“Mrs. Sherley and I have lived here years, and the Indians have never as yet even discovered the cavern, although leaving offerings in the crevasse as often as once a month. Inside the cavern, covered with a flat rock, is a pool of pure water—and thus we have the dumb animals provided for.”
“We accept your hospitality, and if you will produce the corn knife we will proceed to feed the animals at once, so that Cayuse may be on his way early in the afternoon.”
The horses were led into the cavern and given water and grass. Then Nomad thought he had better stay with the animals, as he said:
“Fer fear that cantankerous ole sarpint ov er Hide-rack’ll git p’inted in ther wrong direction an’ cut loose ’th them weepins o’ hisn.”
Skibo “reckoned” he had best remain with Nomad, and so only the scout and Tootsie were left with the Averys and their hostesses.
After Cayuse had been gone some time Miss Mona invited the scout to accompany her to the top of the wall. Tootsie was asleep in the grass and the lieutenant and his bride had retired to their bower.
Far to the south could be seen Little Cayuse, jogging along toward the fort. The girl became greatly interested in the scout’s field glass, never having seen one before. She was delighted with the way it jumped Cayuse back a mile or so in his journey, and she laughingly exclaimed:
“What a trim little Indian he is! I can see his feather with the glass.”
Several miles to the westward a small herd of buffalo were feeding.
“A peaceful scene,” said the scout.