John and Argent by cmsix

Chapter 45

I left my office then and called the women over when I was out in my cave.

"They are sneaking up on us again." I said, getting the attention of all of them at once.

"Who is?" Dieta asked as they all gathered around me.

"Men from Cardiato's old camp. I'm not sure that Jato became the leader since he was leading the group coming across the plateau.

"Are there other's coming?" Amelia asked.

"Yes there are four coming across the plateau and there are eight coming up the canyon by the river. Those coming up the canyon are ahead of the others by about two hours." I told them.

"What will we do?" Winna asked.

"All of you should put on your mail and get your weapons; then I want you to tell all the others in camp to go into their caves and not come out unless I or one of you calls them. Tell them what is happening and to guard the entrances to their caves, letting no one in that doesn't belong here." I said.

"What about the men working in the woods?" Waaya asked.

"I'm going to saddle Red and go make plans with them. If men of the other camp come here before I get back I want Merita and Maia to let the wolves loose on them. Everyone should be ready to shoot them if they try to harm the wolves. I will probably be sending most of the men from the woods back up here before then." I told them and left for the horse pens.

I had Red saddled and was down greeting my men within half an hour. I sent Jonoco back to get Racaato to join me and then to go and warn Raalto and those gathering the hay. I should have thought to bring Racaato with me but I hadn't. I told the other men to go back to our camp also and they did. There were four logs in the side stream waiting to be towed to camp but they were tied off and couldn't get away downriver. I had the men leave them. They gathered their things and left.

I could get Red into the woods easily now so I took him and tied him to a tree; far enough back so that he wouldn't be visible from the canyon. I found a place where I could conceal myself in the brush and settled down with my M1 to wait. I was pretty sure that Racaato would reach me before the visitors did.

Not quite an hour later Racaato and Raalto came riding up. I showed them where to tie their mounts and we had a powwow in the edge of the woods.

"I sent Bigglieo, Gondro and Jalaato upriver to hide on the other side of the ramp and then sneak down behind the four from the plateau if they tried to circle our camp and approach from the north." Raalto said.

"The rest of our leaders are spread out in the other caves now so that there are men with rifles in each entrance." Racaato added.

"Your mates are pretty mad about this and they are all looking out from behind the new entrance covers wanting to find someone to shoot. Especially Ameliea, Roweea and Dieta. I don't expect any of the men from the plateau to survive if they make it to camp before we are back." Raalto said laughing.

"If I have my way there will be a big surprise waiting for them when they peek down into our camp from above." I told them.

We made a simple plan to let the visitors get upriver from our position before we confronted them and then we waited. Forty-five minutes later they came up on the other side of the river but when they saw the logs in the side stream and all the obvious sign on the banks they crossed to look things over. When they were on the bank near the logs Racaato and I let loose about five shots each from our Glocks while Raalto covered them with his M1 from a makeshift shooting rest we had put up.

They all froze when they heard the Glocks talking to them. I shouted after we stopped firing.

"Throw down your weapons at once if you want to live."

One of them was probably a little stupid and he turned, raising his spearcaster and looking for a target. Raalto didn't let him look long, he shot him right through the chest and when he didn't fall at once he shot him again. The others flung their spearcasters to the ground.

"Why did you kill Dutotto? We have only come to visit as you invited." One of them asked while Racaato, Raalto and I came out of the trees.

"You should get it through your heads that we are not stupid, you are the ones that seem stupid. Do you think we don't know about Jato and the three other men he is leading across the plateau to sneak up on us while you have our attention?" I asked him.

They were struck dumb when I told them this. I saw panic on most of their faces. The one that was speaking acted as if he didn't know what I was talking about though.

"Jato was in camp when we left." He said.

"No doubt, I expect him to arrive about two hours after you would have. Throw down your knives and any other weapons you have now or we will kill you all and throw your bodies in the river. Raalto, if any others speak go ahead and shoot them too." I said loudly.

None of them made a peep and all discarded at least one knife. I was pretty sure that some of them were still holding out though.

"You had better search each other carefully to make sure that none of you are still carrying a weapon. If any of you produce one later I will have you all killed, even if some of you have given up all yours."

Two of the men turned to the one that had spoken at once and took his concealed knife from him. Then they searched the others and found two more.

