They could not have killed him if they had tried, the move so sudden and unlooked for.

They had expected the fellow to show them the way to Owen's lake, but now their guide was gone, and left nothing to remember him by except his bow and arrows.

So they returned to their wagons not much wiser than before.
All kinds of game was now very scarce, and so seldom seen that the men got tired of carrying their guns, and grew fearless of enemies.

A heavy rifle was indeed burdensome over so long a road when there was no frequent use for it.

The party kept rolling along as fast as possible but the mountains and valleys grew more barren and water more scarce all the time.