Bud was left alone to survive, if he could, the perils of frost and hungry wolves.
CHAPTER XI.
LOST IN THE WILDERNESS.
Stella could not keep her eyes from the silver mask of the man who rode by her side. She was wondering continually at the mystery of him.
For an hour or more they rode up one valley, then across a hill or stretch of prairie, and through valleys again, the black mountains coming nearer all the time, until at last they entered a forest of pines, which they traversed until night began to fall.
At a gesture from "Silver Face," as Stella had named the man who rode by her side, the party came to a halt.
Stella now saw that it was the intention to camp, for, while some of the men cared for the horses, others cut down several small pine trees and built a shelter of pine boughs, into which she was ushered, and before which a blazing fire had been lighted.
It had grown very cold, and Stella was grateful for the heat that filled her shelter.
One of the men had brought food, and a pan and coffeepot from a pack on one of the horses, and now began to cook supper.