"I see that some of you really are very stupid. You can't even harm us with your spearcasters but you think that you can do something with mere knives. Pick up the dead one and start upriver toward our camp. Be quick about it, others of my camp are waiting for you there."

They did as I told them but left at a walk.

"Faster, if you lag behind I will kill you and leave your bodies for the animals." I yelled to their backs.

They broke into a trot and Raalto, Racaato and I retrieved our mounts to follow them. We were on their heels in only a minute or two and we stayed on them until we reached camp.

I was in a really bad mood by the time we got there. This spying shit was getting on my nerves. I was going to make an impression on this group and the others that were still sneaking their way here. I couldn't make up my mind whether any of them were going to live to go back and spread the news though.

Daaggo, Caato and Colonto came out from different caves to join us then. I got an idea about how to start this party and surveyed the rim of the canyon for a few seconds.

"Daaggo please call some of your men to bring stakes and thongs so that we can tie these spies to the ground." I told him and he left to do it at once.

"Dieta, come here with your sharpest knife please." I yelled and she came from our cave with it in her hand, smiling her widest.

"Please cut the clothes off the dead one for me and be ready to help the live ones make up their minds to cooperate later. I think you might be pleased to know that Sadogo is in the group that is sneaking over the plateau." I said.

"You won't make me let him live this time will you?" She asked.

"I don't think so, I'm sure that he won't be needing his ears any longer in any case, he probably won't need to keep his nose either." I said and watched the captured men turn pale.

Turning to face them I asked.

"Will you take your own clothes off or shall I have Dieta cut them off you?"

They began pulling their tunics off at once and they were all standing around in their shriveled nakedness when Daaggo returned with some of his men and the things I had asked him to bring.

After Dieta had the dead one naked, I had Daaggo and his men stretch him out spread-eagled and then had them drive stakes into the ground and tie him to them.

"But he is already dead John, why do you tie him down now?" Dieta asked.

"Those that look down from the plateau won't know that he wasn't killed after he was tied down. I want them to think about what may happen to them." I said.

When the body was tied to the stakes I asked Dieta to relieve it of its now useless genitalia. She grinned and knelt between its legs. I told her to be sure and save all of his sack that she could since it might be made into a nice pouch with careful tanning. Two of the standing men tossed their last meal at that and I signaled Dieta not to do it after all.

"It might not be useful since he has been dead so long, maybe we should get one that is fresh." I said.

Another of the men lost his stomach's contents then and I could tell that my talking about it was making them more nervous than the actual act.

"We'll wait a while for that. Tie the rest down now Daaggo. We will leave them here for their friends to see when they look over the edge."

Daaggo and his men did indeed tie the naked men down. When they were through I walked into the horse cave and got a good axe. I returned and separated the dead man from his head and left it laying about a foot from the stump of his neck; wanting to scare the shit out of the ones coming over the plateau in case they somehow managed to escape us and make it back to their camp.

After the naked men were secured I called my leaders to come into my cave for talks and asked everyone else to go back into their caves.

When I got into my cave Dieta and Ameliea were clutching each other and laughing so hard I figured they were embracing just so they could hold each other up. Jaada came to me and hugged me so tightly it almost hurt.

"What a man we have for a mate. You were only talking to them and threatening and three of them lost their stomachs. One of the others looked like he would mess himself any minute." She said.

"I'm not sure if they were afraid of me or afraid that I would leave them to Dieta's tender mercies." I said and laughed.

"They were afraid of something and they were very afraid of it. I almost wish you would send them home naked to tell their tale to the rest of the camp." Roweea said, giggling at her own thought.

"That might be a good idea Roweea. After we have the others in hand we can give them a little of the same treatment and maybe release them tomorrow to get home as best they can with no weapons or clothes."

My mates were all in favor of this scheme at once and began asking me to do it. I was thinking about it and though at first, when I was angriest, I had intended to kill most or all of them; now I just wanted to make sure they stopped this damned sneaking around.

I knew one thing that was going to happen for sure. When they were all staked out naked in the canyon I would make sure that they knew exactly how many people lived in this camp now. I was going to have everyone come out at once and stroll around them, looking them over in their defenseless condition.

I went back to my office to take another look at the ones still heading this way unaware of their other group's condition. I found them at once and they would be here within the hour.

I went back out into my cave and asked Merita and Maia if they could have the wolves go out and give the prisoners a bite or two and then call them back. They told me that it would be easy and Maia said that she thought that even the little ones could be made to do it now too. She did say that it might be harder to get them to stop and come back though.

