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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20618-h.zip b/20618-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ec8c9f4 --- /dev/null +++ b/20618-h.zip diff --git a/20618-h/20618-h.htm b/20618-h/20618-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e11a402 --- /dev/null +++ b/20618-h/20618-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5337 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"> + <html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> +<head> +<meta name="generator" content= +"HTML Tidy for Windows (vers 14 February 2006), see www.w3.org" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= +"text/html; charset=us-ascii" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Boy Land Boomer, by +Ralph Bonehill.</title> + +<style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .author {text-align: right; margin-right: 5%;} + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + div.trans-note {border-style: solid; border-width:1px; + margin: 3em 15%; padding: 1em; text-align: center;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 15%;} + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .u {text-decoration: underline;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Land Boomer, by Ralph Bonehill + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Land Boomer + Dick Arbuckle's Adventures in Oklahoma + +Author: Ralph Bonehill + +Illustrator: W. H. Fry + +Release Date: February 18, 2007 [EBook #20618] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY LAND BOOMER *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Marcia and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<br /> +<p><a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src= +"images/img001.jpg" alt="frontis" title="" /></div> + +<h5>"The youth had to +cling fast around his neck to save himself a lot of broken +bones"</h5> +<br /> +<h1>THE BOY LAND BOOMER</h1> +<h4>OR</h4> +<h3>DICK ARBUCKLE'S</h3> +<h3>ADVENTURES IN OKLAHOMA</h3> +<h4>BY</h4> +<h3>CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL</h3> +<h5>AUTHOR OF</h5> +<h5>"THREE YOUNG RANCHMEN,"</h5> +<h5>"A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY," ETC.</h5> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<center><big><b>ILLUSTRATED BY W. H. FRY</b></big></center> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h5>H. M. CALDWELL COMPANY</h5> +<h6>NEW YORK Publishers BOSTON</h6> +<h6>COPYRIGHT, 1902,</h6> +<h6>BY</h6> +<h6>THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY</h6> +<p class="center"><small>Made by</small><br /> +<small>Robert Smith Printing Co.,</small><br /> +<small>Lansing, Mich.</small></p> +<div class="trans-note">Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors +have been corrected. All other inconsistencies have been left as +they were in the original.</div> +<!-- Autogenerated TOC. Modify or delete as required. --> +<center><a href="#LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"><b>LIST OF +ILLUSTRATIONS</b></a> <a href= +"#PREFACE"><b>PREFACE.</b></a><br /></center> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER +I.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER +II.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER +III.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER +IV.</b></a></center> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER +V.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER +VI.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_VII"><b>CHAPTER +VII.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_VIII"><b>CHAPTER +VIII.</b></a></center> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_IX"><b>CHAPTER +IX.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_X"><b>CHAPTER +X.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XI"><b>CHAPTER +XI.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XII"><b>CHAPTER +XII.</b></a></center> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII"><b>CHAPTER +XIII.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIV"><b>CHAPTER +XIV.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XV"><b>CHAPTER +XV.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVI"><b>CHAPTER +XVI.</b></a><br /></center> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII"><b>CHAPTER +XVII.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII"><b>CHAPTER +XVIII.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XIX"><b>CHAPTER +XIX.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XX"><b>CHAPTER +XX.</b></a><br /></center> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI"><b>CHAPTER +XXI.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXII"><b>CHAPTER +XXII.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII"><b>CHAPTER +XXIII.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXIV"><b>CHAPTER +XXIV.</b></a><br /></center> +<center><a href="#CHAPTER_XXV"><b>CHAPTER +XXV.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVI"><b>CHAPTER +XXVI.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVII"><b>CHAPTER +XXVII.</b></a> <a href="#CHAPTER_XXVIII"><b>CHAPTER +XXVIII.</b></a><br /></center> +<!-- End Autogenerated TOC. --> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h2><a name="LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS" id= +"LIST_OF_ILLUSTRATIONS"></a>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> +<center><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>"The youth had to cling fast +around his neck to save<br /> +himself a lot of broken bones"</i></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#p62"><i>"The next instant the boy was hurled headlong +into<br /> +the boiling and foaming current"</i></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#p179"><i>"Dick had let fly the jagged stone, taking him +directly<br /> +in the forehead and keeling him over like a tenpin"</i></a><br /> +<br /> +<a href="#p220"><i>"In a second more the two men were in a +hand-to-handencounter"</i></a><br /> +<br /></center> +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> +<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE"></a>PREFACE.</h2> +<hr style="width: 25%;" /> +<p>"The Boy Land Boomer" relates the adventures of a lad who, with +his father, joins a number of daring men in an attempt to occupy +the rich farming lands of Oklahoma before the time when that +section of our country was thrown open to settlement under the +homestead act.</p> +<p>Oklahoma consists of a tract of land which formerly formed a +portion of the Indian Territory. This region was much in dispute as +early as 1884 and 1885, when Captain "Oklahoma" Payne and Captain +Couch did their best to force an entrance for the boomers under +them. Boomers remained in the neighborhood for years, and another +attempt was made to settle Oklahoma in 1886, and up to 1889, when, +on April 22, the land was thrown open to settlement by a +proclamation of the President. The mad rush to gain the best claims +followed, and some of these scenes are related in the present +volume.</p> +<p>The boomers, who numbered thousands, had among them several +daring and well-known leaders, but not one was better known or more +daring than the leader who is known in these pages as Pawnee Brown. +This man was not alone a great Indian scout and hunter, but also +one who had lived much among the Indians, could speak their +language, and who had on several occasions acted as interpreter for +the Government. He was well beloved by his followers, who relied +upon his judgment in all things.</p> +<p>To some it may seem that the scenes in this book are overdrawn. +Such, however, is not the fact. There was much of roughness in +those days, and the author has continually found it necessary to +tone down rather than to exaggerate in penning these scenes from +real life.</p> +<span style="margin-left: 32.9em;">CAPTAIN RALPH +BONEHILL.</span><br /> +<hr width="45%" size="4"/> +<br /> +<br /> +<h1>THE BOY LAND BOOMER</h1> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> +<h3>DICK ARBUCKLE'S DISCOVERY.</h3> +<br /> +<p>"Father!"</p> +<p>The call came from a boy of sixteen, a bright, manly chap, who +had just awakened from an unusually sound sleep in the rear end of +a monstrous boomer's wagon.</p> +<p>The scene was upon the outskirts of Arkansas City, situated near +the southern boundary line of Kansas and not many miles from the +Oklahoma portion of the Indian Territory.</p> +<p>For weeks the city had been filling up with boomers on their way +to pre-empt land within the confines of Oklahoma as soon as it +became possible to do so.</p> +<p>The land in Oklahoma had for years been in dispute. Pioneers +claimed the right to go in and stake out homesteads, but the +soldiers of our government would not allow them to do so.</p> +<p>The secret of the matter was that the cattle kings of that +section controlled everything, and as the grazing land of the +territory was worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to them they +fought desperately to keep the pioneers out, delaying, in every +manner possible, legislation which tended to make the section an +absolutely free one to would-be settlers.</p> +<p>But now the pioneers, or boomers as they were commonly called, +were tired of waiting for the passage of a law which they knew must +come sooner or later, and they intended to go ahead without legal +authority.</p> +<p>It was a dark, tempestuous night, with the wind blowing fiercely +and the rain coming down at irregular intervals. On the grassy +plain were huddled the wagons, animals and trappings of over two +hundred boomers. Here and there flared up the remains of a +campfire, but the wind was blowing too strongly for these to be +replenished, and the men had followed their wives and children into +the big, canvas-covered wagons, to make themselves as comfortable +as the crowded space permitted.</p> +<p>It was the rattle of the rain on the canvas covering of the +wagon which had aroused the boy.</p> +<p>"I say father!" he repeated. "Father!"</p> +<p>Again there was no reply, and, kicking aside the blanket with +which he had been covered, Dick Arbuckle clambered over some boxes +piled high in the center of the vehicle to where he had left his +parent resting less than three hours before.</p> +<p>"Gone!" cried the lad in astonishment. "What can this mean? What +could take him outside in such a storm as this? Father!"</p> +<p>He now crawled to the opening at the front of the wagon and +called at the top of his voice. Only the shrieking of the wind +answered him. A dozen times he cried out, then paused to strike a +somewhat damp match and light a smoky lantern hanging to the front +ashen bow of the turn-out's covering. Holding the light over his +head he peered forth into the inky darkness surrounding the +boomer's temporary camp.</p> +<p>"Not a soul in sight," he mused. "It must be about midnight. Can +something have happened to father? He said he felt rather strange +in his head when he went to bed. If only Jack Rasco would come +back."</p> +<p>From the front end of the wagon Dick Arbuckle shifted back to +the rear. Here the same dreary outlook of storm, mud and flapping +canvases presented itself. Not so much as a stray dog was in sight, +and the nearest wagon was twenty feet away.</p> +<p>"I must find out where he is. Something is wrong, I feel certain +of it."</p> +<p>Thus muttering to himself the youth hunted up his overcoat and +hat, put them on, and, lantern in hand, swung himself into the sea +of half-submerged prairie grass, and stalked over to the other +wagon just mentioned.</p> +<p>"Mike Delaney!" he cried, kicking on the wagon wheel with the +toe of his boot; "Mike Delaney, have you seen my father +anywhere?"</p> +<p>"Sure, an' Moike Delaney is not here, Dick Arbuckle," came in a +female voice. "He's gone off wid Pawnee Brown, and there's no +tellin' whin he'll be back. Is yer father gone?"</p> +<p>"Yes, and I don't know where," and now Dick stepped closer, as +the round and freckled face of Rosy Delaney peered forth from a +hole in the canvas end. "He went to bed when I did, and now he's +missing."</p> +<p>"Saints preserve us! Mebbe the Injuns scalped him now, Dick!" +came in a voice full of terror.</p> +<p>"There are no Indians around here, Mrs. Delaney," answered the +youth, half inclined to laugh. "But he's missing, and it's mighty +strange, to say the least."</p> +<p>"He was sick, too, wasn't he?"</p> +<p>"Father hasn't been real well for a year. He left New York very +largely in the hope that this climate would do him some good."</p> +<p>"Moike was sayin' his head throubles him a good bit."</p> +<p>"So it does, and that's why I am so worried. When he gets those +awful pains he is apt to walk away and keep right on without +knowing where he is going."</p> +<p>"Poor mon! Oi wisht Oi could help yez. Mebbe Moike will be back +soon. Ain't Jack Rasco about?"</p> +<p>"No, he is off with Pawnee Brown, too. Rasco and Brown have been +looking over the trails leading to Oklahoma. They are bound to +outwit the United States cavalry, for the boomers have more right +to that land than the cattle kings, and right is always might in +the end."</p> +<p>"Especially wid Pawnee on the end o' it, Dick. He's a great mon, +is Pawnee, only it do be afther givin' me the shivers to hear him +spake the Pawnee language loike he was a rale Injun. Such a foine +scout as he is has no roight to spake such a dirthy tongue. How +illegant it would be now if he could spake rale Oirish."</p> +<p>"His knowledge of the Indian tongue has helped both him and our +government a good deal, Mrs. Delaney. But I mustn't stop here +talking. If my father——"</p> +<p>A wild, unearthly shriek cut short further talk upon Dick +Arbuckle's part. It came from the darkness back of the camp and +caused Mrs. Delaney to draw back and tumble to the bottom of her +house on wheels in terror.</p> +<p>"It's the Banshee——" she began, when Dick +interrupted her.</p> +<p>"It's Pumpkin Bill. I'd know his voice a mile off," he declared. +"Somebody ought to send him back to where he belongs. Creation, +what a racket!"</p> +<p>Nearer and nearer came the voice, rising and falling with the +wind. The shrill shrieking penetrated to every wagon, and head +after head was thrust out of the canvases to see what it meant. In +another minute Pumpkin Bill, the dunce of the boomer's camp, "a +nobody from nowhar," to use Cal Clemmer's words, came rushing +along, hatless and with his wild eyes fairly starting from their +sockets.</p> +<p>"Save me! a ghost!" he yelled, swinging his hands over his head. +"A ghost full of blood! Oh, oh! I'm a dead boy! I know I am! Stop +him from following me!"</p> +<p>"Pumpkin!" ejaculated Dick, striding up and catching the fleeing +lad by the arm. "Hold on; what's this racket about?"</p> +<p>The dunce paused, then stood stock still, his mouth opening to +its widest extent. He was far from bright, and it took him several +seconds to put into words what was passing in his mind.</p> +<p>"About, about?" he repeated. "Dick Arbuckle! Oh, dear me! I've +seen your father's ghost!"</p> +<p>"Pumpkin!"</p> +<p>"Yes, I did. Hope to die if I didn't. I was just coming to camp +from town. Some men kept me, and made me sing and dance for +them—you know how I can sing—tra-la-la-da-do-da-bum! +They promised me a dollar, but didn't give it to me. I was running +to get out of the wet when I plumped into something fearful—a +ghost! Your father, covered with blood, and groaning and moaning, +'Robbed, robbed; almost murdered!' That's what the ghost said, and +he caught me by the hand. See, the blood is there yet, even though +I did try to wash it off in the rain. Oh, Dick, what does it +mean?"</p> +<p>"It means something awful has happened, Pumpkin, if your story +is true——"</p> +<p>"Hope to die if it ain't," and the dunce crossed his heart +several times. Suddenly, to keep up his courage, he burst into a +wild snatch of song:</p> +<span style="margin-left:15.0em;">"A big baboon</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left:15.0em;">Glared at the moon,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left:16.0em;">And sang +la-la-la-dum!</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left:15.0em;">'Come down to me</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left:15.0em;">And I will be</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left:16.0em;">Your +lardy-dardy——'"</span><br /> +<p>"Stop it, Pumpkin," interrupted Dick. "Come along with me."</p> +<p>"To where?"</p> +<p>"To where you saw my father."</p> +<p>"Not for a million dollars—not for a million million!" +cried the half-witted boy. "It wasn't your father; it was a ghost, +all covered with blood!" and he shrank back under the Delaney +wagon.