"But where are your men?" asked several.
"Upon the opposite side. They will cross over shortly."
"And will they accompany us?"
"They will not leave you until you have reached your destination."
"The Indians will not trouble us again?"
"No, I think not; but the boys can go with you as well as not, and I make this arrangement as a sort of compensation for my failure to keep my appointment."
"Your absence did excite much wonder, but you came up in the nick of time, most certainly."
"Sego, unconsciously, was the cause of our delay. He was absent at the time I reached the Miami. We could have come on without him, of course; but, as I was pretty sure a large body of Indians were going to attack you, I thought it best not to come until we were all together."
The Rifleman spoke with such sadness that all noticed it and felt great curiosity to know the cause. There was but one who dared to question him, the elder Smith, and he at once called him aside.
"What's the matter, Lew?" he asked. "I never saw you act so odd. Come, out with it."