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 