</p> +<p>"It was my father, Pumpkin; I am sure of it. He is missing, and +something has happened to him. Perhaps he fell and hurt himself. +Come on."</p> +<p>The dunce stopped short and stared.</p> +<p>"Missing, is he? Then it wasn't a ghost. La-la-dum! What a joke. +Will you go along, too?"</p> +<p>"Of course."</p> +<p>"And take a pistol?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Poor mon, Oi thrust he is not very much hurted," broke in Rosy +Delaney, who had been a close listener to the foregoing. "If he is, +Dick Arbuckle, bring him here, an' it's Rosy Delaney will nurse him +wid th' best of care."</p> +<p>As has been said, many had heard Pumpkin Bill's wild cries, but +now that he had quieted down these boomers returned to their +couches, grumbling that the half-witted lad should thus be allowed +to disturb their rest.</p> +<p>In a minute Dick Arbuckle and Pumpkin were hurrying along the +road the dunce had previously traveled. The rain was letting up a +bit, and the smoky lantern lit up the surroundings for a circle +thirty feet in diameter.</p> +<p>"Here is where I met him," said Pumpkin, coming to a halt near +the edge of a small stream. "There's the hat he knocked off my +head." He picked it up. "Oh, dear me! covered with blood! Did you +ever see the like?"</p> +<p>Dick was more disturbed than ever.</p> +<p>"Which way did he go?"</p> +<p>"I don't know."</p> +<p>"Didn't you notice at all, Pumpkin? Try to think."</p> +<p>"Nary a notice. I ran, that's all. It looked like a bloody +ghost. I'll dream about it, I know I will."</p> +<p>To this Dick did not answer. Getting down on his knees in the +wet he examined the trail by the lantern's rays. The footsteps +which he thought must be those of his father led around a bend in +the stream and up a series of rocks covered with moss and dirt. +With his heart thumping violently under his jacket he followed the +footprints until the very summit of the rocks was gained. Then he +let out a groan of anguish.</p> +<p>And not without cause. Beyond the summit was a dark opening +fifteen feet wide, a hundred or more feet long and of unfathomable +depth. The footprints ended at the very edge of this yawning +abyss.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<h3>DICK ON A RUNAWAY.</h3> +<p>"If he fell down here he is dead beyond all doubt!"</p> +<p>Such were Dick Arbuckle's words as he tried in vain to pierce +the gloom of the abyss by flashing around the smoky lantern.</p> +<p>"Gosh! I reckon you're right," answered Pumpkin in an awe-struck +whisper. "It must be a thousand feet to the bottom of that +hole!"</p> +<p>"If I had a rope I might lower myself," went on the youth, with +quiet determination. "But without a rope——"</p> +<p>A pounding of hoof-strokes on the grassy trail below the rocks +caused him to stop and listen attentively.</p> +<p>"Somebody is coming. I'll see if I can get help!" he cried, and +ran down to the trail, swinging his lantern over his head as he +went. In ten seconds a horseman burst into view, riding a beautiful +racing steed. The newcomer was a well-known leader of the land +boomers, who rejoiced in the name of Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>"Ai! Pawnee Brown!" cried Dick, and at once the leader of the +land boomers came to a halt.</p> +<p>"What is it, Arbuckle?" he asked kindly.</p> +<p>"My father is missing, and I have every reason to fear that he +has tumbled into an opening at the summit of yonder rocks."</p> +<p>"That's bad, lad. Missing? Since when?"</p> +<p>Dick's story was soon told, and Pawnee Brown at once agreed to +go up to the opening and see if anything could be done. "It's the +Devil's Chimney," he explained. "If he went over into it I'm afraid +he's a goner."</p> +<p>A lariat hung from the pommel of the scout's saddle, and this he +took in hand as he dismounted. Soon he stood by the edge of the +black opening, while Dick again waved the lantern.</p> +<p>"You and the dunce can lower me by the lariat. I don't believe +the opening is more than fifty feet deep," said Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>The lariat was quickly adjusted around the edge of a smooth +rock, and with his foot in a noose and the lantern in hand, the +scout was lowered into the depths of the opening.</p> +<p>Down and down he went, the light finding nothing but bare, rocky +wall to fall upon. Presently the lowering process ceased.</p> +<p>"We have reached the end of the lariat," called out Dick.</p> +<p>Hardly had he spoken when a fearful thing happened. There was a +snap and a whirr, and Dick and Pumpkin went flat on their backs, +while ten feet of the lariat whirled loosely over their heads.</p> +<p>The improvised rope had broken.</p> +<p>"Gone!" gasped Dick. "Merciful heavens!"</p> +<p>He scrambled up and looked over the edge of the opening. The +lantern had been dashed into a thousand pieces, and all was dark +below.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown!" he cried, and Pumpkin joined in with a cry which +was fairly a shriek.</p> +<p>The opening remained as silent as a tomb. Again and again both +called out. Then Dick turned to his companion.</p> +<p>"This is awful, Pumpkin. Something must be done. I shall mount +his mare and ride back to camp and get help. For all I know to the +contrary both my father and Pawnee Brown are lying dead below."</p> +<p>"I shan't stay here alone," shivered the half-witted boy. Then, +before Dick could stop him, he set off at the top of his speed, +yelling discordantly as he went.</p> +<p>"Poor fool, he might have ridden with me," thought Dick.</p> +<p>He was already rushing down to the trail. Now he remembered that +he had heard a strange noise down where Pawnee Brown's beautiful +mare, Bonnie Bird, had been tethered—a noise reaching him +just before the lariat had parted. What could that mean?</p> +<p>He reached the clump of trees where Bonnie Bird should have +been. The mare was gone!</p> +<p>"Broken away!" he groaned. "Was ever such luck before! +Everything is going wrong tonight! Poor father; poor Pawnee Brown! +I must leg it to camp just as Pumpkin is doing. Hullo!"</p> +<p>He had started to run, but now he pulled up short. Grazing in +the wet grass not a dozen steps away was a bay horse, full and +round, a perfect beast. At first Dick Arbuckle thought he must be +dreaming. He ran up rubbing his eyes. No, it was no dream; the +horse was as real as a horse could be. He was bridled, but instead +of a saddle wore only a patch of a blanket.</p> +<p>"It's a Godsend," he murmured. "I don't know whom you belong to, +old boy, but you've got to carry me back to camp, and that, too, at +a licking gait, you understand?"</p> +<p>The horse pricked up his ears and gave a snort. In a trice Dick +was on his back and urging him around in the proper direction. He +was a New York boy, not much used to riding, and the management of +such a beast as this one did not come easy. The horse arose upon +his forelegs and nearly pitched Dick over his head, and the youth +had to cling fast around his neck to save himself a lot of broken +bones.</p> +<p>"Whoa, there! Gee Christopher, what a tartar! Whoa, I say! If +only I had a whip!" he panted, as the horse began to move around on +a pivot. "Now, why can't you act nice, when I'm in such dire need +of your services? If you don't stop—Whoa! whoa!"</p> +<p>For the horse had suddenly stopped pivoting and started off like +a streak, not up or down the trail, but across a stretch of prairie +grass. On and on he went, the bit between his teeth and gaining +speed at every step. In vain Dick yelled at him, kicked him and +banged him on the head. It was of no use, and he had to cling on +for dear life.</p> +<p>"I might as well let him go and jump for it," he thought at +last, when nearly a mile had been covered. "It's just as useless to +try to stop him as it would be to stop a limited express. If I jump +off—but I won't, now!"</p> +<p>For the prairie had been left behind, and the bay was tearing +along a rocky trail leading to goodness knew where, so Dick +thought. A jump now would mean broken bones, perhaps death. He +clung tighter than ever, and tried to calm the horse by speaking +gently to him.</p> +<p>At first the beast would not listen, but finally, when several +miles had been covered he slackened up, and at last dropped into a +walk. He was covered with foam, and now he was quite willing to be +led.</p> +<p>"You old reprobate!" muttered Dick, as he tightened his hold on +the reins. "Now where in the name of creation have you brought me +to, and how am I to find my way back to camp from here?"</p> +<p>Sitting upright once again, the youth tried to pierce the +darkness. The rain had stopped, only a few scattering drops falling +upon himself and the steaming animal, but the darkness was as great +as ever.</p> +<p>On two sides of him were forest lands, on the third a slope of +rocks and on the fourth a stretch of dwarf grass. The trail, if +such it could be called, ran along the edge of the timber. Should +he follow this? He moved along slowly, wondering whether he was +right or wrong.</p> +<p>"Halt! Who goes there?"</p> +<p>It was a military challenge, coming out of the darkness. Dick +stopped the horse, and presently made out the form of a man on +horseback, a cavalryman.</p> +<p>"I'm a friend who has lost the way," began the youth, when the +cavalryman let out a cry of surprise.</p> +<p>"Tucker's horse, hang me if it isn't! Boy, where did you get +that nag? Tucker, Ross, come here! I've collared one of the +horse-thieves!"</p> +<p>In a moment more there came the clatter of horses' hoofs through +the timber, and Dick found himself surrounded by three big and +decidedly ugly-looking United States cavalrymen—troopers who +belonged to a detachment set to guard the Oklahoma territory from +invasion.</p> +<p>"A boy and a boomer!" ejaculated the fellow named Tucker. "I saw +the kid over near Arkansas City a couple of days ago. And riding +Chester, too! Git off that hoss, before I kick you off!"</p> +<p>And riding up he caught Dick by the collar and yanked him to the +ground. In an instant he was beside the boy and had produced a pair +of reservation handcuffs.</p> +<p>"Out with your hands, sonny, and be quick about it."</p> +<p>"What for?" asked Dick, somewhat bewildered by the unceremonious +way in which he was being handled. "I didn't steal that horse."</p> +<p>"Too thin, sonny. All you boomers are a set of thieves, and I +suppose you think stealing our hossflesh is the rarest kind of a +joke. Out with those hands, I say, and consider yourself a prisoner +of Uncle Sam. You've nearly ridden Chester to death and for two +pins I'd take the law into my own hands and string you up to the +nearest tree. Take that!"</p> +<p>And having handcuffed Dick the cavalryman let out with his heavy +right hand and landed a savage slap that sent the helpless youth +headlong at his feet.</p> +<p>The blow aroused all of the lion in the youth's makeup. As +quickly as he could he leaped up.</p> +<p>"You brute!" he cried. "Why don't you fight fair? Take that, and +that and that!"</p> +<p>Each "that" meant two blows, for Dick could not separate his +hands, and therefore struck out with both at a time—two in +the chest, two on the chin and the final pair on either side of +Tucker's big and reddish nose. The cavalryman, taken by surprise, +let out a cry of rage and pain.</p> +<p>"You imp!" he screamed. "To hit a man in uniform! I'll show you +what I can do! How do you like that?"</p> +<p>With incredible swiftness he drew his heavy Sabra and leaped +upon Dick. The boy tried to retreat, but slipped on the wet ground +and went down. On the instant Tucker was upon him, and, with a +fierce cry, the infuriated cavalryman raised his blade over Dick's +head.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<h3>A CAVE AND A CAVE-IN.</h3> +<p>Let us go back and see what happened to Pawnee Brown at the time +the lariat parted and he found himself going down into what seemed +bottomless space.</p> +<p>Instinctively he put out both hands as far as he was able, to +grasp anything which might come within reach and thereby check his +awful downward course.</p> +<p>The lantern fell from his fingers and jingled to pieces on a +protruding rock.</p> +<p>Then his right hand slid over the ends of a bush growing out of +a fissure. He caught the bush and held on like grim death.</p> +<p>The bush gave way, but not instantly, and his descent was +checked so that the tumble to the bottom of the hole, fifteen feet +further down, was not near as bad as it would otherwise have +been.</p> +<p>Yet he came down sideways, and his head striking a flat rock, he +was knocked insensible.</p> +<p>Half an hour went by, and he opened his eyes in a wondering way. +Where was he and what had happened?</p> +<p>Soon the truth burst upon him, and he staggered to his feet to +see if any bones had been broken.</p> +<p>"All whole yet, thanks to my usual good luck," he thought. "But +that's a nasty lump on the back of my head. Hullo, up there!"</p> +<p>He called out as loudly as he could, but no answer came back, +for Dick and Pumpkin were already gone.</p> +<p>"Well, I always allowed that I would explore the Devil's Chimney +some day, but I didn't calculate to do it quite so soon," he went +on. "What can have become of those boys? Have they deserted me or +gone off for help? If I can read character I fancy that Dick +Arbuckle will do all he can for me—and, by the way, can his +father's corpse really be down here?"</p> +<p>He brought forth a match and lit it. The battered lantern lay +close at hand, and, although without a glass, it was still better +than nothing, and, turned well up, gave forth a torch-like flame +which lit up the surroundings for a dozen feet or more. No body was +there, nor did he find any for the full distance up and down the +dismal hole.</p> +<p>"The boy was mistaken; his father wandered elsewhere," was the +boomer's conclusion. "Poor fellow, he was in no mental or physical +condition to push his claims in the West. He should have remained +at home and allowed some hustling Western lawyer to act for him. If +he falls into the clutches of some of our land agents they'll +swindle him out of every cent of his fortune. I must give him and +the boy the tip when I get the chance." The great scout laughed +softly. "When I get the chance is good. I reckon I had best pull +myself out of this man-trap first."</p> +<p>He made a careful investigation of the rocks. At no point was +there anything which gave promise of a footing to the top.</p> +<p>"In a pocket and no error," he mused. "I wonder if I've got to +stay here like a bull-croaker at the bottom of a well?"</p> +<p>The rain had formed a long pool between the slanting rocks. He +threw a chip into this pool and saw that it drifted slowly off +between two scrub bushes growing partly under a shelving rock.</p> +<p>With the light he made an inspection of the locality, and a cry +of surprise escaped him. Beyond the bushes was the opening to an +irregular, but apparently large cavern.</p> +<p>The stream flowed along one side of the flooring to this +opening.</p> +<p>"Must be some sort of an outlet beyond," he mused. "I'll try it +and see," and in a moment more he was inside of the cavern and +crawling along on hands and knees.</p> +<p>He had not far to go in this fashion. Twenty feet beyond the +cavern became so large that he could stand up with ease. He flashed +the light above his head.</p> +<p>"By Jove! a miniature Mammoth Cave of Kentucky!" burst from his +lips.</p> +<p>On he went until a bend in the formation of the cavern was +gained. Here the stream of water disappeared under a pile of loose +stones, and the opening became less than six feet in height.</p> +<p>"Checked!" he muttered, and his face fell. It looked as if he +would have to go back the way he had come.</p> +<p>Again he raised his light and gazed about him with more care +than ever.</p> +<p>The loose rocks soon caught his attention, and, setting down the +lantern, he began to pull away first at one and then another.</p> +<p>The last turned back, he saw another opening, evidently leading +upward.</p> +<p>"This must lead to the open air—" he began, when a +grinding of stone caught his ears. In a twinkle a veritable shower +of rocks came down around his head. He was knocked flat and almost +covered.</p> +<p>For fully ten minutes he lay gasping for breath. The blood was +flowing from a wound on his cheek, and it was a wonder that he had +not been killed.</p> +<p>"In the future I'll have more care," he groaned, as, throwing +first one stone and then another aside, he sat up. The falling of +the stones had been followed by some dirt, and now a regular +landslide came after, burying him up to the armpits.</p> +<p>"Planted," was the single word which issued from his lips. He +was not seriously hurt, and was half inclined to laugh at his +predicament. Still, on the whole, it was no laughing matter, and +Pawnee Brown lost no time in trying to dig himself free.