"Sergeant, now you know what to do," said Ted. "There's only one thing for you to do. Hike for the post and tell the commandant anything you like to explain the absence of Barrows. But be sure to say to the colonel that his daughter is safe and well and prefers to stay with Miss Fosdick and her friends. I don't know how deeply you are mixed up in this cattle-poisoning, girl-abducting scheme of Barrows, but I give you the benefit of the doubt." "Sure, sir, I didn't know anything about the cattle poisoning, nor do any of the men, and as for abducting the young lady, all I knew about it was that we were sent by the colonel to bring her back, that is, the lieutenant said so. We was to arrest you for stealin' cattle from the gover'ment. But I don't see as we can do anything, now that the officer in charge is gone. All right, sir, I'll tell the colonel all what you said, an' somethin' that's been layin' hard on my stomach ever since I got wise to the officer what's not in charge no more. Men, get ready to march." The soldiers saddled their horses, and got ready to start on the march back to Fort Felton. When they were ready to start, Ted walked up to Woofer and the man who had come in with him in the night. "Woofer," said he, "strike the back trail, and don't look around. You are not wanted in this part of the country. Remember, we are all deputy United States marshals, and not in the least afraid to use our authority. Hike!" "All right, pardner, if you say you don't like our sassiety we won't force it on you. We'd like good company back to Felton, anyhow, an' the sojers has plenty o' grub. Adios!" With a wave of the hand, the sergeant led his column out of the clearing, and, climbing the hill, struck into the southwest, where lay the fort. When they were gone Singing Bird came out of the woods in which she had been hiding, for she was in mortal terror of Woofer. When she knew that Woofer was in the vicinity she had run into the woods and immediately climbed into a tall pine tree that grew on the hill, where she was sure he would not be able to find her. Now, when she came forth, she ran to Stella, in a very much excited state. "Sister," she cried. "I have found it!" "Found what?" asked Stella, in surprise at the girl's emotion, for usually she had the stoicism of her Indian blood. "I have found the place of the secret, the place of the mother gold," cried Singing Bird, trembling with excitement. "I have seen it, the place where my mother lay," she continued, when her excitement had somewhat passed away. "How?" asked the puzzled Stella. "When I climbed the tree I saw the big, muddy river lying over there. I looked about. It seemed that I had seen it the same before. Then I remembered the night the white men killed my mother, and it all came back to me. Woofer was one of the men. He knew that we were coming near to it." "How did you recognize it as the place?" asked Stella.