"Somehow or other, I've felt just the same for a week."
"Then, if we value our property, we mustn't let them slip."
"No; I'll be shot, if we must!" exclaimed Nat, half angrily, striking at once into a more rapid walk. "If they run off with my mare, I'll--I'll--" and again he strode faster over the prairie.
Long--long, we journeyed in silence. Nat's apprehensions had been aroused, and he was willing to walk the whole night to come up with those in whose honesty he had so little faith. Now and then he would mutter incoherently to himself and shoot ahead, keeping me almost on a run to maintain my place beside him. Suddenly he halted, and turned upon me with an expression I shall never forget. I could see his eyes expanded to twice their usual size, and his whole face aglow beneath his monstrous hat, as he asked in a cold whisper:
"Wonder if there's Injins about to-night."
"Who said I was afraid? I just asked a question."
"What possessed you to ask such a question?"
"Don't know; just come into my mind. Do you s'pose there are any Injins roving round the country to-night?"
"I am sure I cannot tell, but I think it extremely probable. Are you fearful that there are some upon our trail?"
"There might be! No; I was thinking if we should come across any of them, they might be able to tell us whether any of them chaps think we're lost, and have run off with my mare."
"Should we meet a lot of those savages, no doubt they would tell us something else besides that."
"I expect so," and he wheeled around and strode ahead again. It was now getting near midnight, and I was completely worn out. It was out of the question to reach the camp that night, and we might as well submit to our fate at once, so I spoke rather decidedly.
Nat turned and looked at me a second, and then answered:
"So am I. We've to camp out to-night, and there's no use in waiting till morning afore we do it. Ain't it lucky you brought your blanket with you? It would go hard to do without that to-night."
"I brought it with me by merest chance, not thinking I should need it. It was indeed fortunate; and now let us prepare to use it."
There was not much choice on the hard but warm earth. My blanket was ample and sufficient for us both. After some search, a small depression was selected, and in this I spread my heavy blanket. We then stretched ourselves upon it, pulled the ends over us, being sure to inclose our rifles in its folds, and resigned ourselves to sleep. In that lone hour, I forgot not that there was one arm upon which I could rely, and One only who could watch over me until morning, and to that protection I appealed.