</p> +<p>The stones and dirt were wedged tightly about his legs, and not +wishing to run the risk of a broken or twisted ankle, the scout +worked with care, all the time wondering if Dick Arbuckle was back, +and never once dreaming of the peril the poor lad was encountering. +The rain was soaking through the ceiling of the cavern, and the +situation was far from a comfortable one.</p> +<p>At last he was free again, and striking a match, he hunted up +the lantern and lit it once more.</p> +<p>The opening to the inner cave was now large enough to pass +through with ease, and making sure of his footing, the scout moved +forward, straining his eyes eagerly for some sign of an egress to +the outer world.</p> +<p>Presently he saw a number of straggly things dangling downward +from the rocks and soil overhead.</p> +<p>They were the bottom roots of some great tree standing fifteen +or twenty feet above.</p> +<p>"Not far from the surface now, that's certain," he thought, with +considerable satisfaction. "And yet, hang me if I can see an +opening of any sort yet."</p> +<p>On and on he went, until nearly a hundred feet more had been +passed.</p> +<p>The cave had widened out, but now it narrowed once again to less +than a dozen feet. The roof, too, sloped downward until it +occasionally scraped the crown of his sombrero.</p> +<p>The light of the lantern began to splutter and flare up, showing +that the oil in the cup was running low.</p> +<p>"If only the thing lasts until I find the door to this +confounded prison," he thought.</p> +<p>Suddenly a peculiar hiss sounded out upon the darkness.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown knew that hiss only too well, and leaping back he +snatched a pistol from his belt.</p> +<p>The hiss was followed by a rattle, and now, flashing the light +around, the scout saw upon a flat rock the curled-up form of a huge +rattlesnake.</p> +<p>The eyes of the reptile shone like twin stars, and when Pawnee +Brown discovered him he was getting ready to strike.</p> +<p>The rattler was less than six feet away, and the scout knew that +he could cover that space with ease. Therefore, whatever was to be +done must be done quickly.</p> +<p>Like a flash the pistol came up. But ere Pawnee Brown could fire +a curious thing happened.</p> +<p>A large drop of water, splashing down from the roof of the +cavern, caused the light to splutter and go out.</p> +<p>The scout was in the dark with his enemy.</p> +<p>More than this, he was boxed up in a narrow place, from which +escape was well-nigh impossible.</p> +<p>Aiming as best he could under the circumstances, he fired.</p> +<p>The bullet struck the flat rock, bounded up to the side wall of +the cavern and then hit him in the leg.</p> +<p>"Missed, by thunder!"</p> +<p>He jumped past the spot and moved up the cavern a distance of +several yards.</p> +<p>A rattle and a whirr followed, as the great rattlesnake made a +vicious strike in the dark. An intense hiss sounded out when the +reptile realized that the object of his anger had been missed.</p> +<p>Listening with strained ears, the boomer heard the deadly thing +sliding slowly from rock to rock, coming closer at every +movement.</p> +<p>To flee was impossible, so with bated breath he stood his +ground.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<h3>OUT OF THE CAVERN.</h3> +<p>Slowly but surely the great rattlesnake came closer to where +Pawnee Brown stood motionless in the darkness of the cavern.</p> +<p>The reptile had been enraged by the shot the great scout fired, +and now meant to strike, and that fatally.</p> +<p>Listening with ears strained to their utmost, the boomer heard +the form of the snake slide from rock to rock of the uneven +flooring.</p> +<p>The rattler was all of ten feet long and as thick around as a +good-sized fence rail.</p> +<p>One square strike from those poisonous fangs and Pawnee Brown's +hours would be numbered.</p> +<p>Yet the scout did not intend to give up his life just now. He +still held his pistol, four chambers of which were loaded.</p> +<p>"If only I had a light," he thought.</p> +<p>Retreat was out of the question. A single sound and the +rattlesnake would have been upon him like a flash.</p> +<p>It was only the darkness and the utter silence that made the +reptile cautious.</p> +<p>Suddenly the scout heard a scraping on the rocks less than three +feet in front of him.</p> +<p>The time for action had come; another moment and the rattler +would be wound around his legs.</p> +<p>Crack! crack! Two reports rang out in quick succession and by +the flash of the first shot Pawnee Brown located those glittering +eyes.</p> +<p>The second shot went true to its mark, and the rattler dropped +back with a hole through its ugly head.</p> +<p>The long, whip like body slashed hither and thither, and the +scout had to do some lively sprinting to keep from getting a tangle +and a squeeze.</p> +<p>As he hopped about he struck a match, picked up the lantern, +shook the little oil remaining into the wick and lit it. Another +shot finished the snake and the body curled up into a snarl and a +quiver, to bother him no more.</p> +<p>It was then that Pawnee Brown paused, drew a deep breath and +wiped the cold perspiration from his brow.</p> +<p>"By gosh! I've killed fifty rattlers in my time, but never one +in this fashion," he murmured. "Wonder if there are any more +around?"</p> +<p>He knew that these snakes often travel in pairs, and as he went +on his way he kept his eyes wide open for another attack.</p> +<p>But none came, and now something else claimed his attention.</p> +<p>The cavern was coming to an end. The side walls closed in to +less than three feet, and the flooring sloped up so that he had to +crouch down and finally go forward on his hands and knees.</p> +<p>The lantern now went out for good, every drop of oil being +exhausted.</p> +<p>At this juncture many a man would have halted and turned back to +where he had come from, but such was not Pawnee Brown's +intention.</p> +<p>"I'll see the thing through," he muttered. "I'd like to know how +far I am from the surface of the ground."</p> +<p>A dozen yards further and the cavern become so small that +additional progress was impossible.</p> +<p>He placed his hand above him and encountered nothing but dirt, +with here and there a small stone.</p> +<p>With care he began to dig away at the dirt with his knife. Less +than a foot of the cavern ceiling had thus been dug away when the +point of the knife brought down a small stream of water.</p> +<p>Feeling certain he was now close to the surface, he continued to +work with renewed vigor.</p> +<p>"At last!"</p> +<p>The scout was right. The knife had found the outer air, and a +dim, uncertain light struck down upon the hero of the plains.</p> +<p>It did not take long to enlarge the opening sufficiently to +admit the passage of Pawnee Brown's body.</p> +<p>He leaped out among a number of bushes and stretched +himself.</p> +<p>Having brushed the dirt from his wet clothing, he "located +himself," as he put it, and started up a hill to the entrance to +the Devil's Chimney.</p> +<p>He was on the side opposite to that from which he had descended, +and, in order to get over, had to make a wide detour through some +brush and small timber.</p> +<p>This accomplished, he hurried to where he had left Bonnie Bird +tethered.</p> +<p>As the reader knows, the beautiful mare was gone, and had been +for some time.</p> +<p>"I suppose that young Arbuckle took her," he mused. "But, if so, +why doesn't he come back here with her?"</p> +<p>There being no help for it, the scout set off for the camp of +the boomers on foot.</p> +<p>He was just entering the temporary settlement when he came face +to face with Jack Rasco, another of the boomers.</p> +<p>"Pawnee!" shouted the boomer, "You air jess the man I want ter +see. Hev ye sot eyes on airy o' the Arbuckles?"</p> +<p>"I'm looking for Dick Arbuckle now," answered the scout. "Isn't +he in the camp? I thought he came here with my mare?"</p> +<p>"He ain't nowhar. Rosy Delaney says he went off with Pumpkin to +look for his dad, who had disappeared——"</p> +<p>"Then he didn't come back? What can have become of him and +Bonnie Bird?" Pawnee Brown's face grew full of concern. "Something +is wrong around here, Jack," he continued, and told the boomer of +what had happened up at the Devil's Chimney. "First it's the +father, and now it's the son and my mare. I must investigate +this."</p> +<p>"I'm with yer, Pawnee—with yer to the end. Yer know +thet."</p> +<p>"Yes, Jack; you are one of the few men I know I can trust in +everything. But two of us are not enough. If harm has befallen the +Arbuckles it is the duty of the whole camp—or, at least, +every man in it—to try to sift matters to the bottom."</p> +<p>"Right ye air, Pawnee. I'll raise a hullabaloo and rouse 'em +up."</p> +<p>Jack Rasco was as good as his word. Going from wagon to wagon, +he shook the sleepers and explained matters. In less than a quarter +of an hour a dozen stalwart boomers were in the saddle, while Jack +Rasco brought forth an extra horse of his own for Brown's use.</p> +<p>"Has anybody seen the dunce?" questioned the scout.</p> +<p>No one had since he had gone off with Dick to look for the +so-called ghost.</p> +<p>"We will divide up into parties of two," said Pawnee Brown, and +this was done, and soon he and Jack Rasco were bounding over the +trail leading toward the Indian Territory, while others were +setting off in the direction of Arkansas City and elsewhere.</p> +<p>"Something curious about them air Arbuckles," observed Rasco as +they flew along side by side. "Mortimer Arbuckle said as how he was +coming hyer fer his health, but kick me ef I kin see it."</p> +<p>"I think myself the man has an axe to grind," responded the +leader of the boomers. "You know he came West to see about some +land."</p> +<p>"Oh, I know thet. But thar's somethin' else, sure ez shootin' ez +shootin', Pawnee. It kinder runs in my noddle thet he is a'lookin' +fer somebuddy."</p> +<p>"Who?"</p> +<p>"Ah, thar's where ye hev got me. But I'll tell ye something. One +night when the boy wuz over ter Arkansas City the old man war +sleeping in the wagon, an' he got a nightmare. He clenched his +fists an' begun ter moan an' groan. 'Don't say I did it, Bolange,' +he moans. 'Don't say that—it's an awful crime! Don't put the +blood on my head!' an' a lot more like thet, till my blood most run +cold an' I shook him ter make him wake up. Now, don't thet look +like he had something on his mind?"</p> +<p>"It certainly does, and yet the man is not quite right in his +upper story, although I wouldn't tell the son that, Rasco. But what +was the name he mentioned?"</p> +<p>"Bolange, or Volange, or something like thet. It seems ter me he +hollered out Louis onct, too."</p> +<p>A sudden light shone in the great scout's eyes. He gripped his +companion by the arm.</p> +<p>"Try to think, Jack. Did Arbuckle speak the name of +Vorlange—Louis Vorlange?"</p> +<p>"By gosh! Pawnee, you hev struck it—Vorlange, ez plain ez +day. Do yer know the man?"</p> +<p>"Do I know him?" Pawnee Brown drew a long breath. "Jack, I +believe I once told you about my schoolboy days at Wellington and +elsewhere before I left home to take up a life on the cattle +trails?"</p> +<p>"Yes, Pawnee. From all accounts you wuz cut out for a +schoolmaster, instead of a leader of us boomers."</p> +<p>"I was a professor once at the Indian Industrial school at +Pawnee Agency. That is where I got to be called Pawnee Brown, and +where the Pawnees became so friendly that they made me their white +chief. But I aspired to something more than teaching and more than +cow punching in those boyhood days at Wellington; I wanted to have +a try at entrance to West Point and follow in the footsteps of +Grant and Custer, and fellows of that sort."</p> +<p>"Ye deserved it, I'll bet, Pawnee."</p> +<p>"I worked hard for it, and at last I got a chance to compete at +the examination. Among the other boys who competed was Louis +Vorlange. He had been the bully of our school, and more than once +we had fought, and twice I had sent him to bed with a head that was +nearly broken. He hated me accordingly, and swore I should not win +the prize I coveted."</p> +<p>"Did he try, too?"</p> +<p>"Yes, but he was outclassed from the start, for, although he was +sly and shrewd, book learning was too much for him. The examination +came off, and I got left, through Vorlange, who stole my papers and +changed many of my answers. I didn't learn of this until it was too +late. My chance of going to West Point fell through. There was +nothing to do but to thrash Vorlange, and the day before I left +home I gave him a licking that I'll wager he'll remember to the day +of his death. As it was, he tried to shoot me, but I collared the +pistol, and for that dastardly attack knocked two of his teeth down +his throat."</p> +<p>"Served him right, Pawnee. But I don't see whar—"</p> +<p>"Hold on a minute, Jack. I said Vorlange didn't go to West +Point; but he was strong with the politicians, and as soon as he +was old enough he got a position under the government, and now I +understand he is somewhere around the Indian Territory acting as a +spy for the land department."</p> +<p>"By gosh! I see. An' ye think Mortimer Arbuckle knows this same +chap?"</p> +<p>"It would look so. If I can read faces, the old man is innocent +of wrong-doing, and if that is so and there is the secret of a +crime between him and Louis Vorlange you can wager Vorlange is the +guilty party."</p> +<p>"Pawnee, you hev a head on yer shoulders fit fer a judge, hang +me ef ye ain't," burst out Jack Rasco admiringly. "I wish yer would +talk to Arbuckle the next time he turns up. Mebbe yer kin lift a +weight off o' his shoulders. The poor old fellow—creation! +wot's that?"</p> +<p>Jack Rasco stopped short and pulled up his horse. A wild, +unearthly scream rent the air, rising and falling on the wind of +the night. The scream was followed by a burst of laughter which was +truly demoniacal.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown pulled his horse up on his haunches. What was this +new mystery which confronted him?</p> +<p>Again the cry rang out; but now the scout recognized it and a +faint smile shone upon his face.</p> +<p>"It's the dunce," he exclaimed. "Pumpkin! Pumpkin! Come +here!"</p> +<p>A moment of silence followed and he called again. Then from the +brush which grew among the rocks emerged the form of the +half-witted boy.</p> +<p>"Pumpkin, where is Dick Arbuckle?" questioned Pawnee Brown, +leaping to the ground and catching the lad by his arm.</p> +<p>"Lemme go! I didn't hurt him!" screamed Pumpkin. "He went that +way—like the wind—on a bay horse which was running +away. Oh, he's killed, I know he is!"</p> +<p>"You are sure of this?"</p> +<p>"Hope to die if it ain't so. Poor Dick! He'll be pitched off and +smashed up like his father was smashed up. Hurry, and maybe you can +catch him."</p> +<p>"I believe the dunce speaks the truth," broke in Jack Rasco.</p> +<p>"How long ago was this?"</p> +<p>"Not more'n an hour. Hurry up if you want to save him," and with +a yell such as he had uttered before, Pumpkin disappeared.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown and Rasco wasted no more time. Whipping up their +steeds, they set off on a rapid gallop in the direction the runaway +horse had pursued.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<h3>THE CAVALRYMEN.</h3> +<p>Let us rejoin Dick Arbuckle at the time that the incensed +cavalryman, Tucker, was about to attack the hapless lad with his +heavy Sabra.</p> +<p>Had the cruel blow fallen as intended it is beyond dispute that +Dick would have been severely injured.</p> +<p>"Don't!" cried the boy, and then closed his eyes at the terrible +thought of such dire punishment so close at hand.</p> +<p>But just at that instant an interruption came from out of the +darkness of the brush.</p> +<p>"Hello, there! What are you up to?"</p> +<p>Tucker started, and the Sabra was turned aside to bury itself in +the exposed roots of a tree.</p> +<p>"If it ain't Pawnee Brown!" muttered another cavalryman, Ross by +name.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown!" burst from Dick's lips, joyfully, and, rising, +he attempted to rush toward his friend.</p> +<p>"Not so fast, boy!" howled Tucker, and caught the youth by the +collar.</p> +<p>"What's the meaning of this? What are you doing to that boy?" +asked Pawnee Brown as he rode closer, with Rasco beside him.</p> +<p>"He's a horse thief, and we are going to take him to our camp," +answered Tucker, somewhat uneasily, for he had seen Pawnee Brown +before and knew he had a man of strong character with whom to +deal.