130 START FOR MARTIN* S RANCHE. 



CHAPTER XL 



Start on my journey. Miserable weather. Appearance of three Indians 

 I compel them to breakfast with me. An uncomfortable breakfast- 

 party. I bid them adieu. Reach the ranche. Report of our having 

 been murdered. Mr. Martin. His history. Visit to Fort Kearney. 

 Interview with Major North. His recent fight with Sioux. Start on 

 my return journey. Uncanny sight. Dense fog. Camp on Little 

 Blue River. Horse missing. Vain , efforts to track him. Weary 

 journey back to ranche. Quite done up. Kindness of the Martins. 

 Return journey to camp. A pleasant surprise. Narrow escape from 

 Indians. A horrible sight. 



I STARTED the next morning with as light a load as possible, 

 only taking my blankets and a small waterproof sheet, coffee, 

 two days' bread, a tin cup and plate, knife and fork, and 

 enough meat for one day, trusting to kill game on the way. 

 I carried a repeating rifle holding nine cartridges, a knife and 

 small belt axe, and a hundred rounds of ammunition. 



I only knew the first twenty miles of the road, but had 

 studied it on a map ; and as the house I was bound for was on 

 the great Californian stage road, I could not well miss it, as by 

 going north I was bound to strike this road. I calculated on 

 doing the ninety miles in two days, camping on a stream called 

 the " Little Blue " the first night, when I should have done 

 two thirds of my journey. 



