THE WOLF HUNTERS 



old Nosey had gotten just what was coming to 

 him, I told them that the man who got away with 

 him was the same one that old Nosey had tried to 

 burn up when he set fire to the grass out in the 

 bottom that day." 



" Good for you, Bill ! " exclaimed Jack. " I don't 

 want to rob Peck of the credit, but it's better to 

 let his people think that I evened up with the old 

 rascal at last." 



After supper, as night settled down, the cold 

 wind reminded us of another difficulty that few 

 of us had yet thought of. What were we to do for 

 bedding for the soldiers who had come away from 

 the garrison in a hurry without any thought of 

 being out overnight? 



About tattoo the rattling of a wagon was heard 

 out on the trail toward Fort Larned. It seemed 

 impossible that Tom could be coming back from 

 the fort so soon with our mule team, but a wagon 

 was approaching from that direction. 



We were all out upon the bank looking and 

 listening and speculating as to who the coming 

 parties could be when we heard the sentry on 

 that side of the grounds challenge: "Halt! Who 

 comes there?" And then, apparently assuming 

 the right to pass upon the credentials of the new- 

 comers without the regulation formality of calling 

 for the sergeant of the guard, the sentry admitted 

 two mounted men, who came cantering up to the 

 camp-fire. 



278 



