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 there was left only two deer-ribs; and they drank and ate.

"Rather limited rations, for five hungry persons after a two-days' fast," the doctor joked.

"We have our blankets, and we are safe, sir," the lieutenant answered. "Such a matter as diet should not enter into the calculations of men who explore the wilderness. They must expect only what they will get."

"The little cap'n's a man o' iron; he's not flesh and blood," Terry murmured, to John and Stub. "But I reckon he'd not refuse a bit more rib, himself."

"With him, when your belt's at the last hole, why, cut another," said John.

However, safe they were, although still very hungry. In the morning they rode down the creek, constantly getting lower and finding less snow. Just after noon the men shot two buffalo. That made a full feast—the first square meal in three days. So to-night they camped more comfortably under some shelving rock, outside the hills.

The place seemed to be a favorite camp ground for Indians, also. The valley was strewn with their horse sign, and with broken lodge-poles and old lodge-pins. The lieutenant thought that these had