Moving swiftly across the Divide, they took up the line on Elk Creek, and started directly toward Lone Wolf’s camp. As they were nearing the bend in the river where Lone Wolf was camped, a couple of young warriors came riding leisurely up from the south. They were very cordial in their greeting, and after shaking hands all around pleasantly inquired:
“What are you doing here?”
“Running a line to mark out the land which the cattlemen have leased of the Cheyennes.”
“We will go along and see where you are going,” they replied.
A couple of hours later, while they were still with the camp, two others came riding quietly in from the east. They said, “We are looking for horses,” and after shaking hands and asking Seger what the white men were doing, rode forward to join their companions, who seemed deeply interested in the surveyors and their instruments. Turning to Pierce, Jack said,
“You noticed that these four men were armed, I reckon?”
“Oh, yes, but they are all right. Didn’t you see how they shook hands all round? They’re just out hunting up ponies.”
“Yes, I saw that; but I noticed they had plenty of ammunition and that their guns were bright. Indians don’t hunt horses in squads, Mr. Pierce.”
Pierce smiled, giving Seger a sidewise glance. “Are you getting nervous? If you are, you can drop to the rear.”
Now Seger had lived for the larger part of his life among the red people, and knew their ways. He answered, quietly: