They and their allies the Comanches were the guardians of the Santa Fe Trail. The Kiowas ranged the farthest north and fought the soldiers on the Leavenworth cut-off or Government road which entered from the Kansas River. Going down, on this road, Captain Booth and Lieutenant Hallowell had no trouble at all. They arrived safely at Camp Zarah, without having sighted a sign of Indians. The captain inspected the post. The next morning he directed his escort to ride on; he and Lieutenant Hallowell would catch them in about half an hour. But it was nearer three hours later when the wagon rattled over the log corduroy bridge across Walnut Creek, on the road for the Arkansas River and Fort Larned, west up-stream. They had the road all to themselves. The escort were out of sight, but probably would wait for them; and anyway they felt no fear as they jounced over the rutty, frozen road. They rather looked forward to shooting buffalo from the wagon with their revolvers. The mules were lively; Lieutenant Hallowell drove (he was an expert with the "ribbons"); the captain helped him with the whip; and they caroled songs together. After a time the lieutenant changed his tune, to remark: "What's the matter with the buffalo? They're grazing wide of the road to-day. That looks as though Injuns were about." This was Captain Booth's first season on the plains, so he only laughed easily. "Oh, pshaw! They say back at Zarah that there hasn't been an Injun seen from the trail in ten days. I fancy our escort scared the buffalo. Now like as not we won't get a shot." "Just the same, it's queer the buffalo are all out yonder in the open instead of grazing on the river bottoms. If any Injuns are at hand, they'd be hiding along the river." "Oh, pshaw!" laughed the captain. "We're safe enough. I'll get you back to Lizzie. Don't you worry yourself." "Lizzie" was the lieutenant's bride, at Fort Riley. He had left her for the first time since they were married. Drawn by its rapidly trotting mules the wagon trundled about three miles farther--and the captain had a glimpse of something new, moving over the low brush ahead and toward the river. It seemed to be a flock of wild turkeys bobbing along, now above the brush, now settling into it. N-no? What, then? Men on horses. He clutched the lieutenant's arm. "Look there, Hallowell. What is it?" The lieutenant looked only once. "Injuns, by Jiminy! We're in for it." He whirled his team around and with voice and shake of lines quickened them to a gallop on the back trail for Zarah, six miles. The captain objected. "Wait! Hold on, Hallowell. They may be part of the escort." Lieutenant Hallowell was wiser. This was his second year in Indian country. "No, no! I know Injuns when I see 'em. Gid-dap! Yip!" "Well, by thunder, I'll see for myself." So the captain clambered from the seat to the side step, and hanging hard to the front wagon-bow, took a good look.