The Patrol of the Sun Dance Trail [97]
Fort Macleod?"
"The Superintendent there has offered himself and his whole force for service in the North, but General Middleton, I understand, has asked him to remain where he is and keep guard in this part of the country."
"Good! I am glad of that. In my judgment this country holds the key. The Crees I do not fear so much. They are more restless and uncertain, but God help us if the Blackfeet and the Bloods rise! That is why I called for volunteers to-night. We cannot afford to be without a strong force here a single day."
"I gathered that you got some volunteers to-night. I hope, sir," said Cameron, "you will have a place for me in your troop?"
"My dear fellow, nothing would please me better, I assure you," said the Superintendent cordially. "And as proof of my confidence in you I am going to send you through the South country to recruit men for my troop. I can rely upon your judgment and tact. But as for you, you cannot leave your present beat. The Sun Dance Trail cannot be abandoned for one hour. From it you keep an eye upon the secret movements of all the tribes in this whole region and you can do much to counteract if not to wholly check any hostile movement that may arise. Indeed, you have already done more than any one will ever know to hold this country safe during these last months. And you must stay where you are. Remember, Cameron," added the Superintendent impressively, "your work lies along the Sun Dance Trail. On no account and for no reason must you be persuaded to abandon that post. I shall get into touch with General Strange to-morrow and shall doubtless get something to do, but if possible I should like you to give me a day or two for this recruiting business before you take up again your patrol work along the Sun Dance."
"Very well, sir," replied Cameron quietly, trying hard to keep the disappointment out of his voice. "I shall do my best."
"That is right," said the Superintendent. "By the way, what are the Piegans doing?"
"The Piegans," replied Cameron, "are industriously stealing cattle and horses. I cannot quite make out just how they can manage to get away with them. Eagle Feather is apparently running the thing, but there is someone bigger than Eagle Feather in the game. An additional month or two in the guardroom would have done that gentleman no harm."
"Ah, has he been in the guard-room? How did he get there?"
"Oh, I pulled him out of the Sun Dance, where I found he had been killing cattle, and the Superintendent at Macleod gave him two months to meditate upon his crimes."
Superintendent Strong expressed his satisfaction.
"But now he is at his old habits again," continued Cameron. "But his is not the brain planning these raids. They are cleverly done and are getting serious. For instance, I must have lost a score or two of steers within the last three months."
"A score or two?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "What are they doing with them all?"
"That is what I find difficult to explain. Either they are running them across the border--though the American Police know nothing of it--or they are making pemmican."
"Pemmican? Aha! that looks serious," said the Superintendent gravely.
"Yes, indeed," said Cameron. "It makes me think that some one bigger than Eagle Feather is at the bottom of all this cattle- running. Sometimes I have thought that perhaps that chap Raven has a hand in it."
"Raven?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "He has brain enough and nerve in plenty for any dare-devil exploit."
"But," continued Cameron in a hesitating voice, "I cannot bring myself to lay this upon him."
"Why not?" inquired the Superintendent sharply. "He is a cool hand and desperate. I know his work fairly well. He is a first-class villain."
"Yes, I know he is all that, and yet--well--in this rebellion, sir, I believe he is with us and against them." In proof of this Cameron proceeded to relate the story of Raven's visit to the Big Horn Ranch. "So you see," he concluded, "he would not care to work in connection with the Piegans
"The Superintendent there has offered himself and his whole force for service in the North, but General Middleton, I understand, has asked him to remain where he is and keep guard in this part of the country."
"Good! I am glad of that. In my judgment this country holds the key. The Crees I do not fear so much. They are more restless and uncertain, but God help us if the Blackfeet and the Bloods rise! That is why I called for volunteers to-night. We cannot afford to be without a strong force here a single day."
"I gathered that you got some volunteers to-night. I hope, sir," said Cameron, "you will have a place for me in your troop?"
"My dear fellow, nothing would please me better, I assure you," said the Superintendent cordially. "And as proof of my confidence in you I am going to send you through the South country to recruit men for my troop. I can rely upon your judgment and tact. But as for you, you cannot leave your present beat. The Sun Dance Trail cannot be abandoned for one hour. From it you keep an eye upon the secret movements of all the tribes in this whole region and you can do much to counteract if not to wholly check any hostile movement that may arise. Indeed, you have already done more than any one will ever know to hold this country safe during these last months. And you must stay where you are. Remember, Cameron," added the Superintendent impressively, "your work lies along the Sun Dance Trail. On no account and for no reason must you be persuaded to abandon that post. I shall get into touch with General Strange to-morrow and shall doubtless get something to do, but if possible I should like you to give me a day or two for this recruiting business before you take up again your patrol work along the Sun Dance."
"Very well, sir," replied Cameron quietly, trying hard to keep the disappointment out of his voice. "I shall do my best."
"That is right," said the Superintendent. "By the way, what are the Piegans doing?"
"The Piegans," replied Cameron, "are industriously stealing cattle and horses. I cannot quite make out just how they can manage to get away with them. Eagle Feather is apparently running the thing, but there is someone bigger than Eagle Feather in the game. An additional month or two in the guardroom would have done that gentleman no harm."
"Ah, has he been in the guard-room? How did he get there?"
"Oh, I pulled him out of the Sun Dance, where I found he had been killing cattle, and the Superintendent at Macleod gave him two months to meditate upon his crimes."
Superintendent Strong expressed his satisfaction.
"But now he is at his old habits again," continued Cameron. "But his is not the brain planning these raids. They are cleverly done and are getting serious. For instance, I must have lost a score or two of steers within the last three months."
"A score or two?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "What are they doing with them all?"
"That is what I find difficult to explain. Either they are running them across the border--though the American Police know nothing of it--or they are making pemmican."
"Pemmican? Aha! that looks serious," said the Superintendent gravely.
"Yes, indeed," said Cameron. "It makes me think that some one bigger than Eagle Feather is at the bottom of all this cattle- running. Sometimes I have thought that perhaps that chap Raven has a hand in it."
"Raven?" exclaimed the Superintendent. "He has brain enough and nerve in plenty for any dare-devil exploit."
"But," continued Cameron in a hesitating voice, "I cannot bring myself to lay this upon him."
"Why not?" inquired the Superintendent sharply. "He is a cool hand and desperate. I know his work fairly well. He is a first-class villain."
"Yes, I know he is all that, and yet--well--in this rebellion, sir, I believe he is with us and against them." In proof of this Cameron proceeded to relate the story of Raven's visit to the Big Horn Ranch. "So you see," he concluded, "he would not care to work in connection with the Piegans