</p> +<p>"A horse thief!" ejaculated Jack Rasco. "Say, sod'ger, yer +crazy! Thet boy a thief! Wall, by gum!"</p> +<p>"That boy is no thief," put in Pawnee Brown. "He belongs to our +camp, and is as square as they make them—I'll vouch for +it."</p> +<p>"I ain't taking the word of any boomer," muttered Tucker sourly. +"That kid—hold on! Don't shoot!"</p> +<p>And he dropped back in terror, for the great scout had drawn his +pistol like a flash.</p> +<p>"You'll take my word or take something else," came the stiff +response. "Be quick, now, and say which you choose."</p> +<p>"I didn't mean any harm, Pawnee. Maybe you don't know it, but +the boy is a thief just the same. We just caught him riding my +horse—this bay. My comrades can prove it."</p> +<p>"It's true," said Ross.</p> +<p>"True as gospel," added Skimmy, the third cavalryman. "We caught +him less than half an hour ago."</p> +<p>Without answering to this, Pawnee Brown turned to the youth.</p> +<p>"Tell me your yarn, Dick. I know there is some mistake +here."</p> +<p>"There is not much to tell, Major. When the lariat broke up at +the Devil's Chimney and I couldn't make you reply to my calls I ran +off to get help and a rope. I intended to ride your mare back to +camp, but when I got to where the mare had been tethered I found +her gone and this bay loafing around in her place. I got on the +bay, but, instead of riding to camp, the animal ran away with me +and brought me here. These fellows were mighty rough on me, and +that man was going to split my head open when you came along in the +nick of time."</p> +<p>"That's a neat fairy tale," sneered Tucker. "This horse was +stolen four hours ago. More than likely the boy couldn't manage him +and lost his way and the horse tried to get back to where he +belonged."</p> +<p>"That doesn't connect with what I know," answered Pawnee Brown, +quietly. "My mare was tethered where he went to look for her. I +might as well accuse you of riding down there, taking Bonnie Bird +and leaving this nag in her place."</p> +<p>"Do you mean to insinuate we are horse thieves?" cried Ross +hotly.</p> +<p>"I'm giving you as good as you send, that's all. Dick, have you +any idea where Bonnie Bird is?"</p> +<p>"Not the slightest, sir."</p> +<p>The great scout heaved a sigh. The little racing mare was the +very apple of his eye.</p> +<p>"I'll not give up the hunt until I have found her." He turned +again to the cavalrymen. "If the finest little black mare, with a +white blaze, that you ever saw strays into your camp remember she +belongs to me," he went on. "I want her returned at once, and if +anybody attempts to keep her there will be a hotter time than this +Territory has seen for many a day. Dick, hop up behind me," and he +turned to his horse.</p> +<p>"That boy is to remain here," blustered Tucker, growing red in +the face.</p> +<p>"Hardly, my bantam. Hop up, Dick, and we'll strike back for camp +before the sun comes up and see if the others who are on the search +have seen anything of your father. I saw nothing of him at the +bottom of the Devil's Chimney."</p> +<p>"I'm not going to have a lazy, good-for-nothing boomer lay it +over me——" began Tucker, when once more the sight of +Pawnee Brown's pistol silenced him.</p> +<p>No more was said as the scout, Dick and Rasco rode away down the +trail by which they had come. But, once out of sight, Tucker raised +his fist and shook it savagely.</p> +<p>"I'll get square with you some day, Pawnee Brown, mark my +words!" he muttered between his set teeth.</p> +<p>"We'll all get square," said Ross. "I hate the sight of that +man."</p> +<p>"I understand the boomers have made him their leader," broke in +Skimmy. "If they have, he'll try to break through to Oklahoma as +sure as guns are guns."</p> +<p>"And he'll get shot, too," answered Tucker dryly. "The +lieutenant is having all of the boomers' movements watched."</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown will do his level best to give us the slip, see if +he don't," remarked Skimmy. "Four thousand boomers wouldn't make +him their leader for nothing."</p> +<p>Thus, talking among themselves, the three cavalrymen mounted +their horses and rode back to their various picket stations along +the boundary line of the Indian Territory.</p> +<p>They were a detachment of the Seventh United States Cavalry, and +the lieutenant referred to by Tucker was in command.</p> +<p>For over a month they had been watching the boomers assembling +in Kansas. Other portions of the United States troops were watching +the would-be Oklahoma settlers in Arkansas and Texas.</p> +<p>There was every prospect of a lively time ahead, and it was not +far off.</p> +<p>Reaching his station, Tucker drew from his pocket a briar-root +pipe, filled and lit it and began to puff away meditatively.</p> +<p>His face had been ugly before, but now as he began to meditate +it grew blacker than ever.</p> +<p>"Hang me, if everything ain't going wrong," he muttered. "I +won't stand it. I'll make a kick, and when I do——" He +paused as a shadow among the trees caught his eye. "Who goes +there?" he called out and drew his pistol.</p> +<p>"A friend. Tucker, is that you?"</p> +<p>"Vorlange!" cried the cavalryman, and the next moment the +newcomer and the military man were face to face.</p> +<p>"It's about time you showed up," growled Tucker, after a brief +pause, during which the newcomer looked at him anxiously. "Say, +Vorlange, when do you intend to settle up with me. Give it to me +straight, now."</p> +<p>"That's why I left the trail to hunt you up, Tucker—I knew +you were anxious about that five hundred dollars."</p> +<p>"Why shouldn't I be? It took me a long time to save it—a +good sight longer than it did for you to gamble it away."</p> +<p>"Tucker, I didn't gamble that away—I'll swear it. I used +it in business."</p> +<p>"Business? What business have you got outside of your position +as a land office spy?"</p> +<p>"A good business, if you only knew it. I've been following up a +little deal that started in the East—in New York. Out there I +had to hire a fellow I could trust to work for me, and that took +most of the money. But the whole thing is coming my way now, and I +want to talk things over with you. How would you like to have a +thousand back in return for the five hundred you loaned me?"</p> +<p>"What sort of a game are you working on me now?"</p> +<p>"A square deal, Tucker. I've been keeping my eye on you, and I +reckon you are the fellow to do what I want done."</p> +<p>"And what do you want done?"</p> +<p>Vorlange stepped closer.</p> +<p>"The boomers are going to try to cross into Oklahoma either +to-morrow or day after. There will be a fight, I am certain of it, +and somebody will be shot and killed. When you fire I want you to +pick out your man—two men—or, rather, a man and a boy, +if you can do it. I may be on hand to take part myself, but there +is a possibility that I may be ordered elsewhere."</p> +<p>"And you are willing to pay me five hundred extra for picking +out my target, Vorlange?"</p> +<p>"You've struck it."</p> +<p>"Who is the man?"</p> +<p>"Can I trust you?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown."</p> +<p>At the mention of the great scout's name Tucker started +back.</p> +<p>"Why—why do you want him knocked over?"</p> +<p>"He is my enemy. I have hated him from my boyhood!" cried Louis +Vorlange. "And there are other reasons—he stands in the way +of my pushing the scheme I mentioned."</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown was here but a short while ago. He insulted and +abused me," growled Tucker. "I'll put a bullet through him quick +enough if I get the chance—that is, in a skirmish. I don't +want to run any risk of being strung up for—you know."</p> +<p>"The shooting will be O. K., Tucker, and I'll help if I'm not +ordered away. Do it and the five hundred extra are yours, I'll give +you my word."</p> +<p>"What about that boy you mentioned?"</p> +<p>"His name is Dick Arbuckle. He is——"</p> +<p>"Dick Arbuckle? I know him. He stole my horse. I captured him +and Pawnee Brown came to his rescue and made me, Ross and Skimmy +give him up," and Tucker gave the particulars in his own version of +the affair.</p> +<p>"Then you bear the lad no love?"</p> +<p>"Love?" The cavalryman grated his teeth. "I was wishing I could +get a shot at him."</p> +<p>"Then keep that wish in mind, Tucker, when the time for action +arrives."</p> +<p>"If it's worth five hundred to you to have Pawnee Brown knocked +over it ought to be worth more to have both of 'em laid low," +suggested Tucker, who was naturally a grasping fellow.</p> +<p>"Five hundred in cold cash is a good deal in these times," was +the slow answer. "But I'll tell you what I'll do. If, after a +fight, you can bring me absolute proof that Pawnee Brown and Dick +Arbuckle are dead I'll give you an even twelve hundred dollars, the +five hundred I borrowed and seven hundred extra. There's my hand on +it. What do you say?"</p> +<p>"Will you promise to give me the money as soon as you have the +proofs?"</p> +<p>"I will," and Louis Vorlange raised his right hand as though to +make good such a blasphemous promise.</p> +<p>"All right, then; I take you up," answered Tucker.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<h3>DICK'S HUNT.</h3> +<p>"Don't you take it so hard, my lad; I feel certain that your +father will turn up sooner or later."</p> +<p>It was Pawnee Brown who spoke. He addressed Dick, who sat on a +horse belonging to Jack Rasco. The pair had been scouring the +plains and the woods for three hours in search of Dick's +father.</p> +<p>"Poor father! If only I knew what had become of him!" sighed the +lad.</p> +<p>In his anxiety he had forgotten all about his adventures among +the cavalrymen who had sought to detain him as a horse thief.</p> +<p>"It's a mystery, thet's what it is," burst in Jack Rasco.</p> +<p>"It looks loike the hivens hed opened an' swalleyed him up," was +Mike Delaney's comment. "Be jabbers, we all know th' hivens was +wide open enough last noight. Me turn-out is afther standin' in two +foot o' wather, an' Rosy raisin' the mischief because she can't go +out. 'Moike,' sez she, 'Moike Delaney, git a boat or Oi'll be +drowned,' an' niver a boat in sight. Th' ould woman will have to +shtay in the wagon till the wather runs off of itself."</p> +<p>"I wonder if it is possible my poor father wandered into town," +mused Dick. "Perhaps he did that and was locked up by the police. +He is—well, you know he gets strange spells," and the youth's +face flushed.</p> +<p>"Run into town, lad, and make a search," answered the boomer. +"If I and Rasco get the chance we'll follow. We shan't strike camp +for several hours yet."</p> +<p>Dick thought this good advice and was soon on his way. The rain +had stopped entirely and the sun was just peeping up over the +distant plains when he entered Arkansas City and began his +hunt.</p> +<p>A visit to the police station speedily revealed the fact that +nothing was known there concerning his missing parent. Here Dick +left a description of his father, and was promised that if anything +was discovered of the man word would be sent to him +immediately.</p> +<p>Having ridden around to the depot, hotels and other public +places, Dick tied up his steed and began a hunt through the various +streets, looking into the doors of the stores and saloons as he +passed.</p> +<p>His footsteps soon brought him down to the vicinity of the river +front. Here, situated along several blocks, were a number of eating +and drinking houses, patronized principally by river men, gamblers +and similar persons.</p> +<p>Having satisfied himself, with a sigh of relief, that his father +was not in any of the saloons, the youth came to a halt in front of +a restaurant. He had not eaten anything since the evening before, +and his night of adventures had made him decidedly hungry.</p> +<p>"I'll get a cup of coffee and some rolls to brace me up," he +thought, and entered the establishment. His order was soon given, +and he took a seat at a side table, close to a thin board +partition.</p> +<p>His order served, he was disposing of the last of it, when the +sound of voices on the other side of the partition attracted his +attention.</p> +<p>"Leave me alone, Juan Donomez!" came in the voice of a girl. +"You have no right to touch me."</p> +<p>"You are too pretty to be left alone," came in the slick tones +of a Mexican vaquero. "Come, now, senorita, give me just one +kiss."</p> +<p>"I will not, and you must leave me alone," went on the girl, and +her trembling voice showed plainly that she was much frightened. +"Where is the man who sent for me?"</p> +<p>"He is not here yet."</p> +<p>"I do not believe he sent for me at all. It was a trick of yours +to get me here. Let me go."</p> +<p>"Not yet, senorita; you can go after a while. But first you must +give me a kiss. Then I will explain why I had you come."</p> +<p>As the last words were uttered Dick heard a scurry of feet, then +came a faint scream, cut short by the Mexican. The boy waited to +hear no more.</p> +<p>"The contemptible greaser!" he muttered and leaped up. Throwing +down the amount of his check on the cashier's desk he hurried from +the restaurant. As he had supposed there was a hallway next door, +where the talking he had overheard was taking place.</p> +<p>"Oh, save me!" cried the girl, and one glance at her told Dick +that she was not over sixteen and as beautiful as any maiden he had +ever seen. She was attired in true western style and wore on her +mass of shining curls a big, soft riding hat.</p> +<p>"Let that young lady alone," cried the youth to the Mexican, who +glared at him savagely. "I overheard your talk, and if she wants to +leave she shall do it."</p> +<p>"Oh, thank you for coming to my aid," burst out the girl +gratefully. "This bad man——"</p> +<p>"Say no more, Nellie Winthrop," interrupted the Mexican. "Go to +the rear. I will attend to this cub who dares to interfere with my +business."</p> +<p>And he shoved the girl behind him. His roughness made Dick's +blood boil over, and, rushing forward, he put out his foot, gave a +push, and Juan Donomez measured his length upon the floor.</p> +<p>During the encounter Nellie Winthrop had escaped to the front +end of the hallway, and here Dick now joined her.</p> +<p>"We might as well go," said the youth.</p> +<p>"Yes, yes; let us get out as quickly as we can," answered the +girl trembling. "He may attempt to attack you."</p> +<p>"I ought to hand him over to the authorities, but I won't," said +Dick. "Come," and he opened the door and followed her to the +street.</p> +<p>"I shall never forget you for your kindness," the girl burst out +as soon as they had left the vicinity of the spot where the trouble +had occurred. "You are very brave, Mr.——"</p> +<p>"I'm only Dick Arbuckle, Miss——"</p> +<p>"Nellie Winthrop is my name. I just reached Arkansas City +yesterday. I am from Peoria, and am looking for my uncle, who is +somewhere among the Oklahoma boomers."</p> +<p>"Indeed! I'm one of the boomers myself—at least, I've been +with them a good part of the time. Perhaps I know your uncle. What +is his name?"</p> +<p>"John Rasco, but I believe the men all call him Jack Rasco."</p> +<p>"Why, is it possible! I know Jack Rasco well—in fact, my +father and I have been stopping with him ever since we came on from +New York. As soon as the rush into Oklahoma was over my father was +going to get your uncle to locate a certain mine claim in the West +for him—a claim that belongs to us, but which can't be +located very easily, it seems."</p> +<p>"And where is my uncle now?" demanded Nellie Winthrop.</p> +<p>"At the boomers' camp, I suppose. You see," went on Dick, his +face falling, "there is something wrong afoot." And in a few words +he told of his father's disappearance and of the search being made +to find him.</p> +<p>"I sincerely trust he is safe," said Nellie when he had +concluded. "I presume you want to resume your search. Do not let me +detain you. If you are among the boomers we will certainly meet +again," and she held out her hand.</p> +<p>"Do you feel safe enough to find the camp alone?" he asked. +"Perhaps I had better take you there. It is about a mile in that +direction," and he indicated the locality with a wave of his +hand.</p> +<p>"I feel safe enough in the open air," she smiled. "It was only +when that Mexican had me cornered in a dark hallway that I felt +alarmed. I was born and brought up on the plains, and I've been to +Peoria only to get educated, as they say. I've a horse at the +livery stable, and I can ride the distance."</p> +<p>"May I ask how you fell in with that greaser?"</p> +<p>"I think he overheard me asking for my uncle at the hotel, and +after that he sent a note saying my uncle was at the place where +you found me. I saw him first on the train, where he tried his best +to get some information from me about some horses. But I told him +little," concluded the girl.