CHAPTER VI.
When I returned to General Carr's command after my experience as a prisoner I was informed that the general had been waiting for me for two weeks.
"I'm glad you've come, Bill," said the general.

"While we've been at this Post a number of valuable animals have been stolen, as well as many Government horses and mules.

We think the thieves are still near the fort.

Fresh tracks have been found near Fort Lyon.

Perhaps Bill Green, the scout who has been up there, can tell you something about them." Sending for Green, I found that he had marked the place where he had lost the trail of the marauders.
Next morning, accompanied by Green, Jack Farley, and another scout, I set out after the horse-thieves.
While making a circuit about the tracks we had found leading away from the spot where Green discovered them, we found the trail of twelve animals--four mules and eight horses--in the edge of the sandhills.
From this point we had no trouble in trailing them down to the Arkansas River.