashion of the dancers arounda Maypole, and outside of those formed another and greater circleof those already initiated. 

A medicine man began to blow a small whistle made from the wingbone of an eagle, the sacred bird of the Sioux, and he neverstopped blowing it for an instant. It gave forth a shrill, penetrating sound, that began after a while to work upon thenerves in a way that was almost unendurable to Dick and Albert. 

At the first sound of the whistle the warriors began to dancearound the pole, keeping time to the weird music. It was ahideous and frightful dance, like some cruel rite of a far-offtime. The object was to tear the peg from the body, breaking byviolence through the skin and flesh that held it, and this provedthat the neophyte by his endurance of excessive pain was fit tobecome a great warrior. 

But the pegs held fast for a long time, while the terrible, wailing cry of the whistle went on and on. Dick and Albertwanted to turn away--in fact, they had a violent impulse morethan once to run from it--but the eyes of the Sioux were uponthem, and they knew that they would consider them cowards if theycould not bear to look upon that which others no older thanthemselves endured. There was also the incessant, terriblewailing of the whistle, which seemed to charm them and hold them. 

The youths by and by began to pull loose from the thongs, and insome cases where it was evident that they would not be able to doso a medicine man would seize them by the shoulders and helppull. In no case did a dancer give up, although they often fellin a faint when loosed. Then they were carried away to berevived, but for three days and three nights not a singleneophyte could touch food, water, or any other kind of drink. They were also compelled, as soon as they recovered a measurabledegree of strength, to join the larger group and dance three daysand nights around the neophytes, who successively took theirplaces. 

The whole sight, with the wailing of the whistle, the shouts ofthe dancers, the beat of their feet, and the hard, excitedbreathing of the thousands about them, became weird anduncanny. Dick felt as if some strange, deadly odor had mountedto his brain, and while he struggled between going and staying anew shout arose. 

A fresh group of neophytes sprang into the inclosed place. Everyone of these had the little sticks thrust through the upper pointof the shoulder blade instead of the breast, while from the loopdangled a buffalo head. They danced violently until the weightof the head pulled the sticks loose, and then, like theirbrethren of the pole, joined the great ring of outside dancerswhen they were able. 

The crowd of neophytes increased, as they gave way in turn to oneanother, and the thong about them thickened. Hundreds andhundreds of dancers whirled and jumped to the shrill, incessantblowing of the eagle-bone whistle. It seemed at times to theexcited imaginations of Dick and Albert that the earth rocked tothe mighty tread of the greatest of all sun dances. Indianstoicism was gone, perspiration streamed from dark faces, eyesbecame bloodshot as their owners danced with feverish vigor, savage shouts burst forth, and the demon dance grew wilder andwilder. 

The tread of thousands of feet caused a fine, impalpable dust torise from the earth beneath the grass and to permeate all theair, filling the eyes and nostrils of the dancers, heating theirbrains and causing them to see through a red mist. Some fellexhausted. If they were in the way, they were dragged to oneside; if not, they lay where they fell, but in either case otherstook their places and the whirling multitude always increased innumbers. 

As far as Dick and Albert could see the Sioux were dancing. There was a sea of tossing heads and a multitude of brown bodiesshining with perspiration. Never for a moment did the shrill, monotonous, unceasing rhythm of the whistle cease to dominate thedance. It always rose above the beat of the dancers, itpenetrated everything, ruled everything--this single, shrillnote, like the chant of a snake charmer. It even showed itspower over Dick and Albert. They felt their nerves throbbing toit in an unwilling response, and the dust and the vivid electricexcitement of the dancers began to heat their own brains. 

"Don't forget that we're white, Al! Don't forget it!" criedDick. 

"I'm trying not to forget it!" gasped Albert. 

The sun, a lurid, red sun, went down behind the hills, and atwilight that seemed to Dick and Albert phantasmagorial and shotwith red crept over the earth. But the dance did not abate ineither vigor or excitement; rather it increased. In the twilightand the darkness that followed it assumed new aspects of theweird and uncanny. Despite the torches that flared up, thedarkness was mainly in control. Now the dancers, whirling aboutthe pole and straining on the cords, were seen plainly, and nowthey were only shadows, phantoms in the dusk. 

Dick and Albert had moved but little for a long time; the wailingof the demon whistle held them; and they felt that there was asingular attraction, too, in this sight, which was barbarism andsuperstition pure and simple, yet not without its power. Theywere still standing there when the moon came out, throwing a veilof silver gauze over the dancers, the lodges, the surface of theriver, and the hills, but it took nothing away from the ferociousaspect of the dance; it was still savagery, the custom of aremote, fierce, old world. Dick and Albert at last recoveredsomewhat; they threw off the power of the flute and the excitedair that they breathed and began to assume again the position ofmere spectators. 

It was then that Bright Sun came upon them, and they noticed withastonishment that he, the product of the white schools and ofyears of white civilization, had been dancing, too. There wasperspiration on his face, his breath was short and quick, and hiseyes were red with excitement. He marked their surprise, andsaid:

"You think it strange that I, too, dance. You think all thisbarbarism and superstition, but it is not. It is the custom ofmy people, a custom that has the sanction of many centuries, andthat is bred into our bone and blood. Therefore it is of use tous, and it is more fit than anything else to arouse us for thegreat crisis that we are to meet. "

Neither Dick nor Albert made any reply. Both saw that the greatdeep of the Sioux chief's stoicism was for the moment broken up. He might never be so stirred again, but there was no doubt of itnow, and they could see his side of it, too. It was his peopleand their customs against the white man, the stranger. Theblood of a thousand years was speaking in him. 

When he saw that they had no answer for him, Bright Sun left themand became engrossed once more with the dance, continually urgingit forward, bringing on more neophytes, and increasing theexcitement. Dick and Albert remained a while longer, lookingon. Their guards, Lone Wolf and Pine Tree, still stood besidethem. The two young warriors, true to their orders, had made noeffort to join the dancers, but their nostrils were twitching andtheir eyes bloodshot. The revel called to them incessantly, butthey could not go. 

Dick felt at last that he had seen enough of so wild a scene. One could not longer endure the surcharged air, the wailing ofthe whistle, the shouts, the chants, and the beat of thousands offeet. 

"Al, " he said, "let's go back to our lodge, if our guards willlet us, and try to sleep. "

"The sooner the better, " said Albert. 

Lone Wolf and Pine Tree were willing enough, and Dick suspectedthat they would join the dance later. After Albert had gone in, he stood a moment at the door of the lodge and looked again uponthis, the wildest and most extraordinary scene that he had yetbeheld. It was late in the night and the center of the sun dancewas some distance from the lodge, but the shrill wailing of thewhistle still reached him and the heavy tread of the dancers camein monotonous rhythm. "It's the greatest of all nightmares, " hesaid to himself. 

It was a long time before either Dick or Albert could sleep, andwhen Dick awoke at some vague hour between midnight andmorning he was troubled by a shrill, wailing note that the drum ofhis ear. Then he remembered. The whistle! And after it came therhythmic, monotonous beat of many feet, as steady and persistent asever. The sun dance had never ceased for a moment, and he fellasleep again with the sounds of it still in his ear. 

The dance, which was begun at the ripening of the wild sage, continued three days and nights without the stop of an instant. No food and no drink passed the lips of the neophytes, who dancedthroughout that time--if they fell they rose to dance again. Then at the appointed hour it all ceased, although everywarrior's brain was at white heat and he was ready to go forth atonce against a myriad enemies. It was as if everyone had drunkof some powerful and exciting Eastern drug. 

The dance ended, they began to eat, and neither Dick nor Alberthad ever before seen such eating. The cooking fires of thesquaws rose throughout the entire five miles of the village. They had buffalo, deer, bear, antelope, and smaller game inabundance, and the warriors ate until they fell upon the ground, where the lay in a long stupor. The boys thought that many ofthem would surely die, but they came from their stupor unharmedand were ready for instant battle. There were many new warriors, too, because none had failed at the test, and all were eager toshow their valor. 

