Burning with impatience as Hamlin was, fearful that every additional moment of delay might increase the girl’s danger, he was yet soldier and plainsman enough to realize the wisdom of the old scout.  There were at least four men in the party pursued, two of them Indian warriors, the two whites, desperate characters.  Without doubt they would put up a fierce fight, or, if warned in time, could easily scatter and disappear.

“Of course you are right, Sam,” he replied promptly.  “Only I am so afraid of what may happen to Miss Molly.”

“Forget it.  Thar’s nuthin’ goin’ ter happen to her while the bunch is on the move.  If that outfit was all Injun, or all white, maybe thar might.  But the way it is they’ll never agree on nuthin’, ’cept how to git away.  ’T ain’t likely they ever meant ter kill the Major, ’er take the girl erlong.  Them things just naturally happened, an’ now they ’re scared stiff.  It ’ll take a day er two for ’em to make up their minds what to do.”

“What do you imagine they will decide, Sam?”

“Wall, thet ’s all guesswork.  But I reckon I know what I ’d do if I was in thet sort o’ fix an’ bein’ chased fer murder an’ robbery.  I ’d take the easy way; make fer the nearest Injun village, an’ leave the girl thar.”

“You mean Black Kettle’s camp?”

“I reckon; he ’s down thar on the Canadian somewhar.  You kin bet those fellars know whar, an’ thet’s whut they ‘re aimin’ for, unless this yere Dupont has some hidin’ out scheme of his own.  Whar did you say he ranched?”

“Buffalo Creek.”

“Thet’s the same neighborhood; must’ve been in cahoots with those red devils to have ever run cattle in thar.  We ’ve got to head ’em off afore they git down into that kintry, er we won’t have no scalps to go back home with.  Let’s mosey erlong, boys.”

The day grew dark and murky as they moved steadily forward, the wind blew cold from out the northwest, the heavy canopy of cloud settled lower in a frosty fog, which gradually obscured the landscape.  This mist became so thick that the men could scarcely see a hundred yards in any direction, and Hamlin placed a pocket compass on his saddle-pommel.  The trail was less distinct as they traversed a wide streak of alkali, but what few signs remained convinced Wasson that the fugitives were still together, and riding southward.  Under concealment of the fog his previous caution relaxed, and he led the way at a steady trot, only occasionally drawing rein to make certain there was no division of the party ahead.  The alkali powdered them from head to foot, clinging to the horses’ hides, reddening and blinding the eyes, poisoning the lips dry and parched with thirst.  The two troopers swore grimly, but the Sergeant and scout rode in silence, bent low over their pommels, eyes strained into the mist ahead.  It was not yet dark when they rode in between the first sand-dunes, and Wasson, pulling his horse up short, checked the others with uplifted hand.