They must have known we'd find it out at daylight and would be after 'em hot-footed." Grizzly had been puzzling over the same phase of the question.

The 'dog Indian' is a vagabond, who, belonging to some particular tribe, as of necessity must be the case, affiliates with none, but goes whithersoever his will leads him, provided he is not prevented.
Sometimes they remain on the reservation for weeks and months, as orderly, industrious and well-behaved as the best of the red men.

Then they disappear, and may not turn up for a long time.

In truth, they are as likely not to turn up at all, but to lead their wandering, useless lives just as the vagrants do in civilized communities.
Surely the couple who had played their parts in the incidents of the night must have known that nothing could be gained by stampeding a part of Whitney's herd.

The cattle were branded, and could not be disposed of for that reason.