The tall willowy young man looked up from the fire and immediately came to meet them. “Have you come with any news about those men who murdered our people?” Donald asked at once.

“No, sir, I have not,” Conner answered. “I’m commanding a patrol out of Fort Ellis to try to find out what happened to you folks. But we just arrived here this evening. I’m hoping we can be of some help, but I need to have you tell me everything you can remember about your attack. Hopefully, you can take us to the place where they did the executions.” Donald was plainly confused that a single patrol had ridden all the way up there from a fort on the Yellowstone, when the soldiers there at Fort Benton decided there was nothing they could do to help. Conner told him that his uncle, Major Brisbin, the post commander, had received word of the tragedy that had befallen him. This, too, came as quite a surprise to young Lewis and he admitted that he knew that his uncle was now a major, but he had no idea where he was stationed.

While Conner and Lewis were talking, Hawk studied the other folks at the fire. When there was a pause in the conversation, Hawk commented, “The preacher said the survivors were around the fire. I make it seven, countin’ you.”