"Soldiers, eh?" asked Ted. "Cavalry or infantry?"
"Cavalry."
"How many of them were there?"
"I should say about fifty."
"Did they see you?"
"They must have seen me, for I saw them brought to a halt, and remain that way for several minutes, while the officer was looking at me through his binoculars. After they had satisfied themselves as to what I was, they galloped to the north, and I soon lost sight of them behind the hills."
"I wonder what troops are doing out here. I haven't heard of any trouble with the Indians, and there is no gang of outlaws this far north that it would take troops to subdue."
Stella looked at Ted significantly, and he read her thoughts.
Could it be that Lieutenant Barrows had been able to use his influence, or his cunning, to bring a detachment of troops so far away from the post to attend to his own personal affairs, while ostensibly on the government's business?
He dismissed the thought, however, as soon as it was conceived. It appeared to be too ridiculous.