"It's like baiting a wild beast, " said Dick. "There are fivethousand ravening savages here, ready to fight anything, andto-night I'm going to try to escape. "

"If you try, I try, too, " said Albert. 

"Of course, " said Dick. 

The village was resting from its emotional orgy, and the guardupon the two boys was relaxed somewhat. In fact, it seemedwholly unnecessary, as they were rimmed around by the vigilanceof many thousand eyes. But, spurred by the cruel need, Dickresolved that they should try. Fortunately, the very next nightwas quite dark, and only a single Indian, Pine Tree, was onguard. 

"It's to-night or never, " whispered Dick to Albert within theshelter of the lodge. "They've never taken the trouble to bindus, and that gives us at least a fighting chance. "

"When shall we slip out?"

"Not before about three in the morning. That is the most nearlysilent hour, and if the heathenish curs let us alone we may getaway. "

Fortune seemed to favor the two. The moon did not come out, and the promise of a dark night was fulfilled. An unusualstillness was over the village. It seemed that everybody slept. Dick and Albert waited through long, long hours. Dick hadnothing by which to reckon time, but he believed that he couldcalculate fairly well by guess, and once, when he thought it wasfully midnight, he peeped out at the door of the lodge. PineTree was there, leasing against a sapling, but his attitudeshowed laziness and a lack of vigilance. It might be that, feeling little need of watching, he slept on his feet. Dickdevoutly hoped so. He waited at least two hours longer, andagain peeped out. The attitude of Pine Tree had not changed. It must certainly be sleep that held him, and Dick and Albertprepared to go forth. They had no arms, and could trust onlyto silence and speed. 

Dick was the first outside, and stood in the shadow of the lodgeuntil Albert joined him. There they paused to choose a way amongthe lodges and to make a further inspection of sleepingPine Tree. 

The quiet of the village was not broken. The lodges stretchedaway in dusky rows and then were lost in darkness. This promisedwell, and their eyes came back to Pine Tree, who was stillsleeping. Then Dick became conscious of a beam of light, orrather two beams. These beams shot straight from the open eyesof Pine Tree, who was not asleep at all. The next instant PineTree opened his mouth, uttered a yell that was amazingly loud andpiercing, and leaped straight for the two boys. 

As neither Dick nor Albert had arms, they could do nothing butrun, and they fled between the lodges at great speed, Pine Treehot upon their heels. It amazed Dick to find that the wholepopulation of a big town could awake so quickly. Warriors, squaws, and children swarmed from the lodges and fell upon himand Albert in a mass. He could only see in the darkness thatAlbert had been seized and dragged away, but he knew that twouncommonly strong old squaws had him by the hair, threehalf-grown boys were clinging to his legs, and a powerfulwarrior laid hold of his right shoulder. He deemed it wisestin such a position to yield as quickly and gracefully as he could, in the hope that the two wiry old women would be detachedspeedily from his hair. This object was achieved as soon as theSioux saw that he did not resist, and the vigilant Pine Tree stoodbefore him, watching with an expression that Dick feared could becalled a grin. 

"The honors are yours, " said Dick as politely as he could, "buttell me what has become of my brother. "

"He is being taken to the other side of the river, " said thevoice of Bright Sun over Pine Tree's shoulder, "and he and youwill be kept apart until we decide what to do with you. It wasfoolish in you to attempt to escape. I had warned you. "

"I admit it, " said Dick, "but you in my place would have done thesame. Once can only try. "

He tried to speak with philosophy, but he was sorely troubledover being separated from his brother. Their comradeship incaptivity had been a support to each other. 

There was no sympathy in the voice of Bright Sun. He spokecoldly, sternly, like a great war chief. Dick understood, andwas too proud to make any appeal. Bright Sun said a few words tothe warriors, and walked away. 

Dick was taken to another and larger lodge, in which severalwarriors slept. There, after his arms were securely bound, hewas allowed to lie down on a rush mat, with warriors on rush matson either side of him. Dick was not certain whether the warriorsslept, but he knew that he did not close his eyes again thatnight. 

Although strong and courageous, Dick Howard suffered muchmental torture. Bright Sun was a Sioux, wholly an Indian(he had seen that at the sun dance), and if Albert and he wereno longer of any possible use as hostages, Bright Sun would nottrouble himself to protect them. He deeply regretted their wildattempt at escape, which he had felt from the first was almosthopeless. Yet he believed, on second thought, that they had beenjustified in making the trial. The great sun dance, the immensegathering of warriors keyed for battle, showed the imminent needfor warning to the white commanders, who would not dream thatthe Sioux were in such mighty force. Between this anxiety andthat other one for Albert, thinking little of himself meanwhile, Dick writhed in his bonds. But he could do nothing else. 

The warriors rose from their rush mats at dawn and ate flesh ofthe buffalo and deer and their favorite wa-nsa. Dick's arms wereunbound, and he, too, was allowed to eat; but he had littleappetite, and when the warriors saw that he had finished theybound him again. 

"What are you going to do to me?" asked Dick in a kind of vaguecuriosity. 

No one gave any answer. They did not seem to hear him. Dickfancied that some of them understood English, but chose to leavehim in ignorance. He resolved to imitate their own stoicism andwait. When they bound his arms again, and his feet also, he madeno resistance, but lay down quietly on the rush mat and gazedwith an air of indifference at the skin wall of the lodge. Allwarriors went out, except one, who sat in the doorway with hisrifle on his knee. 

"They flatter me, " thought Dick. "They must think me of someimportance or that I'm dangerous, since they bind and guard me sowell. "

His thongs of soft deerskin, while secure, were not galling. They neither chafed nor prevented the circulation, and when hegrew tired of lying in one position he could turn into another. But it was terribly hard waiting. He did not know what wasbefore him. Torture or death? Both, most likely. He tried tobe resigned, but how could one be resigned when one was so youngand so strong? The hum of the village life came to him, thesound of voices, the tread of feet, the twang of a boyishbowstring, but the guard in the doorway never stirred. It seemedto Dick that the Sioux, who wore very little clothing, was carvedout of reddish-brown stone. Dick wondered if he would ever move, and lying on his back he managed to raise his head a little onthe doubled corner of the rush mat, and watch that he might see. 

Bound, helpless, and shut off from the rest of the world, thisquestion suddenly became vital to him: Would that Indian evermove, or would he not? He must have been sitting in thatposition at least two hours. Always he stared straight beforehim, the muscles on his bare arms never quivered in theslightest, and the rifle lay immovable across knees which alsowere bare. How could he do it? How could he have such controlover his nerves and body? Dick's mind slowly filled with wonder, and then he began to have a suspicion that the Sioux wasnot real, merely some phantom of the fancy, or that he himselfwas dreaming. It made him angry--angry at himself, angry atthe Sioux, angry at everything. He closed his eyes, held themtightly shut for five minutes, and then opened them again. TheSioux was still there. Dick was about to break through hisassumed stoicism and shout at the warrior, but he checkedhimself, and with a great effort took control again of hiswandering nerves. 

He knew now that the warrior was real, and that he must havemoved some time or other, but he did not find rest of spirit. Ashaft of sunshine by and by entered the narrow door of the lodgeand fell across Dick himself. He knew that it must be a fairday, but he was sorry for it. The sun ought not to shine when hewas at such a pass. 

Another interminable period passed, and an old squaw entered witha bowl of wa-nsa, and behind her came Lone Wolf, who unboundDick. 

"What's up now, Mr. Lone Wolf?" asked Dick with an attempt atlevity. "Is it a fight or a foot race?"