"The others should be here before too long, if they try to look down on us from above I want you to send all the wolves out to torment those that are tied down. I will ask Racaato to watch from the other side so he can shoot them if they try to harm the wolves with their spearcasters."

I called Racaato and Raalto and we discussed it. Racaato said that he would do it and Raalto even said that he would help but they asked if I didn't want to give Nadlo, Jonoco or some of the others a chance, still worrying about getting more mates for themselves I guess.

I asked around among my leaders and found that Colonto, Barago and Caato all felt like they could take the chance on gaining a mate now. We hadn't even asked if the one that Raalto had already shot was a mated man and when I pointed that out Ameliea perked up and told us that he had been mated and that he'd had a very pretty young mate, Camalieta, that would no doubt be joining us soon. Raalto seemed to take the news with more enthusiasm than I'd expected.

With the plans made and knowing that we still had time to kill I began to wonder about at least a small bite to eat. When I looked to the kitchen a smile came to my face.

"Yes my always hungry mate, we have food ready." Dalia told me smiling.

We sat down and had sandwiches for a quick lunch. I was mad again when Caato's mate Jaadalla brought my plate and brushed her ass against me. If these sneaking bastards hadn't upset our day I could have been interviewing her in my office this afternoon.

We ate quickly and Raalto, Nadlo, Jonoco, Racaato, Barago, Caato and Colonto got their M1s and headed across the canyon to take up hiding places over there. When Jaadalla brought me another mug of coffee I pulled her down into my lap and had to have a taste of her kisses.

She was receptive and put her hands around my neck kissing me back with more passion than I expected. I had to take time to put a hand under her tunic then and take hold of a firm round titty. She sighed when I found it and as I teased the nipple she wiggled her sweet ass against dicky.

"I am hoping that you will honor Caato soon John." She whispered into my ear, nipping the lobe with her teeth.

"You can expect it to be very soon Jaadalla, very soon." I replied.

Argent must have been watching us closely this morning because as I pulled my hand from Jaadalla's tunic and dropped it between her legs to cup her pussy he tingled the back of my neck. I reluctantly released her after only one squeeze of her warm cunt through her trousers and when she stood I took my coffee back into my office to check the video again.

Jato was the headman of this group and he was leading them all over to the edge of the plateau to look down into the canyon. I could see that they were about six hundred yards south of our camp but could tell that they located it right away when they looked down. They moved back from the edge and headed north again with a more likely viewing spot in mind this time.

Argent just couldn't contain himself I guessed. He popped a message on screen and told me that if I wanted to join my mates to watch the fun he would signal me when the first man looked over the edge again. I agreed and left my office to join them at our cave's entrance.

When Argent tingled my neck a few minutes later I told Merita and Maia to release the wolves. They bounded out headed for the staked out men. As the wolves reached and began nipping at the tied down helpless men they started screaming. Who wouldn't?

I was watching the entrance to the big cave and I saw an M1s' barrel push out of an opening. Its muzzled flashed and then I heard the report. One of the small spears fell harmlessly to the canyon floor then, followed by the thud of a no doubt dead body. I had Merita and Maia call the wolves back and most of them came at once. One of the young males did take a few more seconds to get in a last nip or two though.

Nothing else happened for a few minutes but before I gave the signal to come back out into the canyon I went to my office to check the video again. Jato and the two remaining spies were moving out sharply back the way they had come. They weren't trotting but their walk was faster than normal.

I walked back out of my office and my cave and when the others saw my exit they came to me.

"Jato and the other two live ones are heading back for their camp. I think that we should saddle up and meet them as they are coming down from above."

"Would it be all right if we take the wolves and loose them on the spies as they are trying to climb down?" Merita asked me hopefully.

"I think that would be a grand idea." I said.

Nadlo, Jonoco and Danlo rushed off to hitch the big wagon. All my mates went to fetch their weapons, as did everyone else that hadn't done it already. Daaggo asked if we could bring some of the others that weren't trained with firearms yet so that the spies would know there were more of us than they thought.

"We will be showing them exactly how many of us there are when we have them tied down with the others later. Why don't you stay and make sure that the others are organized to watch over the camp while we are gone."

"You are right, all of us should not leave chasing after only three frightened men." He said.

