“To Fort Yates.”
“Who are you going to take as your guide?”
“I am going alone,” said the lieutenant proudly.
“Well, I shall not bid you good-by as I did the last time you went, for like as not you will come back all right.”
“I hope to, certainly,” said Parker with a smile. “The Sioux will not bother me. That squawman told me so.”
“I would not place too much dependence on that squawman,” said Randolph. “If it suits him to lie about it, he is going to do it.”
“I shall go right ahead as though there were no Sioux there. That is the way that Carl did.”
Lieutenant Parker did not sleep much that day, for he was too busy thinking about what the future might have in store for him. After rolling and tossing on his bed for an hour, he went out to see about his horse. The animal was his main dependence now. If he missed the trail and wandered away on the plains, he might never find the fort. The horse was hitched out in the middle of the stable, and Sergeant Leeds, his coat off and sleeves rolled up, was busily engaged in cleaning him off.
“I thought you would not object, sir, seeing that the beast’s feet and legs were covered with dust,” said he.
“I am much obliged to you,” said the lieutenant. “I came out to do that myself. He has got to take me to Fort Yates to-morrow.”