As they made a turn, about the middle of the afternoon, Mark chanced to glance back, and gave a sudden cry of surprise: "Indians!" "What's that?" asked Josiah Socket, quickly. "I just caught sight of three Indians. They are out of sight now." "On hossback?" "No, on foot. As soon as they saw me look back they skipped behind the trees." "Humph! I don't like that, lad." "Neither do I." They hurried on, looking back every few steps, but the Indians did not again show themselves. "Sure you didn't make a mistake?" asked the man presently. "No, I am sure I saw them," declared Mark. "One was a little ahead of the others." "Armed?" "I didn't notice, but they must be." "We'd stand a poor show of defending ourselves against a reg'lar band o' redskins," muttered Josiah Socket. "Wish we was to the cabins and safe indoors." "So do I." With the Indians on their trail--for they felt certain they were being followed--all thoughts of resting for the night were driven from the mind of each. Yet they felt they could not go two whole days and a night without a stop of some sort. By nightfall it was snowing harder than ever, and Mark suggested they leave the regular trail and sneak into the forest to the southward. "The snow will cover our footprints and maybe they will lose us in the darkness," he added. Josiah Socket was willing to try the experiment, and while passing over a wind-swept turn they left their former trail and hurried in among the trees. Then they passed over some rocks and into something of a hollow, where they came to a halt, with some high rocks behind them. Here they waited over an hour in the darkness without anything coming to disturb them. Then, worn out, Mark dropped asleep, leaving Josiah Socket on guard for the time being. CHAPTER XXI ANOTHER BRUSH WITH THE INDIANS When Mark awoke all was dark around him. He lay quiet for several minutes and then sat up. "Mr. Socket!" he called out. There was no answer, and much surprised the youth leaped to his feet. He saw a form some feet away and sprang toward it. It was that of Josiah Socket, and the man lay flat on his back in the snow. "What is the matter? What has happened to you?" called out the boy and knelt down at the man's side. He saw that blood was flowing from a bruise on the right temple. For answer there was a groan, and then Josiah Socket opened his eyes and tried to struggle to his feet. But he was too weak to do so. "The Indians!" he gasped. "Our hosses and packs----" He could get no further. Mark gave one glance around and then ran to where the horses had been tied up. Both steeds were gone, and so were the precious packs containing all the stores they had purchased. "Did the Indians take them?" "Yes. They came up behind me an'--an' knocked me over," groaned Josiah Socket. He put a hand to his temple. "I thought they were going to kill me!" "How long ago was this?"