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 side, sergeant. Quick! Be ready with your guns. That's it. Baroney, tell the chief that the next warrior who touches our baggage or animals shall die instantly. Sergeant, at the first attempt, let the men shoot to kill."

The Pawnees understood. They saw the muskets half leveled, and the grim, determined faces behind. A warrior stretched out his hand, stealthily, to a pack—and John Spark's muzzle covered him in a flash. He jumped back.

"Go!" suddenly ordered the head chief. The Pawnees sullenly gathered their presents, and without another word filed away, the whole sixty.

"See if we've lost anything, sergeant,' said the lieutenant.

"One sword, one tomahawk, one axe, five canteens and some smaller stuff missing, sir," was the report.

The soldiers waited eagerly. They wished to follow and fight.

"No matter," gruffly answered the lieutenant. "We must save our lives for our work, my men. We have work to do. Forward, march." He shrugged his shoulders, and added, to the doctor: "I feel as badly as they do. This is the first time I ever swallowed an insult to the Government and the uniform.