They went on after the meal, finding the trail of the outlaws difficult of following in some places, for it was apparent that an attempt had been made to cloud the trace. By mid-forenoon, however, they were deep in the hills, in a wild and gloomy country, and where every mile was perilous. They might be ambushed by the foe in almost any cut, and Cody kept the command back while he investigated every particularly ugly-looking defile. What report the two released Indians might make to their people had much to do with the safety of the expedition, too. For all the whites knew, the Sioux might be gathering to fall upon them! Not a soul did they see on the trail; but they found the place where Boyd Bennett and his men had spent the night; and they noted marks which assured them that the outlaws had lit out that morning hurriedly. Evidently the approach of the troopers was feared by the renegades. Before night, however, Cody called a halt in the forward movement. They were in the midst of peaks, and tall, chimneylike rocks where the timber was sparse and vegetation of any other kind becoming thin. Shelter was not easily obtained, and the trail had to be guessed at many times, the way was so rocky. “I don’t like the look of this territory, Dick,” said the scout. “Those fellows can’t be far ahead of us,” declared the eager lieutenant. “I’m not so sure of that. They plainly know the way.” “Well, they haven’t succeeded in fooling us much yet.” “That may be; but they may fool us badly in the end.” “Don’t croak, Bill; that isn’t like you.” “I tell you, boy, we’re perhaps putting our necks into a noose. I’ve seen several smokes this afternoon. Now, if the Injuns join in with Boyd Bennett, and make common cause with him--well, where’ll we be?” “Here, or hereabout,” grunted Danforth. “And we’ll stay here, too! I vote we make an end of this quick.” “Why, Bill, I thought you were so eager to follow Bennett up?” “So I am. But I’m not as eager for meeting my finish as you seem to be.” “Pshaw! you’re not afraid for yourself, Bill. I know you,” cried Danforth. “I’ve got no right to run you into peril.” “Forget me!” “And you’ve no right to lead your troop into a pocket. What do you suppose your ‘kern’ will say?” “Oh, shucks! I hate to give this up.” “So do I, son. But we’ve got to.” “You mean to start right back now?” “You’re the doctor. I’m not in command,” said Cody. “Hang it all, Bill! you are virtually in command, and you know it.” “Well, you want me to advise?” “Of course.” “Then I say we’d better hunt a place to stop the night, and then light out for a more healthy country in the morning. I begin to feel that we’re being watched.” “You _feel_ so?” “Sounds silly, doesn’t it, eh? But it’s so. And intuition has stood me in good stead before. There are foes near. We want to get shelter and prepare to receive them properly.”