.

The Scene of Tragedy.
Whatever might be the nature of the tragedy it would be over with long before this, and those moving black spots away yonder to the west, that he had discerned from the bluff, were undoubtedly the departing raiders.
There was nothing left for Keith to do except determine the fate of the unfortunates, and give their bodies decent burial.

That any had escaped, or yet lived, was altogether unlikely, unless, perchance, women had been in the party, in which case they would have been borne away prisoners.
Confident that no hostiles would be left behind to observe his movements, Keith pressed steadily forward, leading his horse.

He had thus traversed fully half a mile before coming upon any evidence of a fight--here the pursuers had apparently come up with the wagons, and circled out upon either side.

From their ponies' tracks there must have been a dozen in the band.