Through the darkness they saw the twinkle of a camp-fire. "Thet settles it!" breathed Old Rocks, exultantly. "The skunks are thar! We've run 'em down!" He gave no further attention to the trail, but straightway made sure that every weapon he possessed was ready for use. "Now, boy," he whispered, "keep yer nerve. Thar'll be need enough o' it afore long." "I am with you," assured Frank. "I do not think I shall lose my nerves in this case." "Wa-al, I don't," confessed the man. "I've got heaps o' conferdence in yer now. We'll creep up." Then followed something that sorely tried the patience of the boy, for Old Rocks seemed to crawl forward like a snail, taking advantage of every cover that would shield them from the sight of any one in front. The guide warned Frank to "hug ther ground," and made him creep, and skulk, and wiggle along when there seemed no need of it. In this way they slowly drew near to the fire, about which figures moved now and then. "It's ther onery Blackfeet," the guide finally announced. "We hev done a good job so fur ter-day, an' now we wants ter finish it right, you bet!" "What do you mean to do?" asked Frank. "Make a bluff," was the answer. "What kind of a bluff?" They had reached a point where they could look into the camp and see the savages feasting on some kind of game they had killed and cooked by the fire. "I'm goin' in thar an' demand ther gal," said the guide. "Won't that put us in their power?" "You won't go with me." "No?" "No. You'll keep in ther background." "What for?" "As a reserve force. You must keep yer peepers open, an' ef you see ther skunks is goin' ter do fer me, jest open up on 'em. I reckon you kin shoot some?" "Yes." "Take good keer not ter bore me." "I will." "But, ef yer start, pump ther lead ter ther critters ter beat ther Ole Nick." "I will do it." "Make sure whar ye're puttin' yer bullets, fer ye don't want ter kill ther leetle gal." "You may depend on me." "While you're slingin' lead I'll try ter git ther gal an' git erway with her." "Won't we get into trouble if I should kill one of these Indians?" "How?" "Why, the Blackfeet are peaceable, and it may create a disturbance. We may be hauled over the coals." "Haul an' be derned! Ther onery varmints hev kidnaped a white gal, an' they're poachin' on forbidden territory, besides bein' off ther reservation. Ef they try ter kill me, it will be a case o' self-defence. I'll allow as how we kin defend ourselves. You do ez I say, an we'll come out all right, dog my cats ef we don't!" "All right." "But don't shoot 'less yer hev ter, remember thet." "I will remember it." "Ef I hedn't seen ther b'ar, an' seen hwar yer putt five bullets inter him inside ther space uv a silver dollar, I might be skerry 'bout lettin' yer shoot inter thet camp while I wuz thar; but I'll admit ez how I reckon ye kin shoot."