"The Indians!" he gasped. "Our hosses and packs——" He could get no further.
Mark gave one glance around and then ran to where the horses had been tied up. Both steeds were gone, and so were the precious packs containing all the stores they had purchased.
"Did the Indians take them?"
"Yes. They came up behind me an'—an' knocked me over," groaned Josiah Socket. He put a hand to his temple. "I thought they were going to kill me!"
"How long ago was this?"
"I don't—don't know. I was knocked out clean an' clear. Oh, Mark, this the worst yet! Supplies an' hosses both gone!"
"Can't we follow them up?"
"An' get shot?"
"I don't care—I am not going to stand for being robbed in this fashion," answered the youth, recklessly. "Those supplies cost too much money, and, besides, we have got to have them."
In a few minutes Josiah Socket felt somewhat better. The cut on his temple was not serious, and he washed it with some snow and bound it up with his handkerchief. In the meantime Mark made a hasty search around and found that both of their weapons were at hand, the Indians having overlooked them in their haste to get away with the packs and the horses.