"Eat, " replied Lone Wolf sententiously, pointing of the bowlwa-nsa. "You will need your strength. "

Dick's heart fell at these words despite all his self-command. "My time's come, " he thought. He tried to eat--in fact, heforced himself to eat--that Lone Wolf might not think that hequailed, and when he had eaten as much as his honor seemed todemand he stretched his muscles and said to Lone Wolf, with agood attempt at indifference:

"Lead on, my wolfish friend. I don't know what kind of a welcomemine is going to be, but I suppose it is just as well to find outnow. "

The face of Lone Wolf did not relax. He seemed to have a fullappreciation of what was to come and no time for idle jests. Hemerely pointed to the doorway, and Dick stepped into thesunshine. Lying so long in the dusky lodge, he was dazzled atfirst by the brilliancy of the day, but when his sight grewstronger he beheld a multitude about him. The women andchildren began to chatter, but the warriors were silent. Dicksaw that he was the center of interest, and was quite sure that hewas looking upon his last sun. "O Lord, let me die bravely!" washis silent prayer. 

He resolved to imitate as nearly as he could the bearing of anIndian warrior in his position, and made no resistance as LoneWolf led him on, with the great thong following. He glancedaround once for Bright Sun, but did not see him. The fiercechief whom they called Ite-Moga' Ju (Rain-in-the-Face) seemed tobe in charge of Dick's fate, and he directed the proceedings. 

But stoicism could not prevail entirely, and Dick looked abouthim again. He saw the yellow waters of the river with thesunlight playing upon them; the great village stretching away oneither shore until it was hidden by the trees and undergrowth;the pleasant hills and all the pleasant world, so hard to leave. His eyes dwelt particularly upon the hill, a high one, overlookingthe whole valley of the Little Big Horn, and the light was so clearthat he could see every bush and shrub waving there. 

His eyes came back from the hill to the throng about him. He hadfelt at times a sympathy for the Sioux because the white man waspressing upon them, driving them from their ancient huntinggrounds that they loved; but they were now wholly savage andcruel--men, women, and children alike. He hated them all. 

Dick was taken to the summit of one of the lower hills, on whichhe could be seen by everybody and from which he could see in avast circle. He was tied in a peculiar manner. His handsremained bound behind him, but his feet were free. One end of astout rawhide was secured around his waist and the other around asapling, leaving him a play of about a half yard. He could notdivine the purpose of this, but he was soon to learn. 

Six half-grown boys, with bows and arrows, then seldom used bygrown Sioux, formed a line at a little distance from him, and ata word from Rain-in-the-Face leveled their bows and fitted arrowto the string. Dick thought at first they were going to slay himat once, but he remembered that the Indian did not do things thatway. He knew it was some kind of torture and although heshivered he steadied his mind to face it. 

Rain-in-the-Face spoke again, and six bowstrings twanged. Sixarrows whizzed by Dick, three on one side and three on the other, but all so close that, despite every effort of will, he shrankback against the sapling. A roar of laughter came from thecrowd, and Dick flushed through all the tan of two years in theopen air. Now he understood why the rawhide allowed him somuch play. It was a torture of the nerves and of the mind. They would shoot their arrows by him, graze him perhaps if hestood steady, but if he sought to evade through fear, if hesprang either to one side or the other, they might strike ina vital spot. 

He summoned up the last ounce of his courage, put his backagainst the sapling and resolved that he would not move, even ifan arrow carried some of his skin with it. The bowstringstwanged again, and again six arrows whistled by. Dick quivered, but he did not move, and some applause came from the crowd. Although it was the applause of enemies, of barbarians, whowished to see him suffer, it encouraged Dick. He would endureeverything and he would not look at these cruel faces; so hefixed his eyes on the high hill and did not look away when thebowstrings twanged a third time. As before, he heard the arrowswhistle by him, and the shiver came into his blood, but his willdid not let it extend to his body. He kept his eyes fixed uponthe hill, and suddenly a speck appeared before them. No, it wasnot a speck, and, incredible as it seemed, Dick was sure that hesaw a horseman come around the base of the hill and stop there, gazing into the valley upon the great village and the peoplethronging about the bound boy. 

A second and third horseman appeared, and Dick could doubt nolonger. They were white cavalrymen in the army uniform, scoutsor the vanguard, he knew not what. Dick held his breath, andagain that shiver came into his blood. Then he heard and saw anextraordinary thing. A singular deep, long-drawn cry came fromthe multitude in unison, a note of surprise and mingled threat. Then all whirled about at the same moment and gazed at thehorsemen at the base of the hill. 

The cavalrymen quickly turned back, rode around the hill and outof sight. Dozens of warriors rushed forward, hundreds ran to thelodges for more weapons and ammunition, the women poured in astream down toward the river and away, the boys with the bows andarrows disappeared, and in a few minutes Dick was left alone. 

Unnoticed, but bound and helpless, the boy stood there on thelittle hill, while the feverish life, bursting now into aturbulent stream, whirled and eddied around him. 

Chapter XVIIIThe Circle of Death

The quiver in Dick's blood did not cease now. He forgot for thetime being that he was bound, and stood there staring at the hillwhere three horsemen had been for a few vivid moments. These menmust be proof that a white army was near; but would this armyknow what an immense Sioux force was waiting for it in the valleyof the Little Big Horn?

He tried to take his eyes away from the hill, but he could not. He seemed to know every tree and shrub on it. There at the base, in that slight depression, the three horsemen had stood, but nonecame to take their place. In the Indian village an immenseactivity was going on, both on Dick's side of the river and theother. A multitude of warriors plunged into the undergrowth onthe far bank of the stream, where they lay hidden, while anothermultitude was gathering on this side in front of the lodges. Thegullies and ravines were lined with hordes. The time was abouttwo in the afternoon. 

A chief appeared on the slope not far from Dick. It was BrightSun in all the glory of battle array, and he glanced at thetethered youth. Dick's glance met his, and he saw the shadow ofa faint, superior smile on the face of the chief. Bright Sun startedto say something to a warrior, but checked himself. He seemed tothink that Dick was secured well enough, and he did not look at himagain. Instead, he gazed at the base of the hill where the horsemenhad been, and while he stood there he was joined by the chiefsRain-in-the-Face and Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses. 

Dick never knew how long a time passed while they all waited. The rattle of arms, the shouts, and the tread of feet in thevillage ceased. There was an intense, ominous silence brokenonly, whether in fact or fancy Dick could not tell, by the heavybreathing of thousands. The sun came out more brightly andpoured its light over the town and the river, but it did notreveal the army of the Sioux swallowed up in the undergrowth onthe far bank. So well were they hidden that their arms gave backno gleam. 

Dick forgot where he was, forgot that he was bound, so tense werethe moments and so eagerly did he watch the base of the hill. When a long time--at least, Dick thought it so--had passed, amurmur came from the village below. The men were but scoutsand had gone away, and no white army was near. That was Dick'sown thought, too. 

As the murmur sank, Dick suddenly straightened up. The blackspeck appeared again before his eyes. New horsemen stood wherethe three had been, and behind them was a moving mass, black inthe sun. The white army had come!

Bright Sun suddenly turned upon Dick a glance so full ofmalignant triumph that the boy shuddered. Then, clear and fullover the valley rose the battle cry of the trumpets, a joyousinspiring sound calling men on to glory or death. Out from thehill came the moving mass of white horsemen, rank after rank, andDick saw one in front, a man with long yellow hair, snatch offhis hat, wave it around his head, and come on at a gallop. Behind him thundered the whole army, stirrup to stirrup. 

Bright Sun, Rain-in-the-Face, and Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horsesdarted away, and then Dick thought of the freedom that he wantedso much. They were his people coming so gallantly down thevalley, and he should be there. He pulled at the rawhide, but itwould not break; he tried to slip his wrists loose, but theywould not come; and, although unnoticed now, he was compelledto stand there, still a prisoner, and merely see. 

The horsemen came on swiftly, a splendid force ridingwell--trained soldiers, compact of body and ready of hand. Theslope thundered with their hoofbeats as they came straight towardthe river. Dick drew one long, deep breath of admiration, andthen a terrible fear assailed him. Did these men who rode so wellknow unto what they were riding?

