THE WOLF HUNTERS 



plains, but we won't need it much going back to 

 the settlements. I'll speak to Tom about it and 

 I guess we'll let you have it when we get ready to 

 start on the home-stretch from Fort Larned." 



*'Well, it ought to be worth more out here than 

 it cost you in Leavenworth and I'll pay you what- 

 ever you think it's worth. Of course, I ain't got 

 the money now, for it's going to take all I can 

 borrow, I reckon, to pay you for this horse; but 

 if you'll trust me till I come in to Leavenworth, 

 I'll pay you then — that is I'm supposing that you 

 fellows will hang up in Leavenworth for a while — 

 anyway, till you blow in your money." 



"Well, as to Tom and me," remarked Jack, **I 

 believe each of us has planned to take a trip East 

 when we get in, but I think it'll be a safe wager 

 that you'll find Peck about Leavenworth, for 

 there's a curly-headed girl there that he talks 

 about in his sleep." 



"Well, that do settle it," said Bill with a chuckle 

 and a wink at Jack. 



As we passed over the recent battle-field, we rode 

 around and looked at the bodies of all the dead 

 Kiowas, hoping though hardly expecting to find 

 Satank, but were disappointed — the murderous 

 old fiend had escaped again. These bodies were 

 all considerably torn by the wolves, but their fea- 

 tures were still in good enough condition to have 

 enabled us to identify him had he been among 

 the fallen. An inscrutable Providence permitted 



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