If nothing had happened, then Buffalo Bill would find the way to the camp in a mountain storm. All knew that the scout did not go without his blanket, a haversack of food, and was prepared to spend the night anywhere he might be overtaken. A search of the traps of the negro showed that he had gone also prepared for a stay, if necessary. At last the scouts decided to retire and put the best face on the nonreturn of the chief by saying that they had doubtless gone so far, made some discovery, and to carry out their intention had decided to camp where they were for the night, to be on the spot early in the morning, rather than return to camp. “We will start on the hunt, pards, if they are not here to breakfast,” said Sergeant Buck. Dawn came, but the chief and the negro had not returned. One of those who appeared to be most anxious about the chief was Don Miller. He wanted to go on the search. “We will all go, and divide in twos, and if we cannot find their trail we will go the way we think they must have gone. “You take care of the camp, Mr. Miller, and each one of us, as he gives up the search, will come in; only I do not wish any man to give up until he is certain that he cannot find the chief, and must get back here by night. “Yes, I want every man back here in camp by night. “You will see where we are located, and no man need get lost. “Come right back to camp if any discovery is made; and, I tell you, boys, we must find the chief. “If he has been treacherously dealt with, as I see some of you believe, then we know who did it, and we must find him. “Now, pards, let us be off!” said Sergeant Buck. Such was the sergeant’s speech to his comrades, and they all started on their search. And in the lone camp, Don Miller remained by himself, watching them as they disappeared on different trails, and musing to himself in a very determined way: “Buffalo Bill must be found, dead or alive; and, if dead, he shall be avenged!” CHAPTER XXV. UNSEEN FOES. When Buffalo Bill and the guide left the camp together, the chief went down the valley leading from the Big Horn Mountains, where the camp had been located, hoping to pass some scene that the negro would recall at sight. Could he do this, Buffalo Bill felt little doubt but that they could in that way find the Lost Valley, for the scout had perfect faith that the negro was sincere in all that he had said, and that it was not the creation of mind diseased. Brave as he was, good plainsman, also, it would be readily understood by Buffalo Bill how the negro failed to find a given locality when he had been guided thither by some one else, and had simply left there to endeavor to find his way to a place where he could get word of him, the chief of scouts, who was to be secretly urged to come to the rescue of people in distress.