The stillness prevailed yet a little longer in the Indianvillage. The women and children were again running up the river, but they were too far away for Dick to hear them, and he waswatching his own army. Straight on toward the river rode thehorsemen, with the yellow-haired general at their head, stillwaving his hat. Strong and mellow, the song of the trumpet againsang over the valley, but the terrible fear at Dick's heard grew. 

It was obvious to the boy that the army of Custer intended tocross the river, here not more than two feet deep, but on theirflank was the deadly quicksand and on the opposite shore facingthem the hidden warriors lay in the hundreds. Dick pulled againat his bonds and began to shout: "Not there! Not there! Turnaway!" But his voice was lost in the pealing of the trumpets andthe hoof beats of many horses. 

They were nearing the river and the warriors were swarming ontheir flank, still held in leash by Bright Sun, while the greatmedicine man, Sitting Bull, the sweat pouring from his face, wasmaking the most powerful medicine of his life. Nearer and nearerthey rode, the undergrowth still waving gently and harmlessly inthe light wind. 

Dick stopped shouting. All at once he was conscious of itsfutility. Nobody heard him. Nobody heeded him. He was only anunnoticed spectator of a great event. He stood still now, backto the tree, gazing toward the river and the advancing force. Something wet dropped into his eye and he winked it away. It wasthe sweat from his own brow. 

The mellow notes of the trumpet sang once more, echoing far overthe valley, and the hoofs beat with rhythmic tread. The splendidarray of blue-clad men was still unbroken. They still rode heelto heel and toe to toe, and across the river the denseundergrowth moved a little in the gentle wind, but disclosednothing. 

A few yards more and they would be at the water. Then Dick saw along line of flame burst from the bushes, so vivid, so intensethat it was like a blazing bar of lightening, and a thousandrifles seemed to crash as one. Hard on the echo of the greatvolley came the fierce war cry of the ambushed Sioux, taken up inturn by the larger force on the flank and swelled by themultitude of women and children farther back. It was to Dicklike the howl of wolves about to leap on their prey, but manytimes stronger and fiercer. 

The white army shivered under the impact of the blow, when athousand unexpected bullets were sent into its ranks. All thefront line was blown away, the men were shot from their saddles, and many of the horses went down with them. Others, riderless, galloped about screaming with pain and fright. 

Although the little army shivered and reeled for a moment, itclosed up again and went on toward the water. Once more thedeadly rifle fire burst from the undergrowth, not a single volleynow, but continuous, rising and falling a little perhaps, butalways heavy, filling the air with singing metal and litteringthe ground with the wounded and the dead. The far side of theriver was a sheet of fire, and in the red blaze the Sioux couldbe seen plainly springing about in the undergrowth. 

The cavalrymen began to fire also, sending their bullets acrossthe river as fast as they could pull the trigger, but they wereattacked on the flank, too, by the vast horde of warriors, directed by the bravest of the Sioux chiefs, the famous Pizi(Gall), one of the most skillful and daring fighters the red raceever produced, a man of uncommon appearance, of great height, and with the legendary head of a Caesar. He now led on thehorde with voice and gesture, and hurled it against Custer'sforce, which was reeling again under the deadly fire from theother shore of the Little Big Horn. 

The shouting of the warriors and of the thousands of womenand children who watched the battle was soon lost to Dickin the steady crash of the rifle fire which filled the wholevalley--sharp, incessant, like the drum of thunder in the ear. A great cloud of smoke arose and drifted over the combatants, white and red, but this smoke was pierced by innumerable flashesof fire as the red swarms pressed closer and the white replied. 

Some flaw in the wind lifted the smoke and sent it high over theheads of all. Dick saw Custer, the general with the yellow hair, still on horseback and apparently unwounded, but the little armyhad stopped. It had been riddled already by the rifle fire fromthe undergrowth and could not cross the river. The dead andwounded on the ground had increased greatly in numbers, and theriderless horses galloped everywhere. Some of them rushedblindly into the Indian ranks, where they were seized. 

Three or four troopers had fallen or plunged into the terriblequicksand on the other flank, and as Dick looked they were slowlyswallowed up. He shut his eyes, unable to bear the sight, andwhen he opened them he did not see the men any more. 

The smoke flowed in again and then was driven away once more. Dick saw that all of Custer's front ranks were now dismounted, and were replying to the fire from the other side of the river. Undaunted by the terrible trap into which they had ridden theycame so near to the bank that many of them were slain there, andtheir bodies fell into the water, where they floated. 

Dick saw the yellow-haired leader wave his hat again, and thefront troopers turned back from the bank. The whole force turnedwith them. All who yet lived or could ride now sprang from theirhorses, firing at the same time into the horde about them. Theirranks were terribly thinned, but they still formed a compactbody, despite the rearing and kicking of the horses, many ofwhich were wounded also. 

Dick was soldier enough to know what they wished to do. Theywere trying to reach the higher ground, the hills, where theycould make a better defense, and he prayed mutely that they mightdo it. 

The Sioux saw, too, what was intended, and they gave forth a yellso full of ferocity and exultation that Dick shuddered from headto foot. The yell was taken up by the fierce squaws and boys whohovered in the rear, until it echoed far up and down the banks ofthe Little Big Horn. 

The white force, still presenting a steady front and firing fast, made way. The warriors between them and the hill which theyseemed to be seeking were driven back, but the attack on theirrear, and now on both flanks, grew heavier and almost unbearable. The outer rim of Custer's army was continually being cut off, and when new men took the places of the others they, too, wereshot down. His numbers and the space on which they stood werereduced steadily, yet they did not cease to go on, although thepace became slower. It was like a wounded beast creeping alongand fighting with tooth and claw, while the hunters swarmedabout him in numbers always increasing. 

Custer bore diagonally to the left, going, in the main, downstream, but a fresh force was now thrown against him. Thegreat body of warriors who had been hidden in the undergrowth onthe other side of the Little Big Horn crossed the stream when hefell back and flung themselves upon his flank and front. He wascompelled now to stop, although he had not gone more than fourhundred yards, and Dick, from his hill, saw the actions of thetroops. 

They stood there for perhaps five minutes firing into the Sioux, who were now on every side. They formed a kind of hollow squarewith some of the men in the center holding the horses, which werekicking and struggling and adding to the terrible confusion. Theleader with the yellow hair was yet alive. Dick saw him plainly, and knew by his gestures that he was still cheering on his men. 

A movement now took place. Dick saw the white force divided. Aportion of it deployed in a circular manner to the left, and theremainder turned in a similar fashion to the right, although theydid not lose touch. The square was now turned into a rude circlewith the horses still in the center. They stood on a low hill, and so far as Dick could see they would not try to go anyfarther. The fire of the defenders had sunk somewhat, but he sawthe men rushing to the horses for the extra ammunition--that waswhy they hung to the horses--and then the fire rose again inintensity and volume. 

Confident in their numbers and the success that they had alreadywon, the Sioux pressed forward from every side in overwhelmingmasses. All the great chiefs led them--Gall, Crazy Horse, Young-Man-Afraid-of-His-Horses, Grass, and the others. BrightSun continually passed like a flame, inciting the hordes torenewed attacks, while the redoubtable Sitting Bull never ceasedto make triumphant medicine. But it was Gall, of the magnificenthead and figure, the very model of a great savage warrior, wholed at the battle front. Reckless of death, but alwaysunwounded, he led the Sioux up to the very muzzles of the whiterifles, and when they were driven back he would lead them upagain. Dick had heard all his life that Indians would not chargewhite troops in the open field, but here they did it, not onetime, but many. 

