“To be sure,—I see how it was now. Wall, I had a long chase after the runaway and when I got back it was almost dark. Then I spotted the redskins and they spotted me. They were a crowd I met once over to Frazier’s trading-post and they knew me thoroughly. They got out, as I said afore, on the double-quick, and I don’t know where they went to. I thought fust of hunting for you in the dark, but knew thet wouldn’t do, so I squatted to wait for daylight. I’ve been around a good bit sense then and jest came back to make certain the hosses was safe.”
“Do you know anything of my horse? I lost him in the river just as he struck a rock.”
“He got out and came back, and he’s all right excepting for a cut on his foreleg and another on his head. It’s a wonder he didn’t kick ye to death. Had any dinner?”
“Dinner? I haven’t had last night’s supper yet.”
“Golly-whoppers! Ye don’t mean it? Come right on and I’ll fix ye something in a jiffy. Ye must be hollow clean down to the boots!” And Sam Barringford bustled off to his temporary camp, but a few rods away. With a heart that now felt as light as a feather, Dave followed. He was glad enough to fling himself in the long grass and lazily watch the old hunter bustle around, and doubly glad to partake of the hot coffee and broiled birds and corn cakes which his companion provided. Never had a feast tasted better to him.
“The Indians took the deer I shot I suppose,” said Dave, while eating. “Well, I can be thankful that they didn’t take me instead.”
The youth was glad enough to get back in the saddle again, for his feet were still sore from the climbing of the canyon rocks. They pushed on directly he had finished his meal, and they did not halt again until night was once more on them. Their course was now directly for the Kinotah and Barringford calculated that they would strike one branch of that stream by the afternoon of the next day.
The character of the country remained the same—tall trees, heavy underbrush and vines, and high grass. In spots the trail was almost wiped out, while at other places it became so divided Barringford was almost at a loss which division to follow. Once they crossed a stream where there was a fine beaver dam and from a distance saw the active creatures at work. When the beavers saw they were discovered they lost no time in disappearing, so neither Dave nor Barringford got a shot at them.
The weather remained fine and it was a most glorious sunset in which Dave first beheld the rolling Kinotah, at a point fifty or sixty miles from where James Morris had erected his trading-post. Along the river ran a well-worn trail and many evidences showed that they were in a favorite hunting ground of the Indians.
