Lieutenant Pike nodded gravely.
"I fear so. We will hunt more to-morrow."
That night it rained, and in the morning was still raining, cold. But they had had plenty to eat. This day they rode and rode, up the creek again, in the rain.
"It is bad," said the doctor. "A long way from home. Only four shots left. No trail, no men, nada (nothing). Indian country. We look one more day; then we find the river Arkansaw."
"Go to 'Nited States?" Stub queried.
"Cannot tell. The Great Father sent us out. We are men; we hate to go back."
"Mebbe they there, on Arkansaw. Injuns chase 'em."
"Maybe. But it is bad. Maybe Injuns chase us, next."
"We fight," declared Stub.
And the doctor laughed.
"You're all right. We'll do our best, eh?"
Stub had ten arrows; the lieutenant and the medicine-man each had four loads for their guns. That was not much, in a fight.
Early in the morning they again rode, searching up the creek, with their eyes scanning before and behind and right and left. When the sun was half-