Dick believed that if he were to die that moment the picture ofthat terrible scene would be found photographed upon hiseyeballs. It had now but little form or feature for him. All hecould see was the ring of his own blue-clad people in the centerand everywhere around them the howling thousands, men mostlynaked to the breechclout, their bodies wet with the sweat oftheir toiling, and their eyes filled with the fury of the savagein victorious battle--details that he could not see, althoughthey were there. Alike over the small circle and the vast oneinclosing it the smoke drifted in great clouds, but beneath itthe field was lit up by the continuous red flash of the rifles. Dick wondered that anybody could live where so many bullets wereflying in the air; yet there was Custer's force, cut down muchmore, but the core of it still alive and fighting, while theSioux were so numerous that they did not miss their own warriorswho had fallen, although there were many. 

The unbroken crash of the rifle fire had gone on so long now thatDick scarcely noticed it, nor did he heed the great howling ofthe squaws farther up the stream. He was held by what his eyessaw, and he did not take them from the field for an instant. Hesaw one charge, a second and third hurled back, and although hewas not conscious of it he shouted aloud in joy. 

"They'll drive them off! They'll drive them off for good!" heexclaimed, although in his heart he never believed it. 

The wind after a while took another change, and the dense cloudsof smoke hung low over the field, hiding for the time the littlewhite army that yet fought. Although Dick could see nothing now, he still gazed into the heart of the smoke bank. He did not knowthen that a second battle was in progress on the other side ofthe town. Custer before advancing had divided his force, givinga little more than half of it to Reno, who, unconscious ofCuster's deadly peril, was now being beaten off. Dick had nothought for anything but Custer, not even of his own fate. Wouldthey drive the Sioux away? He ran his tongue over his parchedlips and tugged at the bonds that held his wrists. 

The wind rose again and blew the smoke to one side. Thebattlefield came back into the light, and Dick saw that the whiteforce still fought. But many of the men were on their knees now, using their revolvers, and Dick feared the terrible event thatreally happened--their ammunition was giving out, and the savagehorde, rimming them on all sides, was very near. 

He did not know how long the battle had lasted, but it seemedmany hours to him. The sun was far down in the west, gilding theplains and hills with tawny gold, but the fire and smoke ofconflict filled the whole valley of the Little Big Horn. "Perhaps night will save those who yet live, " thought Dick. Butthe fire of the savages rose. Fresh ammunition was brought tothem, and after every repulse they returned to the attack, pressing closer at every renewal. 

Dick saw the leader at the edge of the circle almost facing hishill. His hat was gone, and his long yellow hair flew wildly, but he still made gestures to his men and bade them fight on. Then Dick lost him in the turmoil, but he saw some of the horsespull loose from the detaining hands, burst through the circle, and plunge among the Sioux. 

Now came a pause in the firing, a sudden sinking, as if bycommand, and the smoke thinned. The circle which had beensprouting flame on every side also grew silent for a moment, whether because the enemy had ceased or the cartridges were allgone Dick never knew. But it was the silence of only aninstant. There was a tremendous shout, a burst of firing greaterthan any that had gone before, and the whole Sioux horde pouredforward. 

The warriors, charging in irresistible masses from side to side, met in the center, and when the smoke lifted from the last greatstruggle Dick saw only Sioux. 

Of all the gallant little army that had charged into the valleynot a soul was now living, save a Crow Indian scout, who, whenall was lost, let down his hair after the fashion of a Sioux, andescaped in the turmoil as one of their own people. 

Chapter XIXA Happy Meeting

When Dick Howard saw that the raging Sioux covered the field andthat the little army was destroyed wholly he could bear the sightno longer, and, reeling back against the tree, closed his eyes. For a little while, even with eyes shut, he still beheld the redruin, and then darkness came over him. 

He never knew whether he really fainted or whether it was merelya kind of stupor brought on by so many hours of battle and fierceexcitement, but when he opened his eyes again much time hadpassed. The sun was far down in the west and the dusky shadowswere advancing. Over the low hill where Custer had made his laststand the Sioux swarmed, scalping until they could scalp nomore. Behind them came thousands of women and boys, shoutingfrom excitement and the drunkenness of victory. 

It was all incredible, unreal to Dick, some hideous nightmarethat would soon pass away when he awoke. Such a thing as thiscould not be! Yet it was real, it was credible, he was awake andhe had seen it--he had seen it all from the moment that thefirst trooper appeared in the valley until the last fell underthe overwhelming charge of the Sioux. He still heard, in thewaning afternoon, their joyous cries over their great victory, and he saw their dusky forms as they rushed here and there overthe field in search of some new trophy. 

Dick was not conscious of any physical feeling at all--neitherweariness, nor fear, nor thought of the future. It seemed to himthat the world had come to an end with the ending of the day. 

The shadows thickened and advanced. The west was a sea ofdusk. The distant lodges of the village passed out of sight. The battlefield itself became dim and it was only phantomfigures that roamed over it. All the while Dick was unnoticed, forgotten in the great event, and as the night approached thedesire for freedom returned to him. He was again a physical being, feeling pain, and from habit rather than hope he pulled once moreat the rawhide cords that held his wrists--he did not know thathe had been tugging at them nearly all afternoon. 

He wrenched hard and the unbelievable happened. The rawhide, strained upon so long, parted, and his hands fell to his side. Dick slowly raised his right wrist to the level of his eyes andlooked at it, as if it belonged to another man. There was a redand bleeding ring around it where the rawhide had cut deep, making a scar that took a year in the fading, but his numbednerves still felt no pain. 

He let the right wrist sink back and raised the left one. It hadthe same red ring around it, and he looked at it curiously, wonderingly. Then he let the left also drop to his side, whilehe stood, back against the tree, looking vaguely at the dimfigures of the Sioux who roamed about in the late twilight stillin that hideous search for trophies. 

It was while he was looking at the Sioux that an abrupt thoughtcame to Dick. Those were his own wrists at which he had beenlooking. His hands were free! Why not escape in all thisturmoil and excitement, with the friendly and covering night alsoat hand. It was like the touch of electricity. He was instantlyalive, body and mind. He knew who he was and what hadhappened, and he wanted to get away. Now was the time!

The rawhide around Dick's waist was strong and it had beensecured with many knots. He picked at it slowly and withgreatest care, and all the time he was in fear lest the Siouxshould remember him. But the sun was now quite down, the lastbars of red and gold were gone, and the east as well as the westwas in darkness. The field of battle was hidden and only voicescame up from it. Two warriors passed on the slope of the hilland Dick, ceasing his work, shrank against the trunk of the tree, but they went on, and when they were out of sight he began againto pick at the knots. 

One knot after another was unloosed, and at last the rawhide fellfrom his waist. He was free, but he staggered as he walked alittle way down the slope of the hill and his fingers were numb. Yet his mind was wholly clear. It had recovered from the greatparalytic shock caused by the sight of the lost battle, and heintended to take every precaution needed for escape. 

He sat down in a little clump of bushes, where he was quite lostto view, and rubbed his limbs long and hard until the circulationwas active. His wrists had stopped bleeding, and he bound aboutthem little strips that he tore from his clothing. Then he threwaway his cap--the Sioux did not wear caps, and he meant to lookas much like a Sioux as he could. That was not such a difficultmatter, as he was dressed in tanned skins, and wind and weatherhad made him almost as brown as an Indian. 

Midway of the slope he stopped and looked down. The night hadcome, but the stars were not yet out. He could see only the nearlodges, but many torches flared now over the battle field and inthe village. He started again, bearing away from the hill onwhich Custer had fallen, but pursuing a course that led chieflydownstream. Once he saw dusky figures, but they took no noticeof him. Once a hideous old squaw, carrying some terrible trophyin her hand, passed near, and Dick thought that all was lost. Hewas really more afraid at this time of the sharp eyes of the oldsquaws than those of the warriors. But she passed on, and Dickdropped down into a little ravine that ran from the field. Hisfeet touched a tiny stream that trickled at the bottom of theravine, and he leaped away in shuddering horror. The soles ofhis mocassins were now red. 

