But his wife made no reply, for she well
knew that though he might criticise, he would
not actually interfere with her domestic ar-
rangements.
He now started ahead to join the men in ad-
vance of the slow-moving procession, thus leav-
ing her in undivided charge of her household.
One or two of the pack ponies were not well-
trained and required all her attention. Nakpa
had been a faithful servant until her escapade
of the morning, and she was now obviously sat-
isfied with her mistress' arrangements. She
walked alongside with her lariat dragging, and
perfectly free to do as she pleased.
Some hours later, the party ascended a slope
from the river bottom to cross over the divide
which lay between the Powder River and a trib-
utary stream. They had hitherto followed that
river in a westerly direction, but here it took
its course southward, winding in a blue streak
until lost to view among the foot-hills of the
Big Horn Mountains. The ford was deep, with
a swift current. Here and there a bald butte
stood out in full relief against the brilliant blue
sky.
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