They could see no sign of human life on slope or in valley.
"Looks as wild as the Rockies," said the sergeant tersely.
"But you won't find any Injuns here to ambush you," said Red Blaze, "though I don't make any guarantee against bushwhackers and guerillas, who'll change sides as often as two or three times a day, if it will suit their convenience.

They could hide in the woods along the road an' pick us off as easy as I'd shoot a squirrel out of a tree.

They'd like to have our arms an' our big coats.

I tell you what, friends, a mighty civil war like ours gives a tremenjeous opportunity to bad men.
They're all comin' to the top.

Every rascal in the mountains an' in the lowlands, too, I guess, is out lookin' for plunder an' wuss." "You're right, Red Blaze," said the sergeant with emphasis, "an' it won't be stopped until the generals on both sides begin to hang an' shoot the plunderers an' murderers." "But they can't ketch 'em all," said Red Blaze.