the howlings of wolves or the yelpings of dogs. Startled by the unexpected sound, he hastily

one glance was required to show the young trapper that the animal had been hurt,

buffalo. How dogs could be there, far from the habitation or the camps of man, was a problem Reuben was unable to solve. The sight, however,

t his shot might reveal his presence to enemies if they were near. It was well known that the Blackfoot Indians and several other tribes were intensely hostile to the whites. They were determined that the white man should not enter the grounds which they believed belonged to themselves, inasmuch as they had received th

owned by trappers, how had it come to pass that white men were now in this region? He had understood from Jean that Kit Carson's party

aching, and the sight convinced him that he would as willingly face the gaunt and savage timber-wolves a

ere all silent for a moment as they stared at the unexpected sight. A moment later, however, all four, throwing back their heads,

eard the shot they soon would appear. Seizing two stones and still holding his gun, Reuben ran toward the brutes and shouted in his loudest tones, "Get ou

e. At last, persuaded that his hiding-place was unsuspected, he hastened to the spot where the body of the dead buffalo was lying and cut from the carcass the

t escape the attention of others who might be in the vicinity. If they were white men he believed that his safety would be assured

ley. When he came out into the more open country he was startled at the sight of a campfire not far away. Gathered about it were half a dozen men, a

ongings in the defile among the mountains, but he was convinced that if he could secure aid from these men it would be an easy matter to obtain his poss

looking in the direction from which the young trapper was approaching. Apparently convinced by what they sa

it was that the trapper and guide was so far south of the region into which he with his company originally had gone Reuben did not understand. There was no question, however, as to the person

suspicion which were given him when first he had appeared were gone as

e with Jean," e

who?" inquir

n Ba

re i

n't k

do you

ay before yesterday. We made a camp, and while we were there a herd of buffa

ampled by the herd,"

d me look for the place where we had camped and after a while we fou

d the guide, glancing kee

es

was

t T

ooked steadily at Reuben. "What has become

s going up among the hills. He said he wanted to trap alone. That's

be very far

th him, and the little beasts were tough, an

any idea what has

day. He may have been captured by the Indians and the

that's just what they did. We'll have to give you a lift, howe

unded buffalo into the gorg

ut out two or three cows, but two of them gave us the slip and the

back yonder; you'll fin

uide quietly. "There are too many herds around here for us t

ones I have seen were in that valley wher

see any

nd I found s

seen any

They had been out trying to steal horses from the Pawnees. They said the

e like the rest of us. When we don't get what we want we're down on ou

fteen or

d him, and in response to his suggestion the men all declared that t

an's camp had been made, but a careful investigation failed to

n their efforts to discover some indications of what might have befallen the missing Jean. Their search was continued throughout

had been secured, because late in the afternoon a herd of buffaloes, numbering no less than five hundred, had appeared. Several of t

s signs of Indians had been discovered by the men in their search of the afternoon. Although he still did n

egion the trappers became aware that