E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net) Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this file which includes the original illustration. See 27521-h.htm or 27521-h.zip: (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/2/27521/27521-h/27521-h.htm) or (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/7/5/2/27521/27521-h.zip) Transcriber's note: The author's inconsistent use of 'll as a contraction has been retained as in the original. THE WATCHERS OF THE PLAINS A Tale of the Western Prairies by RIDGWELL CULLUM With Frontispiece by J. C. Leyendecker [Illustration: HIS EYES WERE INTENT UPON THE DARK HORIZON] A. L. Burt Company Publishers :: New York Copyright, 1909, by George W. Jacobs and Company Published March, 1909 To B. W. M. my good friend and counselor I affectionately dedicate this book CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. A Letter 9 II. On the Plains 17 III. An Alarm in Beacon Crossing 28 IV. Rosebud 41 V. A Birthday Gift 54 VI. A Newspaper 69 VII. An Indian Pow-Wow 76 VIII. Seth Washes a Handkerchief 87 IX. The Adventures of Red Riding Hood 97 X. Seth Attempts to Write a Letter 108 XI. The Letter Written 118 XII. Cross Purposes 127 XIII. The Devotion of Wanaha 135 XIV. The Warning 144 XV. The Movements of Little Black Fox 154 XVI. General Distinguishes Himself 162 XVII. The Letter from England 173 XVIII. Seth's Duty Accomplished 184 XIX. Seth Plays a Strong Hand 197 XX. Seth Pays 207 XXI. Two Heads in Conspiracy 217 XXII. Rosebud's Answer 227 XXIII. Love's Progress 239 XXIV. Rosebud's Fortune 254 XXV. In Which the Undercurrent Belies the Superficial Calm 267 XXVI. The Sun-Dance 283 XXVII. In Desperate Plight 294 XXVIII. A Last Adventure 304 XXIX.