</p> +<p>Five minutes later they parted at the livery stable, where +Nellie had left her horse, and Dick went on his way to continue his +search for his lost parent. The girl had thanked him again for what +he had done and had squeezed his hand so warmly that his heart +thumped pretty hard, while his face was flushed more than ever +before.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<h3>OUT ON THE RIVER.</h3> +<p>For over half an hour longer Dick tramped the streets of the +city looking for some trace of his father.</p> +<p>Presently he found himself down by the docks along the muddy +river. The stream was much swollen, and the few boats tied up were +bumping freely against the shore as the current swung them in.</p> +<p>"I wonder if father could have come down here?" he mused. "He +had a great fondness for the water when he got those strange +spells."</p> +<p>Slowly and with eyes wide open he moved down the river shore, +ready to seize upon any evidence which might present itself.</p> +<p>Suddenly he uttered a cry and leaped down into a rowboat lying +before, him.</p> +<p>"Father's hat! I'd know it among a thousand!"</p> +<p>Dick was right. There on the stern seat of the craft rested the +head-covering Mortimer Arbuckle had worn ever since he had left New +York.</p> +<p>The tears stood in the youth's eyes as he picked up the hat and +inspected it. One side of the brim was covered with dirt, and it +was still soaked from the rain.</p> +<p>"Poor father! Is it possible he fell overboard?"</p> +<p>Dick said "fell overboard," but he thought something else. He +knew as well as anybody that his father did strange things while +under the influence of the melancholy spells which at times haunted +him.</p> +<p>He looked up and down the stream. Nothing was in sight but the +boats and here and there a mass of driftwood.</p> +<p>He sat down on the seat and covered his face with his hands.</p> +<p>"Say, boy, wot yer doin' in my boat?"</p> +<p>It was a burly fellow standing upon the shore who asked the +question.</p> +<p>"Excuse me; I am looking for my father, who is missing. I just +found his hat on the seat here. Did you see anything of him?"</p> +<p>"Missing, eh—an' thet's his headgear? Say, boy, thet's no +laughin' matter," and the burly fellow looked at the youth +kindly.</p> +<p>"I know it. I am afraid he tumbled overboard. He had times when +he wasn't feeling quite right in his head."</p> +<p>The burly individual whistled softly to himself. "Then I reckon +Sary was right, arter all," he half mused.</p> +<p>"Sary? Who do you mean?"</p> +<p>"Sary's my wife. She woke me up about five o'clock this mornin'. +We live up in the shanty yonder. Sary said she heard somebody +moanin' an' yellin' down here. I said she wuz dreamin', but I allow +now ez I might hev been mistook, eh?"</p> +<p>"You didn't come out to investigate?"</p> +<p>"No; it war too stormy. I listened, but there wuz no more of the +noise arter Sary waked me up. If yer father fell overboard I'm +mighty sorry fer yer. If he did go over his body must be a long way +down stream by this time."</p> +<p>"Poor father!" It was all Dick could say. He and his parent had +been alone in the wide world, and now to think that his only +relative was gone was almost beyond endurance.</p> +<p>"Take the boat and go down if yer want to," went on the burly +individual. "Ye can leave the craft at Woolley's mill. I'd go +along, only the old woman's took sick an' I've got to hustle fer a +doctor."</p> +<p>"I will take a look around in the boat," answered Dick, and, +having procured the oars, he set off. The current was so strong it +was not necessary to use the blades, and he had all he could do to +keep the craft from spinning around and dashing itself against the +shore or the other boats which lay along both banks.</p> +<p>On and on the rowboat sped, until about a quarter of a mile had +been covered. Nothing unusual had yet been noted, yet the boy kept +his eyes strained for some sign of his father, praying inwardly +that all might still be well with the only one who was left to +him.</p> +<p>"If father is dead, what shall I do?" he thought with a shiver. +"He had all of our money with him, all of those precious papers, +everything. I would be left a pauper, and, worse than that, without +a single relative in the wide world. Oh, pray Heaven he is spared +to me!"</p> +<p>"Look out there, youngster!"</p> +<p>It was a wild cry, coming from a bend in the stream. Dick had +been gazing across the river. Now he turned to behold his craft +rushing swiftly toward the trunk of a half-submerged tree which the +storm had torn away from the shore.</p> +<p>The river was almost a torrent at this place.</p> +<p>He grasped the oars, intending to turn the boat from its mad +course. But the action came too late. Crash! The craft struck a +sharp branch of the tree with fearful force, staving in the bow +completely, and the next instant the boy was hurled headlong into +the boiling and foaming current.</p> +<br /> +<p><a name="p62" id="p62"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src= +"images/img062.jpg" alt="The next instant the boy was hurled +headlong into the boiling and foaming current" title= +"" /></div> +<h5>"The next instant the boy was hurled +headlong into the boiling and foaming current"</h5> +<br /> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<h3>EXPOSING A SWINDLER.</h3> +<p>It was less than an hour after separating from Dick Arbuckle +that Pawnee Brown found his way to Arkansas City.</p> +<p>He was accompanied by Jack Rasco and Cal Clemmer, and the great +scout's object was not alone to aid Dick in the search for Mortimer +Arbuckle, but also to help Cal Clemmer get back some money out of +which the cowboy boomer claimed he had been swindled.</p> +<p>Clemmer had played cards with a certain sharp known as Pete +Stillwater, and lost two hundred and fifty dollars. At first he had +imagined he had lost it fairly enough, but after thoughts, coupled +with what he heard on the sly the next day, made him certain that +Stillwater had cheated him.</p> +<p>He had brought his case to Pawnee Brown, and the leader of the +boomers at once concluded that the gambler had not acted fairly. He +had met Stillwater at Wichita, where the gambler's reputation was +far from savory.</p> +<p>"You were a fool to bet at cards, Cal," he said flatly. "But +that is no reason why Stillwater should cheat you. I'll do what I +can, but you must promise to leave playing for high stakes alone in +the future."</p> +<p>"Don't yer fear, Pawnee," was Clemmer's ready reply. "A scorched +Injun keeps hez distance from the blaze, don't he? Wall, I'm the +scorched Injun in this air case. Git back my money fer me an' I +won't play nothin' higher then penny-ante ez long ez I live."</p> +<p>The gambling resort at which Stillwater was holding forth was +soon reached, and the three entered, to find the place comfortably +crowded by boomers, men-about-town, cowboys and gamblers, all +anxious to add to their wealth without working. As Pawnee Brown +surveyed the assemblage his lip curled with a sarcasm which was by +no means displaced.</p> +<p>"Poor fools!" he thought; "they expect to win, and nine-tenths +of them are bound in the end to be fleeced out of all they possess. +Why men who have brains will throw away good money in this fashion +is more than I can understand."</p> +<p>"Thar's Stillwater," whispered Cal Clemmer. "Hang hez hide, I'd +like ter wring hez neck fer him."</p> +<p>"Better wring his money bag first," smiled Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>Without hesitation he called Stillwater outside and explained +the situation.</p> +<p>"You can say what you please, Stillwater," he said. "I am +certain you have been cheating, for I know your past record. You +must restore that money and do it right away."</p> +<p>A stormy war of words followed, but Pawnee Brown was firm and at +last Stillwater gave up about a hundred dollars—all he had +with him.</p> +<p>He went off vowing vengeance and when at a safe distance turned +and drew a pistol from his pocket.</p> +<p>"He's going to shoot ye!" cried one of the boomers, but +Stillwater was afraid to fire. As Pawnee Brown started after him on +a run the gambler fled toward the river.</p> +<p>"Let us go after him!" cried one of the others, and away they +went. Soon they came in sight of the river and saw Stillwater in a +small craft, sculling his way to the opposite shore. Presently a +bend in the stream hid him from view.</p> +<p>"Hullo!" sang out Pawnee Brown. "Here comes another rowboat, +and—yes, there is Dick Arbuckle in it. What can he be doing +on the river?"</p> +<p>"The boat is makin' fer thet half-sunk tree!" interrupted Cal +Clemmer. "He'll strike ef he don't look out! Heavens!"</p> +<p>"Look out there, youngster!" yelled Pawnee Brown, and those were +the words which attracted Dick's attention, as mentioned in the +former chapter.</p> +<p>It was useless to say more. Standing upon the bank, Pawnee Brown +and the cowboy boomer saw the craft strike and go to pieces and saw +Dick thrown out into the madly rushing current.</p> +<p>As the boy sped along his head came into painful contact with +the furthest of the tree branches, and he was partially stunned. +His eyes closed and he struck out wildly and ineffectually.</p> +<p>"He'll be drowned!" gasped Clemmer. "It would take a strong +swimmer to gain the bank with the water runnin' ez it is +to-day."</p> +<p>"I don't believe he could catch a rope," answered Pawnee Brown, +starting off down the river bank. "Cal, hunt one up somewhere; I'm +going in after him!"</p> +<p>"But the risk——"</p> +<p>"Never mind the risk. Get the rope if you can," and away went +the scout again.</p> +<p>"Help!" came faintly from Dick. He was dazed and weak, and could +hardly see in what direction the shore really was.</p> +<p>"Keep up, boy, and we'll save you!" shouted Pawnee Brown +encouragingly.</p> +<p>Reaching a spot twenty or thirty feet below where Dick was +drifting, he threw off his hat and coat and leaped into the +stream.</p> +<p>Down he went over his head, to come up a second later and strike +out powerfully for the youth. The cold water chilled him, but to +this he paid no attention. He had taken a fancy to Dick, and was +resolved to save the boy at any cost.</p> +<p>Nearer and nearer he came. It was a tough struggle, for in the +bend of the swollen stream the water boiled and foamed upon all +sides. He was yet ten feet away from Dick, when he saw the youth +sink beneath the surface.</p> +<p>"Gone!" he thought, and made a leap and a dive. His outstretched +hand came in contact with Dick's left arm, and he dragged his +burden upward.</p> +<p>"Keep cool, Dick," he said when he could speak. "Can't you +swim?"</p> +<p>"Yes, but not extra well," panted the half-drowned lad. "I +struck my head upon something."</p> +<p>"Then lay hold of my shoulder and I'll keep you up. Steady, now, +or the current will send us around like two tops."</p> +<p>No more was said, as both felt they must save their breath. With +Dick clinging loosely, so as not to hinder his swimming, Pawnee +Brown struck out for the shore.</p> +<p>It was perilous work, for other trees and obstructions were upon +every hand, and more than once both were torn and scratched as they +sped by in what was little short of a whirlpool.</p> +<p>"Catch the rope!" suddenly came from Clemmer, and a noose +whizzed in the air and fell close beside the pair. Both Pawnee +Brown and Dick did as requested, and the cowboy boomer began to +haul in with all the strength at his command. It was hard work, but +Clemmer was equal to it, and presently those in the water came +close enough to gain a footing, and then the peril was over.</p> +<p>Dick's story was soon told, to which the great scout added that +of his own.</p> +<p>"I shall not attempt to follow up Stillwater," Pawnee Brown +concluded. "It is high time I got back to camp, for let me tell +you, privately, we move westward to-day. You may continue the hunt +for your father or come with me, just as you choose. It is possible +you may find some trace of him around here, but it is doubtful to +me, after such a storm. It's hard lines, boy, but cheer up; things +may not be as bad as you imagine," and he laid a dripping but +affectionate arm upon Dick's shoulder.</p> +<p>"I will stay here for a while, at least," answered Dick. +"But—but I am without a cent, and——"</p> +<p>"How much do you want, Dick?" and Pawnee Brown's pocketbook came +out without delay.</p> +<p>"If you will lend me ten dollars——"</p> +<p>"Here are twenty. When you want more let me know. Now, goodbye, +and good luck to you."</p> +<p>And the next minute Pawnee Brown and Clemmer were gone. Dick +watched them out of sight and a warm feeling went over his +heart.</p> +<p>"The major is as generous as he is brave," he murmured. "He is +one scout of a thousand. No wonder all the boomers asked him to +lead them in this expedition."</p> +<p>Ten minutes later Dick was drying himself at the fire in a house +near by. Hearing his tale of misfortune, the man who took him in +insisted upon treating him to some hot coffee, which did a good bit +toward making him feel once more like himself.</p> +<p>"It may be a wild-goose chase, but I can't give it up," he +muttered as he continued his search by walking along the river +bank. "Poor father, where can he be?"</p> +<p>The outskirts of the city had been left behind and he was making +his way through a tangle of brush and over shelving rocks. A bend +was passed and he gave a wild cry.</p> +<p>And small wonder. There on the river bank lay the motionless +form of his parent, dripping yet with the water of the river. The +eyes were closed as if in death. With a moan Dick threw himself +forward and caught one of the cold hands within his own. Then he +placed his ear to his parent's heart.</p> +<p>"Too late! He is gone!" he wailed. "Poor, poor father, dead +after all! Oh, if only I had died with you!" and he sank back +utterly overcome.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<h3>MIKE AND THE MULES.</h3> +<p>"We move in an hour!"</p> +<p>This was the word which was whispered about the boomers' camp +shortly after Pawnee Brown's arrival.</p> +<p>The great scout had found it out of the question to attempt to +enter the Indian Territory in a direct route from Arkansas City. +The government troops were watching the trail, and the soldiers +were backed up by the cattle kings' helpers, who would do all in +their power to harass the pioneers and make them turn back.</p> +<p>Many a man would have gone ahead with a rush, but Pawnee Brown +knew better than to do this. If he was brave, he was also +cautious.</p> +<p>"A rush now would mean people killed, horses shot down or +poisoned, wagons ditched, harnesses cut up and a thousand and one +other disasters," he said. "We must beat the cattle kings at their +own game. We will move westward to Honnewell either this afternoon +or tonight. Get ready to go on whenever the signal is passed."</p> +<p>"But vot goot vill it do to vait by Honnvell?" questioned Carl +Humpendinck, a German boomer.</p> +<p>"We'll not wait very long there," answered Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>So the word went around that the boomers would move in an hour. +This was not actually true, but it was necessary to spread some +report of this kind in order to make the slow ones hustle. If left +to themselves these few would not have gotten ready in two +days.</p> +<p>"It's a move we are afther makin' at last, is it?" burst out +Rosy Delaney when Mike brought the news. "Sure, an' Oi'm ready, +Moike Delaney, but how are ye to git this wagon out av thet bog +hole, Oi dunno."</p> +<p>"Oi'll borry a horse," answered Mike. "It's Jack Rasco will lind +me the same."</p> +<p>Mike ran around to where Jack Rasco was in earnest conversation +with a stranger who had just come in from town. The stranger had +brought a letter from Nellie Winthrop, posted two days before, and +saying when she would arrive. The letter caused Rasco not a little +worry, as so far the girl had failed to appear.</p> +<p>"I haven't any horse to spare just now, Mike," he said; "but +hold on, you can have Billy, the mule, if you wish."</p> +<p>There was a little twinkle in his eyes as he spoke, but Mike +didn't see the twinkle and readily accepted the mule and led him +over to where his own turn-out stood.</p> +<p>"Moike Delaney, phot kind av a horse do yez call that?" demanded +Rosy.</p> +<p>"It's a mule, ye ignoramus," he answered. "An' a good puller, +I'll bet me whiskers. Just wait till Oi hitch him beside the +tame."</p> +<p>Billy was soon hitched up as Mike desired, and the Irishman +proceeded to urge him forward with his short whip.