At that very moment the morning papers were being distributed bearing a burden of calumny. The department would open his telegram in a few minutes, but the Secretary's reply could not reach him before sunset at the earliest, "and by that time I will be master of the situation or there will be war. I must parley--delay them, by any means, till the troops arrive. Colonel Daggett will forward the men at once--I hope under Maynard--and Jack is no sluggard. He will be here if only the Colonel takes action." The sun rose as usual in a cloudless sky, but the wind was again in the northwest, and as he stood on the little porch looking up the valley he could see the smoke of the camp-fires in Grayman's camp, and beyond him the Crawling Elk and his people occupied a larger circle of shining tepees. The two villages seemed as peaceful as if the people were waiting for their rations, but as he lifted his eyes to the hills he could see the mounted sentinels patiently waiting the coming of the sun, and he knew that beyond and to the east every butte was similarly crested with spies. These people of the wide spaces had their own signal service and were not to be taken unawares. Each movement of the enemy would be flashed from hill to hill, miles in advance of the beat of their horses' hoofs. As he was returning to his library Elsie met him. "Good-morning, Captain. Did you sleep?" "Oh yes, indeed!" He spoke as lightly as he could. "But my messengers reporting disturbed me a little during the early morning." "With bad news?" "Oh no, quite the contrary. I think we are well out of our difficulty." "I'm sure I hope so. You look tired." "I'm ashamed of it. You must have slept well--you are radiant. I am sorry I cannot promise you the Elk for a sitter to-day." "I like him better as the leader of his people. Do we breakfast with the sheriff this morning?" "That affliction is bearing down upon us," he replied. "He is even now moving morosely across the road. I fear he is in bad temper." "I think I will be late to breakfast in that case," she said, with a little grimace, and fled. Curtis greeted his guest pleasantly. "Good-morning, sheriff." "Good-morning, Major. Have you seen anything of my deputy?" "No; has he left you?" "I didn't miss him till this morning," replied Winters, sourly. "But he's gone, horse and all." "Well, the loss is not serious. Come in and break an egg with me." Jennie was distinctly less cordial than before, but she made her unwelcome guest comfortable, and asked after his health politely. She was just pouring his second cup of coffee when the furious clanging of the office bell made them all start. Curtis looked at his watch. "Good Heavens! It can't be the eight-o'clock bell. What time have you?" "Seven thirty-three." Curtis sprang up. "It's a signal of fire!" At the word "fire" Jennie turned white and rose. Elsie came flying down-stairs, crying: "The Indians are running!"