As the prospectors had a picket line out, our travelers did not deem it necessary to set a watch.
So all turned in and sought slumber.
But Frank Reade, Jr., was utterly unable to sleep.
He tried in vain to woo the gentle goddess. A premonition of some mighty peril was upon him.
At length, as his nerves grew more acute, he decided to get up and walk in the air in the hope of inducing slumber in that way.
He did not arouse Barney and Pomp, and quietly left the wagon. He passed through the camp and came to the banks of the creek.
Just as he reached this point he fancied that he saw shadowy forms moving a short distance out upon the prairie.
Frank’s vision was unusually keen.
He became convinced, after a brief time, that he was right.
It seemed as if the prairie in that direction literally swarmed with men.