SHEEP-HUNTING 167 



pulled up to see what they wanted. " Good- 

 evening, boys," said J ; " can you tell us how 



far it is into the fort, and what on earth were you 

 doing up the hill there ? " " Well, I never did," 

 answered one of the men ; " darned if we did not 

 take you fellers for Indians. What were we doing 



up the hill ? What in the were you doing 



scooting over the prairie on a dead jump like that 

 for ? We made sure you were Indians, did not 

 we, Jim ? and we kinder thought we would have a 

 better show up on the high grounds. How far is 

 it to the fort ? Well, if you keep up that kind 



of to split gait it won't take you long to git 



there, I guess ; anyhow, you'll be in soon after 

 dark. Been hunting, I expect, haven't you ? 

 You did not happen to see any steers down this 

 way as you came along, did you ? We lost some 

 of ours a couple of days ago, and can't get track 

 of them anywhere. Did you see no Indians 

 either ? No ! Well, that's kinder strange too. 

 You had better keep your eyes skinned, there's 

 plenty of 'em around, and they are getting mighty 



sarcy too. Why, Dr. drove out in his buggy 



a few miles from the fort the other day to meet 

 some gentlemen he was expecting — likely you're 

 the party, I expect — and darned if a bunch of 