Most of us went after them though. It had been Colonto who had killed the one that tried to launch a spear and I'm sure he was anxious to find out whether the man was mated or not. I saw that he was in the wagon and talking to Ameliea and Daria as it left.

Raalto, Racaato, Dieta, Roweea and Jonoco mounted to ride with me and we followed the wagon that carried most of the rest of my leaders, most of my mates and all of the wolves. The wagon had left with the giant horses trotting but we passed them and arrived near the path down from the top in less than an hour.

After a little reconnoiter, I sent Jonoco back to stop the wagon where it would be mostly out of sight from above. The spies would still see it if they came to look over the edge but I didn't think they had any more spying on their minds now. By the time they reached the point and started their descent we were all hidden and waiting to spring our surprise.

I let them get within thirty feet of the canyon floor before I signaled Merita and Maia to loose the wolves again. At their signal the wolves bolted up the steep path and were on the three men before they could even consider using their spearcasters. They had been in too much of a hurry to have one man hang back to provide some cover.

They screamed like the others had when the wolves took them to the ground; after we'd all stepped out and revealed ourselves I had Merita and Maia call them off again.

"Do not try to get up or use your weapons if you want to live a little bit longer." I shouted to the three as the wolves left them.

They lay still while the wolves came back down. I then told them to come down empty handed and while two of them did so quietly the third, Sadogo, took his chances bolting back up the path. I thought about having someone shoot him but I could see that in his panic he had dropped his weapon so I had Merita send the wolves back after him.

They seemed to fly by the two that were coming down and Sadogo was on the ground screaming again in less than a minute. Merita looked at me for a signal to call them off but I told her to let them play with him a while.

Prince, King and Rover backed off after Sadogo was down, watching to make sure that he didn't try to get back up. The younger ones weren't that far along in their training and while Sadogo kept crying out and wiggling they continued to bite him. Luckily for him their teeth were still small but unluckily they were sharp baby teeth.

All the rabbit had left Sadogo by the time I had Merita call the young ones back down. I told him to quit being a fool and come down slowly. He did this time, with Prince, King and Rover for companions. I could tell that he was happy to follow instructions now.

He wasn't so sure that he was safe when he spotted Dieta with her knife in hand though. She came over to him walking slowly and she had a very evil gleam in her eye.

"So we meet again my plaything." She said as she began inspecting the bites marks that were visible.

Sadogo didn't make a sound or move as she walked around him.

"We will have to keep him alive for a while John." She said to me.

"Why should we my mate?"

"The wolves have bitten his ears, both of them. I don't want them to be all chewed up when I take them. We will have to keep him until they are healed. His nose is not injured though." She said and reached toward it with her knife.

Sadogo was frightened beyond his endurance by this move and he fell to his knees begging and wet himself. When he did this Dieta released the most evil sounding laugh I had ever heard.

"Get up you cowardly fool. Don't you know that your friends can see you crying from a woman's threats?" She told him as she sheathed her knife.

It took a few minutes but he was finally able to stand again. I asked Jonoco to climb up and retrieve the weapons that had been left on the path and he did it while I had the three men strip off their clothes and stand naked.

I took a long rope from the wagon and tied a loop of it around each of their necks, tying the end to one of the hitching loops on the wagon's box. When everyone was back on the wagon or mounted I signaled and we headed home at a trot. I saw that the spies were careful not to fall.

After we got back to camp Daaggo and his group were more than happy to stake the three new arrivals out among their friends. I told Merita and Maia to let the wolves watch them for us but I asked them, loudly, not to let the wolves damage any parts that Dieta might want to keep later. Since I didn't think there would be any more visitors that needed the treatment I had Daaggo and his men take the dead bodies off and put them in the frozen cave for the night. We would be taking them back tomorrow when we went to fetch their former mates.

I knew that I was being rather cruel to our prisoners but I was tired of them showing up and pretty pissed off about the trickery they had attempted this time. I felt reasonably sure that Jato had not become the leader after all and I also felt that Sadogo had probably helped make the case that another recon mission should be tried.

Whoever the new leader was would be dying tomorrow, I was sure of that. I thought about killing Jato also but decided that I wouldn't in case he could manage to become the next leader. I'd had enough of Sadogo though and if Dieta wanted his ears I was going to make sure she got them. They weren't damaged overmuch and I felt sure that they would heal within a week or ten days. We could keep him tied in one of the bigger caves that long without much bother.

