"Where were they taking her, Hughes--do you know?"
"Wa'n't but one place fer 'em to take her--the Cheyennes hev got winter camp down yonder on the Canadian--Black Kettle's outfit. Onc't thar, all hell could n't pry her loose."
"And Le Fevre dared go there? Among those hostiles?"
"Him!" Hughes laughed scornfully. "Why, he's hand in glove with the whole bunch. He's raided with 'em, decked out in feathers an' war-paint."
The Sergeant thought rapidly and leaped to a sudden conclusion.
"And you were trying to kill him when you shot us up?"
"Thet wus the idea, stranger; if I got a friend o' yourn, I 'm powerful sorry."