The friends sprang into a small skiff which Johnson drew from its concealment in a clump of under brush, and in a moment were upon the opposite bank. Without further words, William led the way, and soon arrived on the spot where Fall-leaf had been wounded. He examined the ground carefully, and at last exclaimed: "Here are traces of blood, and the grass is trodden down, plainly showing that a great struggle has occurred, or that a large party have passed over this place." "Let us trace the path. Here it runs, up this slope, toward this rock. And look! here the earth has been disturbed. Do you not remember there was a cave here? And its mouth or entrance is filled with rock and earth, which has been newly thrown there. Fall-leaf has been killed, and buried here!" "Why buried? These rebels are not in the habit of burying those whom they murder. Why should they bury Fall-leaf?" "Because he is of a powerful tribe, and his death, if known, would make eternal enemies of all the Delawares." "He was their friend, was he not?" "No! He met Fremont at Tipton. He had formerly been his friend, having often met him on the plains between this and the Rocky Mountains. His whole tribe is deeply attached to the general, and will do all in their power to assist him. And if the Delawares should learn of his death, I believe that tribe alone would almost annihilate Price and his army." The work of removing the stone and earth which obstructed the entrance of the cave, now began. They toiled on in silence. At length the last obstacle was removed, and William called: "Fall-leaf! Fall-leaf!" There was no answer. "He is dead, or not here!" said Johnson. "He must be here else why has this cave been filled, and so recently. I will descend and ascertain." William sprang into the cave. He had nothing with which to strike a light, but in a moment he said: "There are _two_ bodies here. I will pass them out, and by the moonlight we can examine their features." William lifted the bodies toward the entrance, and as he did so he said: "One of them has been here a long time, as the decomposition indicates. Lay them on the ground, Johnson, and I will search farther!" After a moment's pause, Johnson asked: "Do you find anything else?" "No--nothing!" "Then come out." William left the cave, and as he did so, Johnson grasped him by the arm, and asked: "Will you be calm!" "Yes--yes!" replied William. "But what do you mean?" "Will you think _only_ of revenge?" "Of revenge! What do you mean?" "Look there!" cried Johnson, pointing to one of the bodies which had been taken from the cave. "My father!" shrieked William, as he glanced at the corpse. "Yes, your father! But, pray be firm--be calm." "I am calm--very calm!" sobbed William, as he sank beside the inanimate clay. "The Indian is recovering, William," said Johnson.