But he made progress. He was leaving the village farther behind, and the hum of voices was not so loud. One of his greatestwishes now was to find arms. He did not intend to be recaptured, and if the Sioux came upon him he wanted at least to make afight. 

A dark shape among some short bushes attracted his attention. Itlooked like the form of a man, and when he went closer he sawthat it was the body of a Sioux warrior, slain by a distantbullet from Custer's circle. His carbine lay beside him and hewore an ammunition belt full of cartridges. Dick, withouthesitation, took both, and felt immensely strengthened. Thetouch of the rifle gave him new courage. He was a man now readyto meet men. 

He reached another low hill and stood there a little while, listening. He heard an occasional whoop, and may lights flaredhere and there in the village, but no warrior was near. He sawon one side of him the high hill, at the base of which the firstcavalrymen had appeared, and around which the army had ridden alittle later to its fate. Dick was seized with a suddenunreasoning hatred of the hill itself, standing there black andlowering in the darkness. He shook his fist at it, and then, ashamed of his own folly, hurried his flight. 

Everything was aiding him now. If any chance befell, that chancewas in his favor. Swiftly he left behind the field of battle, the great Indian village, and all the sights and sounds of thatfatal day, which would remain stamped on his brain as long as helived. He did not stop until he was beyond the hills inclosingthe valley, and then he bent back again toward the Little BigHorn. He intended to cross the river and return toward thevillage on the other side, having some dim idea that he mightfind and rescue Albert. 

Dick was now in total silence. The moon and the stars were notyet out, but he had grown used to the darkness and he could seethe low hills, the straggling trees, and the clumps ofundergrowth. He was absolutely alone again, but when he closedhis eyes he saw once more with all the vividness of reality thatterrible battle field, the closing in of the circle of death, thelast great rush of the Sioux horde, and the blotting out of thewhite force. He still heard the unbroken crash of the rifle firethat had continued for hours, and the yelling of the Sioux thatrose and fell. 

But when he opened his eyes the silence became painful, it was soheavy and oppressive. He felt lonely and afraid, more afraidthan he had even been for himself while the battle was inprogress. It seemed to him that he was pursued by the ghosts ofthe fallen, and he longed for the company of his own race. 

Dick was not conscious of hunger or fatigue. His nerves werestill keyed too high to remember such things, and now he turneddown to the Little Big Horn. Remembering the terrible quicksand, he tried the bank very gingerly before he stepped into thewater. It was sandy, but it held him, and then he waded inboldly, holding his rifle and belt of cartridges above his head. He knew that the river was not deep, but it came to his waisthere, and once he stepped into a hole to his armpits, but he keptthe rifle and cartridges dry. The waters were extremely cold, but Dick did not know it, and when he reached the desired shorehe shook himself like a dog until the drops flew and then beganthe perilous task of returning to the village on the sidefarthest from Custer's battle. 

He went carefully along the low, wooded shores, keeping well inthe undergrowth, which was dense, and for an hour he heard andsaw nothing of the Sioux. He knew why. They were stillrejoicing over their great victory, and although he knew littleof Indian customs he believed that the scalp dance must be inprogress. 

The moon and stars came out. A dark-blue sky, troubled byoccasional light clouds, bent over him. He began at last to feelthe effects of the long strain, mental and physical. His clotheswere nearly dry on him, but for the first time he felt cold andweak. He went on, nevertheless; he had no idea of stopping evenif he were forced to crawl. 

He reached the crest of a low hill and looked down again on theIndian village, but from a point far from the hill on which hehad stood during the battle. He saw many lights, torches andcamp fires, and now and then dusky figures moving against thebackground of the flames, and then a great despair overtook him. To rescue Albert would be in itself difficult enough, but how washe ever to find him in that huge village, five miles long?

He did not permit his despair to last long. He would make thetrial in some manner, how he did not yet know, but he must makeit. He descended the low hill and entered a clump of bushesabout fifty yards from the banks of the Little Big Horn. Here hestopped and quickly sank down. He had heard a rustling at thefar edge of the clump, and he was sure, too, that he had seen ashadowy figure. The figure had disappeared instantly, but Dickwas confident that a Sioux warrior was hidden in the bushes notten yards away. 

It was his first impulse to retreat as silently as he could, butthe impulse swiftly gave way to a fierce anger. He rememberedthat he carried a rifle and plenty of cartridges, and he wasseized with a sudden vague belief that he might strike a blow inrevenge for the terrible loss of the day. It could be but alittle blow, he could strike down only one, but he was resolvedto do it--he had been through what few boys are ever compelledto see and endure, and his mind was not in its normal state. 

He turned himself now into an Indian, crawling and creeping withdeadly caution through the bushes, exercising an infinitepatience that he might make no leaf or twig rustle, and now andthen looking carefully over the tops of the bushes to see thathis enemy had not fled. As he advanced he held his rifle wellforward, that he might take instant aim when the time came. 

Dick was a full ten minutes in traveling ten yards, and then hesaw the dark figure of the warrior crouched low in the bushes. The Sioux had not seen him and was watching for his approach fromsome other point. The figure was dim, but Dick slowly raised hisrifle and took careful aim at the head. His finger reached thetrigger, but when it got there it refused to obey his will. Hewas not a savage; he was white, with the civilized blood of manygenerations, and he could not shoot down an enemy whose backwas turned to him. But he maintained his aim, and using someold expression that he had heard he cried, "Throw up your hands!"

The crouching figure sprang to its feet, and a remembered voiceexclaimed in overwhelming surprise and delight:

"Dick! Dick! Is that you, Dick?"

Dick dropped the muzzle of his rifle and stared. He could nottake it in for the moment. It was Albert--a ragged, dirty, pale, and tired Albert, but a real live Albert just the same. 

The brothers stared at each other by the same impulse, and thenby the same impulse rushed forward, grasped each other's hands, wringing them and shouting aloud for joy. 

"Is it you, Al? How on earth did you ever get here?"

"Is it you, Dick? Where on earth did you come from?"

They sat down in the bushes, both still trembling with excitementand the relief from suspense, and Dick told of the fatal day, howhe had been bound to the tree on the hill, and how he had seenall the battle, from its beginning to the end, when no whitesoldier was left alive. 

"Do you mean that they were all killed, Dick?" asked Albert inawed tones. 

"Every one, " replied Dick. "There was a ring of fire and steelaround them through which no man could break. But they werebrave, Al, they were brave! They beat off the thousands of thatawful horde for hours and hours. "

"Who led them?"

"I don't know. I had no way of knowing, but it was a gallant manwith long yellow hair. I saw him with his hat off, waving it toencourage his men. Now tell me, Al, how you got here. "

"When they seized us, " replied Albert, "they carried me, kickingand fighting as best I could, up the river. I made up my mindthat I'd never see you again, Dick, as I was sure that they'dkill you right away. I expected them to finish me up, too, soon, but they didn't. I suppose it was because they were busy withbigger things. 

"They pushed me along for at least two miles. Then they crossedthe river, shoved me into a bark lodge, and fastened the door onme. They didn't take the trouble to bind me, feeling sure, Isuppose, that I couldn't get out of the lodge and the village, too; and I certainly wouldn't have had any chance to do it if abattle hadn't begun after I had been there a long time in thedarkness of the lodge. I thought at first that it was the Siouxfiring at targets, but then it became too heavy and there was toomuch shouting. 

"The firing went on a long time, and I pulled and kicked for anhour at the lodge door. Because no one came, no matter howmuch noise I made, I knew that something big was going on, andI worked all the harder. When I looked out at last, I saw manywarriors running up and down and great clouds of smoke. Isneaked out, got into a smoke bank just as a Sioux shot at me, lay down in a little ravine, after a while jumped up and ranagain through the smoke, and reached the bushes, where I layhidden flat on my face until the night came. While I was there Iheard the firing die down and saw our men driven off after beingcut up badly. "

"It's awful! awful!" groaned Dick. "I didn't know there were somany Sioux in the world, and maybe our generals didn't, either. That must have been the trouble. "

"When the darkness set in good, " resumed Albert. "I started torun. I knew that no Sioux were bothering about me then, but Itell you that I made tracks, Dick. I had no arms, and I didn'tknow where I was going; but I meant to leave those Sioux somegood miles behind. After a while I got back part of my courage, and then I came back here to look around for you, thinking youmight have just such a chance as I did. "

"Brave old Al, " said Dick. 