With the last three tied down all my mates, my leaders and I went into my cave. The wolves were left to sniff out anything they found interesting.

Once we were inside I told all the leaders that I wanted to make sure that everyone in our camp spent some time showing themselves to the captives. I asked them to see that they all took their spears with them when they did it. The men left then to set up our demonstration. Later I looked out and could barely see any of the captives for all the people standing around them. Everyone went back to their homes just before sunset and we left our visitors attached to the stakes to contemplate a night tied down naked outside.

Our meal that night was rather subdued even though it was delicious. I wondered if I had shocked the others with what I thought was my cruelty. Even Georgo didn't speak much during the meal and when it was over I asked him to come with me to my office.

"What is your office John?" He asked.

"You will see."

When we entered it he was shocked. I explained what it was for, the official version anyway. I made it seem similar to his meditation chamber but told him it was also for other work and planning. I debated with myself whether I should show him the video feeds but decided that it would probably be too much for him to handle.

He'd had the story of today's goings on from others by now and so I asked him about it.

"Do you think that I have been too cruel to those we have captured? Have I upset my camp?"

"I'm sure that most of your camp is wondering why you haven't killed them all ready. What that camp is doing is a completely new thing for us. If they keep it up people will be suspicious of all strangers and traveling between camps will stop. Jakado has started this thing but he is dead now and some of the others can't seem to see that it was his just reward. I am glad that you are not letting them do this to your camp and if they can't be made to stop I hope that you can kill everyone of them that thinks it is good." Georgo told me.

"Surely there must be some good men in the camp." I said.

"There may be but they might have been ruined with Jakado and Cardiato's talk of making all do as they say. They are both dead now but as you see it hasn't stopped this treachery. If they are allowed to keep it up they will only become better at it. Even if they can't harm us they can harm others." He said.

"I understand that Georgo and I can tell you that every leader that continues it is going to die as soon as I find out about it. I am tired of it and if I have to see that every man in the camp is killed I will do it. I am familiar with the way men such as this think and I do not like it. I want peace in my camp and I don't see how I will ever have it until they are convinced that they can not take advantage of others like they have been doing." I told him.

"I am afraid that you are right and that they will keep it up unless you make them stop. Have you asked Jato if he is the leader now?" Georgo asked.

"Not yet, I am going to let him enjoy a night outside with the wolves for company first and see what he has to say in the morning."

We left my office then and though my mates and I went to bed I had trouble sleeping at first. I dropped off suddenly and soundly and I'm sure Argent probably had something to do with it; thankfully he didn't initiate a dream visit this time though.

When I woke the next morning it was early but all my mates except Jaada and Maia were already up. As I stirred they were quick to welcome me to consciousness with kisses and hugs. I thought about a little morning work but decided I should get dressed, eat and begin with the prisoners.

Even though it was early my hopes of naked coffee service were dashed when I made it to the kitchen. Raalto and Racaato were already at the table and their multitude of mates were in the kitchen with mine. When Winna brought me a mug of coffee she gave me a look conveying her disappointment too.

I couldn't blame my men, they were probably anxious to see what the prisoners had to say this morning.

"Did either of you look out at the prisoners?" I asked.

"We both did, we didn't go outside but we did look out at them. The wolves are still walking around and growling at them every now and then." Racaato said.

"Do you think that it was cruel of me to leave them out like that?"

"If I were in their position, after what they tried, I would be glad that I was still alive to be annoyed by the wolves. I am looking forward to hearing what Jato has to say for himself." Raalto said.

Nadlo, Jonoco and Danlo and their mates came in then with Barago, Caato, Bigglieo and Dargo not far behind. The kitchen was full of women already so most of their mates sat at the table with us. Natalto and Cahttiea came in before they had all found a seat. Cahttiea gave me a big smile as she sat down.

The food started coming then and we didn't talk much while we ate. Since my first plate was heavily laden I didn't expect I'd be getting a second one unless I asked for it. This was another little indignity that the prisoners or their leaders were going to answer for.

After eating, all my leaders and wranglers seemed intent on going with me to speak to our guest. Before we left I told then that if any of the prisoners did any serious complaining that someone who wanted another mate should kill the loudest quickly to see if we could keep the others minding their manners.

We had barely made it outside and near them when Sadogo burst out berating me and claimed that Bortato and Daggalo would see that I was killed for this.

