do what he was bidden. Mickey led him out into the moonlight, when he left
him standing, while he went a short distance for the saddle and bridle,
which he had concealed at the time of leaving the spot. They were found
just as he had left them, and he returned in high feather, secured them in
a twinkling upon his animal and galloped back to where the lad was
waiting.

"Ye haven't seen or heard anything of redskins, have ye, while I was
procuring my cratur?"

"Nothing at all," replied the lad; "but I heard you talking pretty loud,
so I suppose you must have found several."

"No," answered Mickey, who did not care about explaining the whole affair.
"I'm always in the habit of exchanging a few words wid the cratur when I
maats, and such was the case a short time since, when I met him, after
being away so long."

"Well, Mickey, we haven't any time to spare."

"Ye're right, my laddy; all you've got to do is to folly me."

With this he headed his mustang at precisely right angles to the course
they followed in making their way to the spot; and Fred, who expected all
sorts of trouble in the way of traveling, noticed that he was following
some sort of path or trail, along which his horse trod as easily as upon
the open prairie. While this was an advantage in one respect it had its
disadvantage in another. The presence of a trail in that part of the world
implied that it was one made and traveled by Indians, who were likely to
be encountered at any moment, and Mickey was not insensible to the peril.