"You came, too. "

"I was armed and you were not. "

"It comes to the same thing, and you did have the chance. "

"Yes, and we're together again. We've been saved once more, Al, when the others have fallen. Now the thing for us to do is toget away from here as fast as we can. Which way do you thinkthose troops on your side of the village retreated?"

Albert extended his finger toward a point on the dusky horizon. 

"Off there somewhere, " he replied. 

"Then we'll follow them. Come on. "

The two left the bushes and entered the hills. 

Chapter XXBright Sun's Good-by

Dick and Albert had not gone far before they saw lights on thebluffs of the Little Big Horn. Dick had uncommonly keen eyes, and when he saw a figure pass between him and the firelight hewas confident that it was not that of a Sioux. The clothing wastoo much like a trooper's. 

"Stop, Al, " he said, putting his hand on his brother's shoulder. "I believe some of our soldiers are here. "

The two crept as near as they dared and watched until they sawanother figure pause momentarily against the background of thefirelight. 

"It's a trooper, sure, " said Dick, "and we've come to our ownpeople at last. Come, Al, we'll join them. "

They started forward on a run. There was a flash of flame, areport, and a bullet whistled between them. 

"We're friends, not Sioux!" shouted Dick. "We're escaping fromthe savages! Don't fire!"

They ran forward again, coming boldly into the light, and no moreshots were fired at them. They ran up the slope to the crest ofthe bluff, leaped over a fresh earthwork, and fell among a crowdof soldiers in blue. Dick quickly raised himself to his feet, and saw soldiers about him, many of them wounded, all of themweary and drawn. Others were hard at work with pick and spade, and from a distant point of the earthwork came the sharp reportof rifle shots. 

These were the first white men that Dick and Albert had seen innearly two years, and their hearts rose in their throats. 

"Who are you?" asked a lieutenant, holding up a lantern andlooking curiously at the two bare-headed, brown, and half-wildyouths who stood before him in their rough attire of tannedskins. They might readily have passed in the darkness for youngSioux warriors. 

"I am Dick Howard, " replied Dick, standing up as straight as hisweakness would let him, "and this is my brother Albert. We werewith an emigrant trail, all the rest of which was massacred twoyears ago by the Sioux. Since then we have been in themountains, hunting and trapping. "

The lieutenant looked at him suspiciously. Dick still stooderect and returned his gaze, but Albert, overpowered by fatigue, was leaning against the earthwork. A half dozen soldiers stoodnear, watching them curiously. From the woods toward the rivercame the sound of more rifle shots. 

"Where have you come from to-night? And how?" asked thelieutenant sharply. 

"We escaped from the Sioux village, " replied Dick. "I was in onepart of it and my brother in another. We met by chance or luckin the night, but in the afternoon I saw all the battle in whichthe army was destroyed. "

"Army destroyed! What do you mean?" exclaimed the officer. "We were repulsed, but we are here. We are not destroyed. "

The suspicion in his look deepened, but Dick met him withunwavering eye. 

"It was on the other side of the town, " he replied. "Anotherarmy was there. It was surrounded by thousands of Sioux, but itperished to the last man. I saw them gallop into the valley, ledby a general with long yellow hair. "

"Custer!" exclaimed some one, and a deep groan came from themen in the dusk. 

"What nonsense is this!" exclaimed the officer. "Do you daretell me that Custer and his entire command have perished?"

Dick felt his resentment rising. 

"I tell you only the truth, " he said. "There was a great battle, and our troops, led by a general with long yellow hair, perishedutterly. The last one of them is dead. I saw it all with my owneyes. "

Again that deep groan came from the men in the dusk. 

"I can't believe it!" exclaimed the lieutenant. "Custer andwhole force dead! Where were you? How did you see all this?"

"The Sioux had tied me to a tree in order that the Indian boysmight amuse themselves by grazing me with arrows--my brother andI had been captured when we were on the plains--but they wereinterrupted by the appearance of troops in the valley. Then thebattle began. It lasted a long time, and I was forgotten. Abouttwilight I managed to break loose, and I escaped by hiding in theundergrowth. My brother, who was on the other side of town, escaped in much the same way. "

"Sounds improbable, very improbable!" muttered the lieutenant. 

Suddenly an old sergeant, who had been standing near, listeningattentively, exclaimed:

"Look at the boy's wrists, lieutenant! They've got just themarks than an Indian rawhide would make!"

Dick impulsively held up his wrists, from which the bandages hadfallen without his notice. A deep red ring encircled each, andit was obvious from their faces that others believed, even if thelieutenant did not. But he, too, dropped at least a part of hisdisbelief. 

"I cannot deny your story of being captives among the Sioux, " hesaid, "because you are white and the look of your eyes is honest. But you must be mistaken about Custer. They cannot all havefallen; it was your excitement that made you think it. "

Dick did not insist. He was the bearer of bad news, but he wouldnot seek to make others believe it if they did not wish to doso. The dreadful confirmation would come soon enough. 

"Take them away, Williams, " said the lieutenant to the sergeant, "and give them food and drink. They look as if they needed it. "

The sergeant was kindly, and he asked Dick and Albert manyquestions as he led them to a point farther back on the bluffbeyond the rifle shots of the Sioux, who were now firing heavilyin the darkness upon Reno's command, the troops driven off fromthe far side of the town, and the commands of Benteen andMcDougall, which had formed a junction with Reno. It was evidentthat he believed all Dick told him, and his eyes became heavywith sorrow. 

"Poor lads!" he murmured. "And so many of them gone!"

He took them to a fire, and here both of them collapsedcompletely. But with stimulants, good food, and water theyrecovered in an hour, and then Dick was asked to tell again whathe had seen to the chief officers. They listened attentively, but Dick knew that they, too, went away incredulous. 

Throughout the talk Dick and Albert heard the sound of pick andspade as the men continued to throw up the earthworks, and therewas an incessant patter of rifle fire as the Sioux crept forwardin the darkness, firing from every tree, or rock, or hillock, andkeeping up a frightful yelling, half of menace and half oftriumph. But their bullets whistled mostly overhead, and once, when they made a great rush, they were quickly driven back withgreat loss. Troops on a bluff behind earthworks were a hard nuteven for an overwhelming force to crack. 

Dick and Albert fell asleep on the ground from sheer exhaustion, but Dick did not sleep long. He was awakened by a fresh burst offiring, and saw that it was still dark. He did not sleep againthat night, although Albert failed to awake, and, asking for arifle, bore a part in the defense. 

The troops, having made a forced march with scant supplies, suffered greatly from thirst, but volunteers, taking buckets, slipped down to the river, at the imminent risk of torture anddeath, and brought them back filled for their comrades. It wasdone more than a dozen times, and Dick himself was one of theheroes, which pleased Sergeant Williams greatly. 

"You're the right stuff, my boy, " he said, clapping him on theshoulder, "though you ought to be asleep and resting. "

"I couldn't sleep long, " replied Dick. "I think my nerves havebeen upset so much that I won't feel just right again formonths. "

Nevertheless he bore a valiant part in the defense, besidesrisking his life to obtain the water, and won high praise frommany besides his stanch friend, Sergeant Williams. It was wellthat the troops had thrown up the earthwork, as the Sioux, flushed with their great victory in the afternoon, hung on theflanks of the bluffs and kept up a continuous rifle fire. Therewas light enough for sharpshooting, and more than one soldier whoincautiously raised his head above the earthwork was slain. 

