ContentsI--The TrainII--King BisonIII--The PassIV--Treasure-TroveV--The Lost ValleyVI--Castle HowardVII--An Animal ProgressionVIII--The Trap MakersIX--The Timber WolvesX--Dick Goes ScoutingXI--The Terrible PursuitXII--The Fight with NatureXIII--Albert's VictoryXIV--PrisonersXV--The Indian VillageXVI--The Gathering of the SiouxXVII--Great Sun DanceXVIII--The Circle of DeathXIX--A Happy MeetingXX--Bright Sun's Good-byChapter IThe TrainThe boy in the third wagon was suffering from exhaustion. Thedays and days of walking over the rolling prairie, under a brassysun, the hard food of the train, and the short hours of rest, hadput too severe a trial upon his delicate frame. Now, as he layagainst the sacks and boxes that had been drawn up to form a sortof couch for him, his breath came in short gasps, and his facewas very pale. His brother, older, and stronger by far, whowalked at the wheel, regarded him with a look in which affectionand intense anxiety were mingled. It was not a time and place inwhich one could afford to be ill.Richard and Albert Howard were bound together by the strongest ofbrotherly ties. Richard had inherited his father's bigness andpowerful constitution, Albert his mother's slenderness andfragility. But it was the mother who lived the longer, althougheven she did not attain middle age, and her last words to herolder son were: "Richard, take care of Albert." He had promised,and now was thinking how he could keep the promise.It was a terrible problem that confronted Richard Howard. Hefelt no fear on his own account. A boy in years, he was a man inthe ability to care for himself, wherever he might be. In aboyhood spent on an Illinois farm, where the prairies slope up tothe forest, he had learned the ways of wood and field, and wasfull of courage, strength, and resource.But Albert was different. He had not thrived in the moist air ofthe great valley. Tall enough he was, but the width of chest andthickness of bone were lacking. Noticing this, the idea of goingto California had come to the older brother. The great gold dayshad passed years since, but it was still a land of enchantment tothe youth of the older states, and the long journey in the high,dry air of the plains would be good for Albert. There wasnothing to keep them back. They had no property save a littlemoney--enough for their equipment, and a few dollars over tolive on in California until they could get work.