“We must be getting near the mountains, boys,” called Hi. “That last station agent said we were only two hundred miles from Denver.” “We ought to see them, then, pretty soon, I should think,” remarked Mr. Baxter. “The chances are we’ll be looking for water instead,” declared Jim. “The country’s going dry on us.” The trail had swerved in to the Smoky Hill Fork again; and the Smoky Hill Fork itself seemed about to quit. It contained only a mere trickle of water. “You can follow the stage route on west to the Big Sandy,” informed a squad of returning Pike’s Peakers, “or you can cut over to the northward and find water there. It’s more than twenty-five miles to where the stage route strikes the Big Sandy, and there isn’t any water even then. But we hear tell there’s water on the short cut to the north, where you strike the Big Sandy higher up.” Hi nodded thoughtfully. “All right,” he said. “How’s the country north?” “There’s nothing to brag on anywhere you go in this whole region, stranger. We’re bound back to the States. We’ve had enough. But if you try the short cut north watch out for the Injuns, ’Rapahoes and Cheyennes both.” Hi nodded again. “We will.” Davy noted Left-over’s mouth open and his eyes begin to pop. Presently Left-over could hold in no longer. “Lookee here,” he squealed. “Let’s quit. Let’s turn around with those other fellows and go home. I’m tired, and I don’t feel very well, and there isn’t anything at the other end anyhow.” “If you want to quit you can join the next party bound east. We can do without you,” spoke Jim. “But I’m going on if I have to carry the mules.” “So am I,” declared Billy; and the others, including Davy, felt the same way. “I reckon Left-over’s afraid of the Injuns,” commented Hi. This seemed to arouse Left-over’s wrath. “I’m not, either,” he squealed frantically. “The Injuns had better not bother _me_. Did you see the way I downed the big buffalo? That’s what any Injuns’ll get who tackle _me_. You fellows don’t know me when I’m mad. I’m bad. I’m a regular tarrer. I’m half horse and half alligator. Those Injuns had better keep out of my way!” “We’re mighty glad of your company, Left-over,” claimed Mr. Baxter soberly. “If I were you I’d ride the trail and hire out to emigrant parties to see them through safely.” Left-over continued to bluster as they marched; and Billy only remarked to Davy: “If his ‘do’ is half as big as his ‘tell’ he could lick Wild Bill, couldn’t he?” Late that afternoon Hi pointed to the north. “Here’s a chance for Left-over,” he called. “We’re going to have visitors!” “Injuns!” said Billy quickly, shading his eyes and peering. They all peered――Davy, who was driving, from the wagon seat. A band of horsemen were rapidly approaching across the level sandy plain. By their figures and the way they rode Indians they certainly were; some twenty of them. Left-over bellowed wildly.