CONTENTS

CHAPTERPAGE
I.A Letter [9]
II.On the Plains [17]
III.An Alarm in Beacon Crossing [28]
IV.Rosebud [41]
V.A Birthday Gift [54]
VI.A Newspaper [69]
VII.An Indian Pow-Wow [76]
VIII.Seth Washes a Handkerchief [87]
IX.The Adventures of Red Riding Hood [97]
X.Seth Attempts to Write a Letter [108]
XI.The Letter Written [118]
XII.Cross Purposes [127]
XIII.The Devotion of Wanaha [135]
XIV.The Warning [144]
XV.The Movements of Little Black Fox [154]
XVI.General Distinguishes Himself [162]
XVII.The Letter from England [173]
XVIII.Seth’s Duty Accomplished [184]
XIX.Seth Plays a Strong Hand [197]
XX.Seth Pays [207]
XXI.Two Heads in Conspiracy [217]
XXII.Rosebud’s Answer [227]
XXIII.Love’s Progress [239]
XXIV.Rosebud’s Fortune [254]
XXV.In Which the Undercurrent Belies the Superficial Calm [267]
XXVI.The Sun-Dance [283]
XXVII.In Desperate Plight [294]
XXVIII.A Last Adventure [304]
XXIX.Hard Pressed [315]
XXX.The Last Stand [327]
XXXI.The Sentence [337]
XXXII.Wanaha the Indian [346]
XXXIII.The Capitulation [359]

THE WATCHERS OF

THE PLAINS

CHAPTER I

A LETTER

A solitary hut, dismal, rectangular, stands on the north bank of the White River. Decay has long been at work upon it, yet it is still weather-proof. It was built long before planks were used in the Bad Lands of Dakota. It was built by hands that aimed only at strength and durability, caring nothing for appearances. Thus it has survived where a lighter construction must long since have been demolished.