</p> +<p>It was then the fun began. Billy did not appreciate being called +upon to do extra work. Instead of pulling, he simply turned around, +tangling up and breaking the harness, and began to kick up the +black prairie dirt with both hind hoofs.</p> +<p>"Oh, the villain!" spluttered Rosy Delaney, who received the +first installment of dirt full in her eyes and mouth. "Moike +Delaney, ye made him do that a-purpose!" and she shook her fist at +her husband. "Ye bould, bad mon!"</p> +<p>"Oi did not," he ejaculated. "Git back there, ye baste!" he +added, and tried to hit Billy with his whip. The knowing mule +dodged and, turning swiftly, planted a hoof in Mike's stomach so +slickly that the Irishman went heels over head into a nearby +puddle.</p> +<p>A shout arose from those standing near.</p> +<p>"Score one round for the mule!"</p> +<p>"Mike, thet summersault war good enough fer a show. Better jine +the circus!"</p> +<p>"Oi'll show the mule!" yelled Mike, and rushed in again. But +once more Billy turned and got out of the way, and this time he +caught the seat of Mike's trousers between his teeth and lifted the +frightened man six feet from the ground.</p> +<p>"Don't! Let me down! Somebody save me!" yelled the terrorized +son of Erin. "Rosy! Clemmer! Rasco! Hit him! Shoot him! Make him +let go av me! Oi'll be kilt entoirely!"</p> +<p>Outsiders were too much amused to help Mike, but Rosy came to +the rescue with a woman's best weapon—a rolling-pin, one she +occasionally used in making pies for the family when in camp. +Whizz! came the rolling-pin through the air, hitting Billy on the +ear. The mule gave a short snort, broke what remained of the +harness and scampered off to make a complete circuit of the camp +and then fall into his regular place near Jack Rasco's +turn-out.</p> +<p>"Want him some more?" asked Jack, who had seen the fun, and was +compelled to laugh, in spite of his worry.</p> +<p>"Want him some more, is it?" growled Mike. "Not fer a thousand +dollars, Rasco! Yez kin kape the mule, an' be hanged to yez!" and +he stalked off to borrow a horse that was warranted to be gentle +under the most trying of circumstances.</p> +<p>In the meantime Pawnee Brown was completing his arrangements for +moving to Honnewell and then to enter the promised land by way of +Bitter Creek and the Secaspie River. Scouts sent out to watch had +reported that the cavalry were watching every movement closely, but +Pawnee Brown did not dream that Louis Vorlange had overheard what +was said at a meeting in the woods, or that this scoundrel had +hired Tucker, the cavalryman, to shoot down both himself and Dick +Arbuckle.</p> +<p>Presently Jack Rasco found his way to the scout's side.</p> +<p>"Pawnee, if you can spare a little time I would like your +advice," he said, and mentioned the letter from Nellie Winthrop. +"It's mighty strange the gal don't turn up, ain't it?"</p> +<p>"Perhaps so; but she may have been detained," answered the +scout.</p> +<p>At this Rasco shook his head. The bearer of the letter had seen +Nellie's name on the hotel register. Something was wrong, he felt +sure of it. The letter had contained Nellie's photograph, and he +showed it to Pawnee Brown as he asked for permission to leave his +work of assisting the boomers to be prepared for a moving in order +to pay Arkansas City another visit.</p> +<p>"Go on, Jack. You're my right-hand man, but I'll manage somehow +without you," answered the great scout. "A pretty niece for any man +to have," and he handed back the photograph, after a somewhat close +inspection. Two minutes later found Jack Rasco on his way, to +encounter adventures of which he had never imagined.</p> +<p>"A note for you, Pawnee." It was one of the scouts sent out that +morning who spoke as he rode up. Pawnee Brown read the +communication with interest.</p> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">"Come up to the ravine back of +Honnewell as soon</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">as possible," ran the note. "I +think the cavalry are</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">up to some new dodge, or else the +cattle men are going</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 2.5em;">to play us foul. Urgent.</span> +<center>DAN +GILBERT."</center> +<br /> +<p>"I must away, boys!" cried Pawnee Brown, tearing up the note. +"Be ready to move, but don't stir until you hear from me," and, +giving a few more instructions, he borrowed a fresh horse from Carl +Humpendinck and set off on a gallop of twelve miles across the +country.</p> +<p>As he covered mile after mile, through woods and over stretches +of broad prairie, he could not help but think of his racing mare, +Bonnie Bird. How she would have enjoyed this outing, and how she +would have covered this ground with her twinkling feet.</p> +<p>"I must find her and find the rascal who stole her!" he +muttered. "I wouldn't take twenty thousand dollars for Bonnie," and +he meant what he said. The little mare and the great scout were +almost inseparable.</p> +<p>The afternoon sun was sinking low when Pawnee Brown struck the +outskirts of Honnewell (spelled by some writers, Honeywell). Not +caring to be seen in that town by the government agents, who might +inform the cavalry that the boomers were moving in that direction, +the scout took to a side trail, leading directly for the ravine +mentioned in the letter.</p> +<p>Soon he was picking his way down a path covered with brush and +loose stones. Upon either side were woods, and so thick no sunlight +penetrated, making the spot gloomy and forbidding.</p> +<p>"Now, I suppose I'll have no picnic in finding Dan," he mused. +"I'll give the signal."</p> +<p>The shrill cry of a night bird rang out upon the air, and Pawnee +Brown listened attentively for a reply. None came, and he repeated +the cry, with the same result.</p> +<p>"I'll have to push on a bit further," he thought, and was just +about to urge forward his horse when a crashing on the opposite +side of the ravine caught his ear. Instinctively he withdrew to the +shelter of some brush to learn who the newcomer might be.</p> +<p>He was not kept long in waiting. The sounds came closer and +closer, and presently a tall Indian came into view, astride a +horse, and carrying an odd-looking burden in his arms.</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk!" almost burst from Pawnee Brown's lips. The Indian +he mentioned was a well-known chief, a warrior noted for his many +crimes, and a redskin whom the government agent had tried in vain +to subdue.</p> +<p>The scout crouched back still further and drew his pistol, for +he felt that Yellow Elk was on no lawful errand, and a meeting +would most likely mean a fight. Then he made a discovery of still +greater importance—to him.</p> +<p>"Bonnie Bird, as sure as shooting! So Yellow Elk is the horse +thief. The rascal! I've a good mind to shoot him down where he +sits!" He handled his pistol nervously. "What is that he is +carrying, wrapped up in his blanket? Ha!"</p> +<p>A murmur of amazement could not now be suppressed. In shifting +his burden from one shoulder to the other the Indian had allowed +the blanket to fall partly back, and there was now revealed to +Pawnee Brown the head and shoulders of a beautiful, but unconscious +white girl. Nor was that all. The girl was—Nellie +Winthrop!</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> +<h3>MR. ARBUCKLE'S STORY.</h3> +<p>"Father! father! speak to me! Tell me that you are not +dead!"</p> +<p>Over and over again did poor Dick repeat these words as he sat +by the side of that wet and motionless form on the muddy river +bank. The boy's heart seemed to be breaking.</p> +<p>But suddenly there came a change. He saw one of his father's +arms quiver. Then came a faint twitching of an eyelid.</p> +<p>"He is alive!" gasped Dick. The joy of the discovery nearly +paralyzed him. "Father! father!"</p> +<p>No answer came back, indeed, it was not to be expected. Kneeling +over his parent, Dick set to work to resuscitate the almost drowned +man.</p> +<p>Fortunately the youth had, during his school days in New York, +heard a lecture on what was best to do in just such a case, so he +did not labor in ignorance. His treatment was as skillful as memory +and his love for his parent could make it, and in less than half an +hour he had the satisfaction of seeing his father give a gasp and +open his eyes.</p> +<p>"Father, don't you know me?"</p> +<p>"Dick!" came the almost inaudible reply. "Where—where am +I?"</p> +<p>"You are safe, father. You fell into the river and came near to +drowning."</p> +<p>"Is that so? I did not know there was a river near here."</p> +<p>Mr. Arbuckle was silent for several minutes, during which Dick +continued his work and made him as comfortable as possible by +wrapping his parent in his own dry coat.</p> +<p>"Where is that rascal?"</p> +<p>"What rascal, father?"</p> +<p>"The man with the red mask—the fellow who struck me +down?"</p> +<p>"I do not know. So you were struck down? Where?"</p> +<p>"Just outside of the boomers' camp. Somebody brought me word +that Pawnee Brown wanted to see me privately. I went, and a rascal +rushed on me and demanded my private papers. I resisted and he +struck me down. I know no more than that," and Mr. Arbuckle gave +another gasp. His eyes were open, but in them was that uncertain +look which Dick had seen before, and which the lad so much +dreaded.</p> +<p>"Why, you were struck down last night, father, and several miles +from here. You must have come down to the river at a spot above +here. Don't you remember that?"</p> +<p>Mortimer Arbuckle tried to think, then shook his head sadly.</p> +<p>"It's all a blur, Dick. You know my head is not as strong as it +might be."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes; and you must not try to think too far. So he got your +private papers?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"The ones referring to that silver mine in Colorado?"</p> +<p>"Yes, and all of the others."</p> +<p>At this Dick could not help but groan. The papers were +gone—those precious documents by which he and his father had +hoped some day to become rich.</p> +<p>The history of the deeds to the silver mine was a curious one. +Two years before Mortimer Arbuckle had paid a visit to Creede, +Colorado, on business connected with a mining company then forming +under the laws of the State of New York.</p> +<p>While in Creede the man had materially assisted an old miner +named Burch, who was falling into the hands of a set of swindlers +headed by a rascal called Captain Mull.</p> +<p>Mortimer Arbuckle had never met Captain Mull, but he had saved +Burch's claim for him, for which the old miner was extremely +grateful.</p> +<p>Over a year later Burch had died and left with another old miner +the deeds to a new mine of great promise, deeds which had not yet +been recorded.</p> +<p>The old miner had forwarded these papers, along with others of +importance concerning the exact location of the claim, to Mortimer +Arbuckle, and the gentleman had then begun preparations to go to +the West and see if the claim was really as valuable as old Burch +had imagined.</p> +<p>Dick was just out of school, and would not think of remaining +behind, so it was arranged that father and son should go +together.</p> +<p>A spell of sickness had detained the father several months. +Before this, however, he had hired Jack Rasco to go to Creede with +him and assist in locating the new claim.</p> +<p>As Mortimer Arbuckle failed to come West, Jack Rasco returned to +the companionship of Pawnee Brown, for, as already stated, he +considered himself the great boomer's right-hand man.</p> +<p>At last Mortimer Arbuckle had come on with Dick, to find Rasco +had given his word to Pawnee Brown to stick with the boomers until +the desired entrance into Oklahoma was effected.</p> +<p>"Yer will hev ter wait, Mr. Arbuckle," Jack had said. "I'm +sorry, but I hev given my word ter Pawnee an' I wouldn't break it +fer a cool million, thet's me."</p> +<p>"Let us go with the boomers!" Dick had returned +enthusiastically. "It will be lots of fun, father, and it will give +you a chance to get back your health before you tie yourself down +to those silver mine schemes."</p> +<p>And rather against his wishes Mortimer Arbuckle had consented. +Dick saw his father was in no mental condition to locate claims, +form a new mining company, and do other labor of this sort, and +trusted that the days to be spent with the boomers would make him +much stronger in both body and mind.</p> +<p>"Do you think the robber thought of the deeds when he robbed +you?" went on Dick, after a pause.</p> +<p>"I—I—don't know, Dick. It runs in my mind he spoke +of the deeds, but I can't remember for certain."</p> +<p>"He took your money?"</p> +<p>"Every cent." Mortimer Arbuckle gave a groan. "We are now out +here penniless, my son."</p> +<p>"No we are not, father. I asked Pawnee Brown for the loan of ten +dollars and he gave me twenty, and said I could have more if I +needed it."</p> +<p>"A good man—as generous as he is brave," murmured Mortimer +Arbuckle. "Would the world had more of such fellows."</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown and Jack Rasco are the best fellows in the world!" +answered the youth. "But, come, let me carry you to yonder house, +where you can get dry and also get something to eat."</p> +<p>He assisted his parent to his feet, then lifted the man to his +back and started off. A backwoodsman saw him coming, and ran to +meet him. Soon Mortimer Arbuckle was in the house and lying tucked +in on a warm couch.</p> +<p>A relapse followed, coming almost immediately after father and +son had exchanged stories and detail. In alarm Dick sent off the +backwoodsman for a doctor. The medical man was half an hour in +coming. After a thorough examination he looked grave.</p> +<p>"The man must be kept absolutely quiet," he said. "If you have +been talking to him it has done him more harm than good. You had +better go away and leave him among strangers."</p> +<p>In a further conversation Dick learned that the backwoodsman, +Peter Day, and his wife were ready to take charge of the invalid +for fair pay, and could be trusted to do their best, and it was +arranged to leave Mr. Arbuckle at the house, while Dick returned to +camp, hunted up Pawnee Brown and Jack Rasco and tried to get on the +track of the man of the red mask.</p> +<p>"And if I ever get hold of him I'll—I'll—mash him," +said Dick, and the look on his youthful but stern face told that he +meant just what he said. The western idea of shooting had not yet +entered his mind, but woe to Louis Vorlange if his villainy was +once unmasked.</p> +<p>"Do not worry about me, father," said Dick taking his departure. +"I will take care of myself, and I am sure that either Pawnee +Brown, Jack Rasco or myself can get on the track of the rascal who +robbed and struck you down."</p> +<p>"Be cautious, Dick," murmured the sick man. "Be +cautious—for you are all the world to me!" and he kissed his +son affectionately.</p> +<p>"Who could have attacked father?" he murmured, half aloud. "It +was a dastardly thing to do. I must find out, even if I have to +remain in the city. But who knows but what it was one of the +boomers? Perhaps the man saw father had money and only asked about +his papers to put him off the track. As a rule, the boomers are as +honest as men can be, but there are several hang-dog faces among +them."</p> +<p>Dick had covered a distance of half a mile and was within sight +of the spot where he had been rescued by Pawnee Brown from a watery +grave, when a murmur of voices broke upon his ear, coming from a +thicket down by the river bank. The murmur grew louder and he +paused to listen.</p> +<p>Suddenly two pistol shots rang out, followed by a cry of pain +and rage. There was a brief silence, then came the words which made +Dick's heart almost stop beating:</p> +<p>"Now I'll fix you for helping to run me out of town, Jack Rasco! +I never forget my enemies!"</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> +<h3>A STRANGE LETTER.</h3> +<p>To return to Pawnee Brown at the time when he made the double +discovery that Yellow Elk, the rascally Indian, was riding his +stolen mare, Bonnie Bird, and had as his fair captive Nellie +Winthrop, Jack Rasco's niece.</p> +<p>For the moment the great scout was nearly dum founded by the +revelation. He had not met Yellow Elk for several months, and had +imagined that the Indian chief was safe within the territorial +reservation allotted to him and his tribe.</p> +<p>As Yellow Elk shifted his fair burden, Nellie Winthrop's eyes +opened and she started up in alarm.</p> +<p>"Oh, you beast! Let me go!" she screamed faintly. She was about +to say more, but Yellow Elk clapped a dirty hand over her mouth and +silenced her.