SATANK ARRIVES 



their eyes to the upland prairie in the direction of 

 Fort Larned, where our white-covered wagon was 

 still in plain view; but a Httle swell of the prairie 

 hid it from them. 



After exchanging a few more words in their own 

 language, Joe turned to me and said : 



"Adios, good-by, seiior. We go — vamose." 



Backing away a few steps, they turned ofF 

 around the butt of our haystack, and made for the 

 crossing of the ravine just above our dugouts. 

 Here they examined the ground closely, evidently 

 looking for fresh tracks of our wagon and mules to 

 see which way they had gone. 



As soon as they crossed the ravine I returned to 

 my station on the dirt roof of our dugout where 

 I could watch their movements. When they 

 reached the higher ground and our Fort Larned 

 trail the fresh tracks of the team gave them their 

 clew. Pointing to the fresh signs, Satank's eyes 

 followed the course of the trail until he caught 

 sight of the wagon in the distance, just as it 

 seemed to reach the crest of the high prairie about 

 three miles away. With an excited exclamation he 

 pointed out his discovery to his companion, and 

 then mounting rode ofF at a lively gait. 



I conjectured that Satank would either pursue 

 the wagon or bring his men to attack my position 

 — probably both. In either case it was of the 

 utmost importance that I warn my comrades, 

 which now seemed an impossibility; and while 



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