THE WOLF HUNTERS 



waste in idle regrets at the unfortunate turn of 

 affairs. I felt almost helpless and could not de- 

 cide what to do to prepare for the danger. 



Rushing into the dugout I seized my carbine 

 and, going again up onto the dirt roof, I fired sev- 

 eral shots in the hope that possibly the sound might 

 reach my companions, who were still in sight, 

 slowly climbing the hill about two miles away. It 

 was no use the wind was blowing from them to 

 me, and they moved steadily on, evidently not 

 hearing me. 



I was hesitating whether to jump on Prince, 

 ride after them and hurry them back to prepare 

 for a probable call from the hostiles when a surly 

 growl and bark from Found drew my attention 

 another way, and I was almost frightened out of 

 my wits to see two mounted Indians coming, one 

 behind the other in single file, along the trail lead- 

 ing from the ford below the beaver dam. 



They were on the opposite side of the ravine 

 the stable side so I moved down onto the plat- 

 form between the dugouts, where I would have a 

 better position, still hoping that they would turn 

 out to be some of To hausen's people; but a thrill 

 of something akin to horror ran through me on 

 looking closely at the foremost Indian when he 

 had reached the top of the bank a few feet from 

 me, for I recognized the sinister countenance of 

 Satank. 



To let him know that I recognized him and 

 246 