</p> +<p>"No speak more," he muttered in his broken English. "White girl +speak too much."</p> +<p>"But—but where are you taking me? This is not the boomers' +camp."</p> +<p>"We come to camp soon—girl in too much hurry," rejoined +the wily redskin.</p> +<p>"I was told the camp was but a short distance out of town."</p> +<p>"Camp he move. Pawnee Brown not safe near big town," went on +Yellow Elk.</p> +<p>"You're a good one for fairy tales," was the boomer's silent +comment. He had withdrawn to the shelter of the thick brush and sat +his steed like a statue, while his pistol was ready for use, with +his forefinger upon the trigger.</p> +<p>"But—but—what happened to me?" went on Nellie, +struggling to sit up, while Yellow Elk held her back.</p> +<p>"White girl lose breath and shut eyes," was the answer, meaning +that Nellie had fainted. "No more fight—Yellow Elk no hurt +her."</p> +<p>"I will go no further with you—I do not believe your +story!" cried Nellie. "Let me down."</p> +<p>At these words the face of the Indian chief grew dark, and he +muttered several words in his own language which Nellie did not +understand, but which Pawnee Brown made out to be that the White +Bird was too sweet to be lost so easily, he must take her to his +cave in the mountains.</p> +<p>"Will you?" murmured Pawnee Brown. "Well, maybe, but not if I +know it."</p> +<p>The mentioning of a cave in the mountains made Pawnee Brown +curious. Did Yellow Elk have such a hiding place? Where was it +located, and was the Indian chief its only user?</p> +<p>"Perhaps some more of these reds have broken loose," he thought. +"I would like to investigate. Who knows but what the cavalrymen are +after them and not the boomers, as Dan Gilbert imagined."</p> +<p>A brief consideration of the subject and his mind was made up. +So long as the Indian did not offer positive harm to Nellie +Winthrop he would not expose himself, but follow on behind, in hope +of locating the cave and learning more of Yellow Elk's intended +movements.</p> +<p>"Let me go, I say!" cried Nellie, but the Indian chief merely +shook his head.</p> +<p>"White girl be no fool. Indian friend; no hurt one hair of her +head. Soon we be in camp and she will see what a friend Yellow Elk +has been."</p> +<p>At this Nellie shook her head. That painted and dirty face was +far too repulsive to be trusted. But there was no help for it; the +Indian held her as in a vise, and she was forced to submit.</p> +<p>Moving along the trail, Indian and horse passed within a dozen +feet of where Pawnee Brown sat, still as silent as a block of +marble. It was a trying moment. What if the horse he rode should +make a noise, or if his own Bonnie Bird should instinctively +discover him and give the alarm?</p> +<p>"Poor Bonnie Bird, to have to carry a dirty redskin," thought +the boomer. The ears of the beautiful mare went up as she drew +close, and she appeared to hesitate. But Yellow Elk urged her along +by several punches in the ribs, and in a moment more the danger of +discovery just then was past.</p> +<p>On went the tall Indian along the ravine, peering cautiously +ahead, with one hand around Nellie's waist and the other holding +the reins and his pistol. He knew he was on a dangerous mission, +and he stood ready, if unmasked, to sell his worthless life +dearly.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown followed at a distance of a hundred feet, taking +care to pick his way so that his horse's hoofs should strike only +the dirt and soft moss, and that the brush growing among the tall +trees should screen him as much as possible.</p> +<p>Presently he saw the Indian halt and stare long and hard at a +tall pine growing in front of a large flat rock.</p> +<p>"Wonder if he has missed his way?" mused the scout, but a moment +later Yellow Elk proceeded onward, faster than ever.</p> +<p>Coming up to the pine, Pawnee Brown saw instantly what had +attracted the redskin's attention. There was a blaze on the tree +six inches square, and on the blaze was written in charcoal:</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<center>10 f. E. D. G.</center> +</div> +<p>"Hullo, a message from Dan," he cried, half aloud. He had read +the strange marking without difficulty. It ran as follows:</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Ten feet east.</p> +<p class="author">DAN GILBERT."</p> +</div> +<p>Pacing off the ten feet in the direction indicated, Pawnee Brown +located a flat rock. Raising this, he uncovered a small, circular +hole, in the centre of which lay a leaf torn from a note book, on +which was written:</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"I write this to notify Pawnee Brown or any of my other friends +that I have gone up the ravine on the trail of half a dozen cavalry +scouts who are up here, not only to watch for boomers, but also to +try and locate several Indians who have left the reservation +without permission. I will be back soon.</p> +<p class="author">DAN GILBERT."</p> +</div> +<p>The boomer read the note with interest. Then he hastily +scribbled off the answer:</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<p>"Have read the note that was left. Am following Yellow Elk, who +stole my mare and has Jack Rasco's niece a captive. Yellow Elk is +bound for some cave in the mountains.</p> +<p class="author">PAWNEE BROWN."</p> +</div> +<p>The answer finished, the boomer placed it in the hole, let back +the flat rock and wrote on the blaze of the tree, under Dan +Gilbert's initials:</p> +<div class="blockquot"> +<center>P. B.</center> +</div> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> +<h3>YELLOW ELK.</h3> +<p>The writing of the answer to Gilbert's communication had taken +several minutes, and now Yellow Elk was entirely out of sight. But +Pawnee Brown was certain of the trail the Indian had taken, and by +a little faster riding soon brought the rascal again into view.</p> +<p>Yellow Elk was now descending into a valley bound on the north +by a rolling hill and on the south by a cliff varying from twenty +to forty feet in height. Even at a distance Pawnee Brown could see +that the Indian was having considerable trouble with Nellie +Winthrop, who felt now assured that her first suspicions were +correct and that Yellow Elk had taken her far from the boomers' +camp.</p> +<p>"I will not go with you!" cried the girl, and did her best to +break from the warrior's grasp. But Yellow Elk's hold was a good +one, and she only succeeded in tearing her dress.</p> +<p>"We be dare in few minutes now," replied the redskin. "Den all +be right—you wait and see."</p> +<p>"I won't go with you—let me down!" screamed Nellie, but he +silenced her by a fierce gesture which made the boomer's blood +boil. It was only by the exercise of all his will power that the +great scout kept himself from shooting down Yellow Elk on the +spot.</p> +<p>The end of the long cliff was almost reached when the Indian +chief reined up the mare and sprang to the ground, still holding +Nellie tight. As he held the girl by the wrist with one hand he led +Bonnie Bird forward with the other. In a few seconds, girl, mare +and Indian had disappeared from view in the midst of a thick fringe +of bushes.</p> +<p>They had scarcely vanished when Pawnee Brown was on the ground +and had tethered his horse in a little grove of pines a hundred +feet away. This done, he stole forward to what he felt must be the +mouth of the cave Yellow Elk had mentioned.</p> +<p>The great scout knew he was on delicate and dangerous ground. +There was no telling how many Indians beside Yellow Elk there might +be in the vicinity, who had left the reservation without +permission; it was likely all who were there would be in war paint +ready to kill him on sight.</p> +<p>"The reds who train with Yellow Elk are not to be trusted," he +muttered. "Yellow Elk wouldn't like anything better than to scalp +me just for a taste of his old blood-thirsty days. Making a 'good +Indian' out of such a fellow is all nonsense—it simply can't +be done."</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown had dropped down in the long grass and was now +wiggling along like a snake through the bushes and between the +rocks. Soon the entrance to the cave was gained, hidden by more +bushes. He hesitated, looked to see that his pistol was all right, +shoved the bushes aside and slipped within.</p> +<p>It was so dark inside that for a moment he could distinguish +nothing. But his ears were on the alert and he heard the footsteps +of Yellow Elk resounding at a distance of fully fifty yards. He +could hear nothing of Nellie, and rightfully concluded that the +Indian had been compelled to pick her up and carry her.</p> +<p>An instant later he stumbled close to his mare. Bonnie Bird +recognized him with a snort of joy.</p> +<p>"Sh-sh!" he said softly, and the gentle animal understood and +made no further sound. But she gladly rubbed her soft nose up and +down his neck to signify her pleasure.</p> +<p>"Good Bonnie Bird," he whispered. "I'll be with you soon again," +and went on after Yellow Elk.</p> +<p>The Indian had now come to a halt and was striking a match. Soon +some dry brush was set on fire and the redskin heaped upon it some +stout tree branches, for the air in the cave was chilly.</p> +<p>"Now me and white girl have long talk," said Yellow Elk, as he +motioned Nellie to a seat.</p> +<p>"Where is the boomers' camp?" she faltered, hardly knowing how +to answer him.</p> +<p>"Camp ten miles from here," came the short reply. "You here all +alone with Yellow Elk."</p> +<p>At this the frightened girl gave a scream of terror.</p> +<p>"You base wretch!" she sobbed. "Take me back at once."</p> +<p>"No take back—Yellow Elk no fool. White girl stay +here—make Yellow Elk good squaw, maybe," and he grinned into +her pretty face.</p> +<p>But now an interruption came which all but stunned Yellow Elk. +Leaping from his hiding place, Pawnee Brown pounced upon the +redskin, caught him by the throat and hurled him backward and +almost into the midst of the fire!</p> +<p>"You miserable dog!" came from the scout's lips.</p> +<p>"Oh, sir, save me from that Indian!" came from Nellie, as she +quickly turned to the man she felt sure would assist her.</p> +<p>"I will, Miss Winthrop, don't fear," answered Pawnee Brown. "So, +Yellow Elk, we meet again. I reckon you remember the man who kicked +you all around the agency two years ago because you tried to steal +his new pair of boots?"</p> +<p>"Ugh!" grunted Yellow Elk. He had just managed to scramble out +of the fire, and was beating out the flames which had caught on a +fringe of his garments. "Pawnee Brown."</p> +<p>He muttered a fierce imprecation in his native tongue. Then, +before Pawnee Brown could stop him his pistol flashed in the +fire-light. He took aim at the scout's head and fired.</p> +<p>But though the action of the Indian chief was quick, the +movement of the boomer was quicker.</p> +<p>Many times had he been under fire, and he had learned to drop +when occasion required as rapidly as it could be done.</p> +<p>With the pressure upon the pistol trigger he went down like a +flash and the bullet intended for his head merely grazed the top of +his hat and flattened itself upon the cave wall opposite.</p> +<p>"Bah!" hissed Yellow Elk, when he saw how he had missed. He +attempted to take him once more, but now Pawnee Brown hurled +himself on the redskin, turning the barrel of the weapon aside, and +both went to the stone flooring with a crash. Nellie Winthrop let +out a shriek of terror.</p> +<p>"Do not let him shoot you! Make him throw the pistol away!" she +cried, as she wrung her hands. She would have liked to assist +Pawnee Brown, but could not see how it could just then be done.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> +<h3>NELLIE'S FLIGHT.</h3> +<p>Over and over on the stone flooring rolled the boomer and his +red enemy, now close to the fire and again off to one side, where +there was a slight hollow still wet from the recent storm.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown had Yellow Elk by the throat and across the back, +while the Indian held his antagonist by the shoulder with one hand, +while trying to beat his brains out with the pistol that was in the +other.</p> +<p>Once Yellow Elk succeeded in getting in a glancing blow, which +drew blood, but did no great harm. But now Pawnee Brown's grip was +tightening. The redskin was choking. His eyes bulged from their +sockets and his tongue hung out several inches.</p> +<p>"Ugh!" gasped the Indian chief. In vain he tried to shake off +that grip. It was like that of a bulldog and could not be loosened. +He struck out wildly, but the pistol butt only landed upon Pawnee +Brown's shoulder, a shoulder that was as tough as iron and could +stand any amount of pounding.</p> +<p>Suddenly the tactics of the Indian changed. Knowing that he was +in immediate danger of death by choking, and feeling how unlikely +it was that he could throw off his assailant, he let fall his +pistol and caught the boomer around the body. Then he began to roll +toward the fire, which was now blazing up more brightly than +ever.</p> +<p>The scout saw the redskin's intention instantly, but before he +could stop it both he and his enemy were close to the flames.</p> +<p>"Me die you die too!" hissed Yellow Elk, and gave another roll, +which took both himself and Pawnee Brown into the very edge of the +blaze.</p> +<p>"Take care! You will be burnt up!" cried Nellie Winthrop, and +gave a scream. Rushing forward, she caught Pawnee Brown by the arm +and attempted to draw him back.</p> +<p>But of this there was no need, for the great scout had already +changed his tactics, feeling convinced that to choke Yellow Elk was +now impossible. His hand left the redskin's throat, to double up +and sail forth into a crushing blow, which took the Indian chief +beneath the eyes and made him see more stars than were ever beheld +in the blue canopy of heaven. As Yellow Elk fell back Pawnee Brown +did likewise, but in a different direction.</p> +<p>The Indian was now in the midst of the flames and the cry he let +out was truly blood-curdling. Excited as he was, Pawnee Brown did +not let the intonation of that cry escape him. Understanding the +Indian language well, he knew it was more than a cry of terror or +pain, it was a call for help! Other Indians must be somewhere in +the vicinity.</p> +<p>"You had better run for it!" he said, turning to Nellie. "Mount +my horse—the mare the Indian had—and ride down the +ravine."</p> +<p>"Run?" she faltered.</p> +<p>"Yes, and hurry. Hark! As I thought! Other Indians are +coming!"</p> +<p>The boomer was right. The footsteps sounded from the opposite +end of the cave, which had two entrances, similar to each +other.</p> +<p>By this time Yellow Elk had rolled out of the fire and was +dancing around like a madman, trying to beat out the flames which +had communicated to his clothing.</p> +<p>As Nellie ran off, Pawnee Brown drew his pistol, resolved to not +only defend himself but cover the girl's retreat as well.</p> +<p>Little did he dream of the fresh perils which awaited Nellie. +What those perils were the immediate chapters which follow will +relate.</p> +<p>As Yellow Elk danced around, Pawnee Brown leveled his revolver +at him.</p> +<p>Crack! went the weapon and the Indian chief fell back with a +wound through his shoulder. The flickering of the fire-light had +saved him from death.</p> +<p>A cry that was little less than a war whoop now sounded out, and +with this four other Indians appeared, two whom Pawnee Brown had +before seen in Yellow Elk's company and two who were utter +strangers to him.</p> +<p>"Capture the white dog!" howled Yellow Elk, in his native +tongue. "Shoot the dog down!"</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown!" grunted one of the newcomers, and up went +several pistols. The scout fired at the same time, and one of the +strange Indians threw up his hands and fell lifeless. But the +bullet this Indian had sent on its mission struck the boomer across +the forehead and sent the scout to the flooring of the cave +senseless.</p> +<p>When Pawnee Brown came to a clear mind again he found himself +aching in every portion of his body, for in their usual custom the +Indians on finding him helpless had each taken their turn at +kicking him to suit their pleasure, Yellow Elk especially +delighting in this cruel performance.</p> +<p>The scout was bound tightly with a lariat which started from his +feet and was wound and crossed up to his very neck, making body, +legs and arms as stiff as those of an Egyptian mummy. He lay on the +cave flooring not a dozen feet from the fire, which Yellow Elk was +in the act of replenishing.</p> +<p>As he opened his eyes one of the other Indians, Spotted Nose by +name, stopped in front of him. The scout instantly closed his eyes +again, but it was too late.