“Here’s Guerrier,” spoke the lieutenant. “He’ll know.”
Guerrier had vanished, on further tour of inspection; now he re-entered.
“What’s this meat, Guerrier?” asked the doctor, eagerly. “Try it. Take my spoon.”
Guerrier willingly enough plunged the spoon into the kettle, and hooked a piece the largest yet. He set his teeth into it.
“Why, it’s dog, of course,” he informed, eating away.
“Dog!” gasped the doctor. “Thunder and Mars! Ugh! Why didn’t somebody say so?” And out he rushed.
Ned had suspected the same, but he had not been asked. Now chuckled and swayed the general and the lieutenant, smothering their glee.
“Let’s look further,” quoth the general. “There may be other surprises. Any sign of the Indians about, Guerrier?”
“No. Village deserted,” answered Guerrier.
They emerged from the lodge, into the moonlight, and rummaged here and there. Guerrier disappeared again.
“In my opinion,” remarked the general, “that half-breed knew of this all along. He was supposed to report to headquarters the first token that the village was being abandoned. Instead, he waited, to let the Indians clear out, then he reported. You know, his wife was in the village; and so he wanted to make her safe.”
“Humph!” grunted the doctor and the lieutenant.
The general went poking about; so did the others. One lodge did not have any fire; its interior was dark, when the general stuck his head in; and picking up a splinter of wood he lighted it, for a torch. Then in he boldly went—only to call back, handing the splinter forth again.
“Light this, will you, doctor? It blew out on me.”
The doctor hastened away, to light the splinter at a lodge fire, and Ned waited for him. The general must have been moving in the dark, inside, for Ned heard a quick exclamation from him, and he thought that next he caught a strange voice, addressing the general in Indian. It was a low, quavering voice; and he was not certain. He clutched his revolver, listening, poised for action. Nothing more was said beyond the lodge doorway; but the doctor seemed gone a very long time. At last here he came, bearing the light.
“Is that you, doctor?” spoke the general, quickly. “Watch sharp, when you enter, and be ready for trouble. Cock your revolver. There’s an Indian in this place. I stepped on him, and I hear him.”