"Out among the hills, a-lookin fer you."
"And what of my brother, and my cousin? Have you heard anything of them?"
"They are safe at the fort."
"Thank Heaven for that!"
"I see ye'er both of ye wounded," went on Leeson, as he came closer.
"My wound is not much. But Peck's is bad. I hardly knew how I was going to get him to the fort. Are the Indians or desperadoes around?"
"They are, captain—but whar is jest now the conundrum. Captain Lee—he's in command now—thinks there's a big plot on foot ter wipe out the fort."
"He is right. But Colonel Fairfield—what of him? Did they drug him?"
"They did, captain. But it's queer you know of all this."
"Then Joe didn't tell you I was with him at the cave?"
"I didn't have time to hear the whole story. Benson was coming out, and I came with him. Now, as you're found, I reckon I had better go back with you," went on Hank Leeson.
"By all means, for we'll have to take turns in supporting Peck."
A few minutes later the march for the fort was taken up. It was a tedious journey, and there
