While he failed to gain definite knowledge of the missing youth, he had brought a message which was certain to be delivered to the right party before the next set of sun.

But Hank knew the men with whom he was dealing, and could not feel assured that any ultimate good would result until nearer the end.
"I wish I knowed whether them imps know anything about that younker; they don't act as if they did, and yet they may be as deep in the bus'ness as Motoza." The last remark suggested a possibility which the cowman shrank from considering.

It was that the Sioux was wholly innocent, and that all the mischief had been done through unsuspected parties.

It has been shown that other Indians, not yet encountered, were in the vicinity, and it was not absolutely certain that they were not the criminals.

The thought, however, opened the illimitable fields of speculation, and the hunter was wise in determining to hold to his original belief until assured it was an error.
Before he was half-way back to camp the moon appeared above the mountain peak behind him, and the rugged scenery was lit up by the rays that streamed on every side.