Like as not they've
sent word fer more. There's a big Sioux camp over hyar in another
valley."
"Are these Sioux on the war-path?"
"I saw dead an' scalped white men a few days back," replied
Slingerland.
Horn grew as black as a thundercloud, and he cursed the group of
pale-faced men who had elected to journey eastward with him.
"You'll hev to fight," he ended, brutally, "an' thet'll be some
satisfaction to me."
"Horn, there's soldiers over hyar in camp," went on Slingerland. "Do
you want me to ride after them?"
"Soldiers!" ejaculated Horn.
"Yes. They're with a party of engineers surveyin' a line fer a
railroad. Reckon I could git them all hyar in time to save you--IF
them Sioux keep comin' slow.... I'll go or stay hyar with you."
"Friend, you go--an' ride thet hoss!"
"All right. You hitch up an' break camp. Keep goin' hard down the
trail, an' I'll fetch the troops an' head off the redskins."
"Any use to take to the hills?" queried Horn, sharply.
"I reckon not. You've no hosses. You'd be tracked down. Hurry along.
Thet's best.... An' say, I see you've a young girl hyar. I can take
her up behind me."
"Allie, climb up behind him," said Horn, motioning to the girl.
"I'll stay with mother," she replied.
"Go child--go!" entreated Mrs.
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