44 ON THE FEOXTIEE. 



in camp might have built a signal beacon in the open for 

 our benefit. We started towards the light. In a fitful way 

 it brightened as we neared it. By-and-by a scarcely 

 audible noise, like the distant report of a rifle, came faintly 

 to our ears. Instantly a watch was out, a prairie match 

 struck, and by its light, the seconds hand attentively 

 regarded. Thirty seconds another report ! Fifteen 

 another ! Then no more. There could be no mistake. 

 It was " the recall " of our long since preconcerted signal 

 code. Careless of danger to themselves, and in spite of the 

 rain, the boys had made an immense beacon, and, as we 

 afterwards learned, had fired since nightfall at intervals of 

 an hour, the recall. 



Climbing into our saddles there was "nary a jump" 

 left in us we remounted, and at the best pace that 

 humanity to our animals permitted, rode into camp at half- 

 past two in the morning, to the great relief of all there. 

 We declared ourselves to be too tired to eat, and so, 

 stripping off our soaked clothes, rolled ourselves up in our 

 blankets to sleep. But our irrepressible chef soon roused us 

 to drink some coffee, steaming hot and strong, with some- 

 thing in it besides, which, together with the warmth of our 

 beds, put new life into us. Our hunger returned, and we 

 polished off a hearty meal. The horses were taken equally 

 good care of, and ten o'clock next morning saw us well 

 recruited, eating our breakfast, and telling, with many a 

 laugh and jest, the misfortunes of the previous day. 



Of course that morning we did not take our horses out, 

 so we remained in camp and gave our men a chance to 

 amuse themselves by going stalking, and employed our 



