"Why don't you open it?" added the officer. "It may afford you some information in regard to yourself."
"I will do it now, if you please, for I don't like to open it alone."
"Very well; but are you sure there is no key to the chest?"
"I only know that Matt carried the key in his pocket, and I suppose it was buried with him."
"No, it wan't," said Kit Cruncher, walking in at the open door. "Not if you mean the key to that box."
"That is what we were speaking of, Kit," I replied. "I thought you had gone up to your cabin."
"I've been, and got back. 'Pears like them Injuns is comin' down agin. They've stole all my bacon."
"Probably they did that on their retreat," suggested the lieutenant. "They are short of food, and the wounded one told me they were going down to the buffalo country, after they had revenged themselves for the death of the chief."
"I cal'late some on 'em is in the woods above hyer now."
"Very likely."