Toward morning the Sioux made another great rush. There hadbeen a lull in the firing just when the night was darker thanusual and many little black clouds were floating up from thesouthwest. Dick was oppressed by the silence. He rememberedthe phases of the battle in the afternoon, and he felt that itportended some great effort by the Sioux. He peeped carefullyover the earthwork and studied the trees, bushes, and hillocksbelow. He saw nothing there, but it seemed to him that he couldactually feel the presence of the Sioux. 

"Look out for 'em, " he said to Sergeant Williams. "I thinkthey're going to make a rush. "

"I think it, too, " replied the veteran. "I've learnt somethingof their cunnin' since I've been out here on the plains. "

Five minutes later the Sioux sprang from their ambush and rushedforward, hoping to surprise enemies who had grown careless. Butthey were met by a withering fire that drove them headlong tocover again. Nevertheless they kept up the siege throughout allthe following day and night, firing incessantly from ambush, andat times giving forth whoops full of taunt and menace. Dick wasable to sleep a little during the day, and gradually his nervesbecame more steady. Albert also took a part in the defense, and, like Dick, he won many friends. 

The day was a long and heavy one. The fortified camp was filledwith the gloomiest apprehensions. The officers still refused tobelieve all of Dick's story, that Custer and every man of hiscommand had perished at the hands of the Sioux. They were yethopeful that his eyes had deceived him, a thing which couldhappen amid so much fire, and smoke, and excitement, and thatonly a part of Custer's force had fallen. Yet neither Custer norany of his men returned; there was no sign of them anywhere, andbelow the bluffs the Sioux gave forth taunting shouts andflaunted terrible trophies. 

Dick and Albert sat together about twilight before one of thecamp fires, and Dick's face showed that he shared the gloom ofthose around him. 

"What are you expecting, Dick?" asked Albert, who read hiscountenance. 

"Nothing in particular, " replied Dick; "but I'm hoping that helpwill come soon. I've heard from the men that General Gibbon isout on the plain with a strong force, and we need him bad. We'reshort of both water and food, and we'll soon be short ofammunition. Custer fell, I think, because his ammunition gaveout, and if ours gives out the same thing will happen to us. It's no use trying to conceal it. "

"Then we'll pray for Gibbon, " said Albert. 

The second night passed like the first, to the accompaniment ofshouts and shots, the incessant sharpshooting of the Sioux, andan occasional rush that was always driven back. But it wasterribly exhausting. The men were growing irritable and nervousunder such a siege, and the anxiety in the camp increased. 

Dick, after a good sleep, was up early on the morning of thesecond day, and, like others, he looked out over the plain in thehope that he might see Gibbon coming. He looked all around thecircle of the horizon and saw only distant lodges in the valleyand Sioux warriors. But Dick had uncommonly good ears, trainedfurther by two years of wild life, and he heard something, a newnote in the common life of the morning. He listened with theutmost attention, and heard it again. He had heard the samesound on the terrible day when Custer galloped into thevalley--the mellow, pealing note of a trumpet, but now veryfaint and far. 

"They're coming!" he said to Sergeant Williams joyfully. "I hearthe sound of a trumpet out on the plain!"

"I don't, " said the sergeant. "It's your hopes that aredeceivin' you. No, by Jove, I think I do hear it! Yes, there itis! They're comin'! They're comin'!"

The whole camp burst into a joyous cheer, and although they didnot hear the trumpet again for some time, the belief that helpwas at hand became a certainty when they saw hurried movementsamong the Sioux in the valley and the sudden upspringing offlames at many points. 

"They're goin' to retreat, " said the veteran Sergeant Williams, "an' they're burnin' their village behind 'em. "

A little later the army of Gibbon, with infantry and artillery, showed over the plain, and was welcomed with cheers that camefrom the heart. Uniting with the commands on the fortifiedbluff, Gibbon now had a powerful force, and he advancedcautiously into the valley of the Little Big Horn and directlyupon the Indian village. But the Sioux were gone northward, taking with them their arms, ammunition, and all movableequipment, and the lodges that they left behind were burning. 

Dick led the force to the field of battle, and all his terriblestory was confirmed. There were hundreds of brave men, Custerand every one of his officers among them, lay, most of themmutilated, but all with their backs to the earth. 

The army spent the day burying the dead, and then began thepursuit of the Sioux. Dick and Albert went with them, fightingas scouts and skirmishers. They were willing, for the present, to let their furs remain hidden in their lost valley until theycould gain a more definite idea of its location, and until thedangerous Sioux were driven far to the northward. 

As the armies grew larger the Sioux forces, despite the skill andcourage of their leaders, were continually beaten. Their greatvictory on the Little Big Horn availed them nothing. It becameevident that the last of the chiefs--and to Dick and Albert thiswas Bright Sun--had made the last stand for his race, and hadfailed. 

"They were doomed the day the first white man landed in America, "said Dick to Albert, "and nothing could save them. "

"I suppose it's so, " said Albert; "but I feel sorry for BrightSun, all the same. "

"So do I, " said Dick. 

The Sioux were finally crowded against the Canadian line, andSitting Bull and most of the warriors fled across it for safety. But just before the crossing Dick and Albert bore a gallant partin a severe skirmish that began before daylight. A small Siouxband, fighting in a forest with great courage and tenacity, wasgradually driven back by dismounted white troopers. Dick, askirmisher on the right flank, became separated from his comradesduring the fighting. He was aware that the Sioux had beendefeated, but, like the others, he followed in eager pursuit, wishing to drive the blow home. 

Dick lost sight of both troopers and Sioux, but he became awareof a figure in the undergrowth ahead of him, and he stalked it. The warrior, for such he was sure the man to be, was unable tocontinue his flight without entering an open space where he wouldbe exposed to Dick's bullet, and he stayed to meet hisantagonist. 

There was much delicate maneuvering of the kind that must occurwhen lives are known to be at stake, but at last the two camewithin reach of each other. The Sioux fired first and missed, and then Dick held his enemy at the muzzle of his rifle. He wasabout to fire in his turn, when he saw that it was Bright Sun. 

The chief, worn and depressed, recognized Dick at the samemoment. 

"Fire, " he said. "I have lost and I might as well die by yourhand as another. "

Dick lowered his weapon. 

"I can't do it, Bright Sun, " he said. "My brother and I owe youour lives, and I've got to give you yours. Good-by. "

"But I am an Indian, " said Bright Sun. "I will never surrenderto your people. "

"It is for you to say, " replied Dick. 

Bright Sun waved his hand in a grave and sad farewell salute andwent northward. Dick heard from a trapper some time later of asmall band of Sioux Indians far up near the Great Slave Lake, ledby a chief of uncommon qualities. He was sure, from thedescription of this chief given by the trapper, that it wasBright Sun. 

Their part in the war ended, Dick and Albert took for their pay anumber of captured Indian ponies, and turning southward found theold trail of the train that had been slaughtered. Then, with theponies, they entered their beloved valley again. 

No one had come in their absence. Castle Howard, the Annex, theSuburban Villa, the Cliff House and all their treasures wereundisturbed. They carried their furs to Helena, in Montana, where the entire lot was sold for thirty-two thousand dollars--agreat sum for two youths. 

"Now what shall we do?" said Albert when the money was paid tothem. 

"I vote we buy United States Government bonds, " replied Dick, "register 'em in our names, and go back to the valley to hunt andtrap. Of course people will find it after a while, but we mayget another lot of the furs before anyone comes. "

"Just what I'd have proposed myself, " said Albert. 

They started the next day on their ponies, with the pack poniesfollowing, and reached their destination in due time. It wasjust about sunset when they descended the last slope and oncemore beheld their valley, stretching before them in all itsbeauty and splendor, still untrodden by any human footsteps savetheir own. 

"What a fine place!" exclaimed Albert. 

"The finest in the world!" said Dick. 

The End