I guessed that Jaadalla, Caato's mate, had made it plain he was to find her a helper if he could. He had his Glock out and a bullet hole between Sadogo's eyes before Barago, who had been reaching for his weapon also, could bring his Glock to bear. It looked like Dieta was going to have to settle for damaged ears or pick out another pair.

"Before any of the rest of you open your mouths to complain let me warn you that we aren't going to listen to it. If you speak up without being asked a question you will be in the frozen cave with Sadogo and the other two before you can finish what you wanted to say. If you are determined to die though feel free to shout it out now." I told them.

They were silent so I went to Jato.

"Are you the leader of the camp now Jato?" I asked.

"No. I told you I would not bother you with more spies and I meant it. Bortato and Daggalo have become co-leaders. Sending one group to approach you in the open and another to slip up on you was their idea." Jato said.

"I guess you know now that it wasn't very smart."

"I knew it wasn't when they planned it and I didn't want to come. They intended to kill me if I didn't and they sent Sadogo with me to make sure that I didn't slip away. They even threatened to kill my mate if I didn't go." Jato said.

"Well I hope you are the leader after we are finished there today. You are all going with us and I doubt that you will enjoy the trip, even though we don't have time to make you walk. You will be riding in Georgo's buckboard but you will be as naked then as you are now." I said.

"You must do as you see fit but if you return me to the camp in this condition I will never be leader. I am not sure that I want to be leader now though." Jato said.

"Do any of the rest of you have anything to say?"

They all asked to stay here and join our camp then. I didn't feel like taking any more spies into our midst and told them so. I knew from yesterday that some of them were not worth having and so I decided to send them all back to see what would happen. We went back into my cave then to talk it over.

"Do any of you have any thoughts?"

"I think that we should talk with Daria and Ameliea and maybe some of the others that have joined us from that camp. We should see if there is a chance that Jato could become leader next." Raalto said.

None of the others spoke up so I asked Jonoco to go fetch Mundo and those that had joined us after Cardiato was killed.

When they were with us I asked them for their thoughts on the matter. Mundo and the other men thought that if Bortato and Daggalo were to be killed Jato might become the leader and surprisingly they all thought that he would stop the trouble we'd been having from that camp. When I asked Daria and Ameliea they agreed.

We went back outside and I had the prisoners released. Their clothes were returned to them and they were allowed to dress. When they were clothed I led them into my cave and my mates fed them. Seeing my chance I sat down too and had another small breakfast, just to be sociable of course.

While we were eating I sent Danlo, Nadlo, Jonoco, Sahto and Talvo to the horse pens and told them to hitch teams to both wagons and Georgo's buckboard. I also asked them to saddle all the horses that had been ridden already, except for the wild stallion, Jack, of course.

After the prisoners were fed all my people that knew how to use a firearm were told to fetch them and come along. Most rode in the wagons or the buckboard but we did put someone, with a rifle, on every horse. We made it to the troublesome camp in just over two hours and we made a much bigger showing this time as we rode in.

A young man in the camp bolted toward a hut as soon as he saw us, and two men were approaching before we had even halted. Barago and Jalaato had already decided which one they would kill when it came time. We dismounted and the three of us approached the men, I was assuming that they were Bortato and Daggalo. They must have been since Jalaato and Barago pulled their Glocks and shot them both when they reached us. I stepped forward just past the two fallen leaders.

"Most of you know by now that I am John and am the leader of a camp not too far from here. We are tired of men from this camp sneaking up on us. I am bringing back those from yesterday that we didn't kill. If you send men sneaking up to our camp again we will be coming back and killing half the men in this camp. There are many more of us than there are of you and we will have no trouble doing what I say."

I turned and walked back to the wagon that Jato was riding in then. I told him and the others to go into there camp and make sure that there was no trouble while we gathered the women that would be coming with us and their things.

I remounted then and Danlo came with me as I rode through the camp to take up a watching post on the other side of it. Galto, Dargo and Daaggo rode to the center of the camp and took a spot also. The rest of those that were mounted spread out in the camp too.

Raalto, Colonto, Caato, Jalaato and Barago went to find their new mates and when they'd been located the wagons pulled into camp and the women's things were loaded. There was no excitement this time and in fact most of the camp's men seemed to have disappeared. When the women and their possessions were loaded we left without saying anything else.