</p> +<p>"You all right," cried Spotted Nose, and gave him a sharp kick +in the side.</p> +<p>"Well I won't be if you keep on kicking me," replied the boomer, +as cheerfully as he could, although it must be admitted he was much +disturbed. He glanced around and was relieved to see that Nellie +was nowhere in sight.</p> +<p>Yellow Elk now came up and also kicked the prostrate scout.</p> +<p>"You heap dirty dog!" he exclaimed, his face full of bitter +hatred. "You shoot me—you die for dat."</p> +<p>"I suppose I will—if you have the saying of that, Yellow +Elk. But perhaps you won't dare to kill me."</p> +<p>"Why not Indian dare? Indian dare anything," growled Yellow +Elk.</p> +<p>"My friends are not far off—they will soon come here, and +if you harm me it will go hard with you."</p> +<p>At this all of the Indians laughed.</p> +<p>"No white man around here—we on guard all time," said +Spotted Nose.</p> +<p>"On guard, eh? And yet you didn't see me come in, Dirty +Nose?"</p> +<p>"Spotted Nose did see Pawnee Brown," was the answer; but this +was a falsehood. An Indian hates to admit that he has been in any +manner outwitted by a white man.</p> +<p>"You tell a good story, Dirty Nose." Pawnee Brown turned to +Yellow Elk. "Yellow, how did you run across that girl?"</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk no tell his secrets," came the answer. "Pawnee Brown +fool to ask. Pawnee Brown think him heap sly, like fox, but him sly +only like cow!" This produced another laugh, for the Indians from +the Indian Territory are not as stolid as were their forefathers, +and thoroughly enjoy their own rude manner of joking.</p> +<p>Presently Yellow Elk turned to his companions and spoke to them +in an undertone. A moment later he sped away, but whether in +pursuit of Nellie Winthrop or not, Pawnee Brown could not tell.</p> +<p>The Indian chief was gone fully an hour, and came back looking +unusually grave.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown had tried in vain to get Spotted Nose and the other +Indian to talk—to tell him why they had left the reservation. +Not one would speak further than to tell him to keep quiet.</p> +<p>On returning, Yellow Elk at once set to work to rig up an +upright pole from the floor to the ceiling of the cave, using a +heavy tree branch for the purpose. The upright was placed close to +where the smoke from the fire found a vent through several large +cracks in the ceiling, and the boomer watched these proceedings +with much alarm.</p> +<p>The Indians were erecting a fire-stake, such as they had used in +the wild west when some victim was to be roasted alive!</p> +<p>"Heavens! can that be meant for me?" was the question he asked +himself.</p> +<p>The stake planted and fastened firmly, Yellow Elk heaped some +fresh, dry brush around its bottom and then came up to Pawnee +Brown.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown see the fire-stake?" he asked, his savage eyes +gleaming like two stars.</p> +<p>"I do, Yellow. Who is it for?"</p> +<p>"Why does Pawnee Brown ask? Does he not deserve death?"</p> +<p>"I suppose I do—according to your notion."</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown shall burn—he shall burn slowly," went on +Yellow Elk, meaning that he would make the great scout's torture +last as long as possible.</p> +<p>"Your training on the reservation hasn't civilized you much, +Yellow, if that's the way you feel about it."</p> +<p>"I hate white man—all of them," grumbled the Indian chief. +"They take all my land away and put me in a little yard to live. I +would kill all white man if could," and he grated his teeth.</p> +<p>A moment later Yellow Elk nodded to the other Indians and all +leaped forward and bound Pawnee Brown fast to the fire-stake. This +done the redskins heaped the brush around the scout's feet.</p> +<p>"Now the dirty white dog can die!" hissed Yellow Elk, as he +advanced with a torch. "He can pray, but the white man's Great +Father cannot save him! He must burn until his bones are as +charcoal!"</p> +<p>And so speaking Yellow Elk thrust the torch into the dry brush +and set it on fire!</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> +<h3>DICK TO THE RESCUE.</h3> +<p>"That man is going to shoot Jack Rasco!"</p> +<p>Such was the thought which rushed into Dick Arbuckle's mind as +he heard the fatal words spoken in the woods near the river +bank.</p> +<p>He could not see either of the men, but he felt tolerably +certain in his mind that Rasco's assailant was Stillwater, the +gambler, who had been run out of Arkansas City by Pawnee Brown, +Rasco, Clemmer and a dozen others.</p> +<p>"Would you kill me?" came in Rasco's voice. The boomer was +concerned and was doing his best to gain time, in the hope that +something would turn up to his advantage.</p> +<p>"Kill you?" sneered Stillwater. "Do you think I'm going to put +up with the way I've been treated? Not much! I had a fine thing in +Arkansas City—something worth a thousand a week to me, and +you and your friends spoiled it all. I'm going to settle with you, +and after that I shall hunt up Pawnee Brown and the rest and settle +with them, also."</p> +<p>"You'll have your hands full a-settlin' with Pawnee."</p> +<p>"Bah! I am not afraid of him. He had me foul over to the Golden +Pick, but I'll be careful when next we meet. But I'll not waste +time with you here, Rasco. I've got you alone and 'dead men tell no +tales.'"</p> +<p>"Alone?" Jack Rasco began to smile. "You're mistaken. Look +behind you."</p> +<p>Stillwater started, but did not look back.</p> +<p>"That's an old dodge, Rasco, but you can't work it off on me. I +have you alone and I'm going to end the business right here."</p> +<p>"Not yet!" cried a youthful voice behind Stillwater, and crash! +down came a heavy stick, hitting the gambler squarely upon the head +and sending him with a thud to the earth.</p> +<p>As Stillwater went down, Rasco leaped forward and came down upon +him. But this movement was useless. The rascal was more than +three-quarters knocked out and lay for several minutes +helpless.</p> +<p>"I owe you one fer that, Dick Arbuckle!" cried Rasco, +gratefully. "Yer came in the nick o' time!" Now the peril was over +the boomer dropped back into his own peculiar manner of speech.</p> +<p>"I am glad I happened this way," returned Dick, as he drew a +long breath. "Gosh! what a lot of excitement we are passing through +out here! More than I experienced in all my life in New York."</p> +<p>"The West is the place fer stirrin' times, lad." Jack Rasco +turned to his prostrate foe. "Wall, Stillwater, do yer think it war +a trick now, tellin' yer ter look behind yer?"</p> +<p>The rascal answered with a groan.</p> +<p>"My head is split in two!" he cried. "Who struck me? What, that +boy? I'll remember you, youngster, and some day——" He +did not finish.</p> +<p>"I ain't done with yer yet, Stillwater," said Rasco. "You war +goin' ter shoot me. I reckon turn about is fair play, ain't +it?"</p> +<p>"Would you—you shoot me—now?" faltered the card +sharp. At the bottom of his heart he was a coward.</p> +<p>"Why not?"</p> +<p>"I wasn't going to do it, Rasco—I was only—only +scaring you."</p> +<p>"Thet's a whopper—made outer the hull cloth, Stillwater. +Yer war going ter shoot me—an' I'm a-goin' ter be jess as +accommodatin'," and on the sly Rasco winked at Dick who was much +relieved to think the boomer did not really intend to carry out his +blood-thirsty design.</p> +<p>The face of Stillwater grew as white as a sheet and he trembled +from head to foot.</p> +<p>"Don't! don't you do it! Let me off, and I'll give you all the +money I have with me."</p> +<p>"It won't do, Stillwater."</p> +<p>"It's nearly a thousand dollars. Take every cent of it and let +me go!"</p> +<p>The gambler fairly grovelled at Jack Rasco's feet. His horror of +dying was something fearful to contemplate.</p> +<p>"I'll give yer one chance, Stillwater," said Rasco, in deep +disgust, and at once the rascal's face took on a look of hope. "Yer +ain't fit ter die, an' thet's why I say it. Promise ter let me an' +my friends alone in the future."</p> +<p>"I promise."</p> +<p>"Promise ter give up cheatin' at cards. If yer don't, some day +it will be the death of yer."</p> +<p>"I'll never cheat again."</p> +<p>"All right, I'll take yer at yer word. Now come on down to the +river."</p> +<p>"What for?"</p> +<p>"You hev got ter swim across to the other side whar yer belong. +Decent folks ain't a-goin' ter have yer over here."</p> +<p>Again Stillwater was much disturbed. But Jack Rasco was firm, +and soon the trio were down by the water's edge. Still pale, the +gambler plunged into the river and struck out for the opposite +shore. It was a hard battle against that current, but presently +Rasco and Dick saw him wade out at the other side. He shook his +fist at them savagely, then disappeared like a flash into the +woods.</p> +<p>"He'll not keep any of his promises," said Dick.</p> +<p>"Keep 'em? Yer didn't expect it o' thet viper, lad? No, he's an +enemy to the death. But whar did yer come from, and have yer found +out anything about yer poor father?"</p> +<p>Dick's story was soon told, to which Rasco listened with much +interest.</p> +<p>"I don't believe a boomer would rob yer father," said he, +reflectively. "Like as not it war somebody who followed yer from +New York—some man as knew the value of them air minin' +deeds."</p> +<p>"Well, I'll go back to camp and make a search, anyway, Rasco. +But what brought you here?"</p> +<p>"I'm lookin' fer my niece, Nellie Winthrop."</p> +<p>And Rasco told of the letter received and of how Nellie was +missing and no trace of her could be found anywhere. Dick was +almost as much disturbed as Rasco, for he still carried in his mind +a picture of the beautiful girl he had saved from Juan Donomez's +insults.</p> +<p>"Can the Mexican have waylaid her?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Perhaps," said the man of the plains. "But I've hunted the city +high and low."</p> +<p>A short while after the two found themselves in the town once +more. Nellie had put up at the Commercial Hotel, and to this +hostelry they made their way and entered the office.</p> +<p>"No news of the young lady," said the clerk in charge, who had +been interviewed before. "I am quite certain she started for the +boomers' camp on horseback."</p> +<p>Rasco heaved a sigh.</p> +<p>"Might as well go back," he said to Dick, then as he saw the boy +start he continued: "What's up? Do yer see anything of her?"</p> +<p>"No, Rasco. But look at that man, the fellow sitting down by the +corner table in the reading room, he with the brown hat."</p> +<p>"I see him. What of him?"</p> +<p>"He's from New York—a fellow who used to come sneaking +around father's office, trying to gather information about mining +shares."</p> +<p>"Gee shoo, Dick! Yer don't mean it!" Jack Rasco was all +attention instantly. "Maybe he's the rascal as knocked yer dad +over?"</p> +<p>"Perhaps. If I—There is a man joining him."</p> +<p>"I've seen thet chap afore. 'Pears ter me he works fer the +government."</p> +<p>"Do you know his name?"</p> +<p>"No. Wot's the other fellow's handle?"</p> +<p>"Dike Powell. He is known as a Wall street sharper. I wish I +could hear what the two have to say to each other. Yet I don't want +Dike Powell to see me."</p> +<p>"It's easy enough, lad. Thar's a window close to the table, an' +it's open. We'll walk out on the veranda, and get under the +opening. Come."</p> +<p>In a second more they were outside. Tiptoeing their way across +the veranda, which was deserted, they soon found themselves close +to the open window mentioned.</p> +<p>"And so that is settled," they heard the man from New York +remark. "I am glad to hear it, Vorlange."</p> +<p>Vorlange! Dick started and so did Jack Rasco. The boy was trying +to think where he had heard it before. Ah, he had it now. Many and +many a time had he heard his parent murmur that name in his sleep, +and the name was coupled with many other things, dreadful to +remember. Surely there was some awful mystery here. What made his +father mutter that name in his dreams, and why at such time was he +talking of murder and hanging, and sobbing that he was innocent? A +cold chill crept down the boy's backbone. Was the heart of that +secret to be laid bare at last?</p> +<hr width="30%"size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> +<h3>AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION.</h3> +<p>"Yes, it's settled, Powell; and as soon as we are done here with +the boomers, I'll get to work and find out what the claim is +worth."</p> +<p>"How about being shadowed in the affair?"</p> +<p>"I'm not afraid—I'm laying my plans too well," answered +Louis Vorlange. "I would go ahead at once, but to throw up my +position under the government just now might excite +suspicions."</p> +<p>"Have you the papers with you?"</p> +<p>"No; I left them at the cavalry camp. They are too valuable to +carry in one's coat pocket."</p> +<p>"Supposing the camp moves?"</p> +<p>"I have my belongings secreted in a nearby cave where they are +as safe as in a deposit vault of a bank."</p> +<p>"Well, Vorlange, what am I to do now I am out here?"</p> +<p>"Remain in Arkansas City for the present and take it easy."</p> +<p>"You promised me a hundred dollars on my arrival."</p> +<p>"And there it is."</p> +<p>There was the rustle of bank notes.</p> +<p>"New money, eh?" was Dike Powell's comment. "Been printing some +out here?"</p> +<p>"Not much. I know better than to go into the counterfeiting +business."</p> +<p>Dick clutched Rasco's arm. The youth's face was full of +concern.</p> +<p>"My father's money was in new bills," he whispered into his +companion's ear. Rasco nodded, but quickly motioned for +silence.</p> +<p>"I reckon this is drinks on me," said Powell, arising. "Come +down to the bar before you go back to the cavalry camp."</p> +<p>"I'm in a hurry, Powell, but I'll take one glass," concluded +Louis Vorlange, and the two men hurried from the reading-room.</p> +<p>"He is the man—I feel certain of it!" burst from Dick's +lips, when he felt safe to speak. "Rasco, there is some mystery +here. My father——" He stopped short and bit his +lip.</p> +<p>"I know wot's in yer mind, Dick. I've heard yer father go on in +his sleep, and war talkin' ter Pawnee Brown about it. An' Pawnee +knows this air Vorlange. The two air enemies from school days. +Pawnee said Vorlange wasn't squar nohow!"</p> +<p>"He is evidently in the employ of the government."</p> +<p>"Yes; a land-office spy, now workin' ag'in the boomers fer the +cavalry as intends ter keep us out of Oklahoma."</p> +<p>"It will be hard to bring such a man to justice, without some +direct evidence against him, Rasco."</p> +<p>"Don't yer try ter do it—yet, lad. Take my advice an' +watch him. An' afore yer come down on him yer hed better question +yer father about Vorlange."</p> +<p>At this Dick winced.</p> +<p>"Rasco, my father's manner is against him—I know that. But +I'm certain he never committed a crime in his life."</p> +<p>"I believes yer, Dick. Yer father's a gentleman, every inch o' +him; I seed thet the fust I clapped eyes on him. But knowin' the +truth is one thing an' provin' it is another, especially in the +wild west. This air Vorlange may hev yer father in a mighty tight +hole, and if you show him up as the thief who stole the deeds an' +the money, he may turn on yer dad and squeeze him mightily, +see?"</p> +<p>"I see. But what shall I do just now?"</p> +<p>"Follow Vorlange and spy on to him all yer can. It ain't no ust +ter hurry matters, with your father flat on his back. Powell will +remain here and Vorlange will be with the cavalry, so yer will know +whar ter clap eyes on ter both of 'em if it's necessary."</p> +<p>A moment's reflection convinced Dick that this was sound advice, +and he said he would follow it, mentally resolved not to accuse +Vorlange of anything until he had gotten his parent to confess to +the true state of affairs.</p> +<p>By this time the boy and the man of the plains had left the +veranda and walked around to where Rasco had left his horse. A +moment later they saw Louis Vorlange hurry from the barroom of the +hotel, leap upon his own animal, and strike out of town in a +westerly direction.</p> +<p>"If I had a horse I'd follow him," began Dick, when Rasco +motioned the youth to hop up behind. Soon they were riding after +Vorlange, but not close enough to allow the spy to imagine that he +was being followed.</p> +<p>"If you go after him you'll get no chance to hunt up your +niece," began Dick, when the city was left behind.</p> +<p>"That's true, lad." Jack Rasco's face grew troubled. "I don't +know wot's best ter do. It ain't fair ter let yer follow Vorlange +alone; an' with only one hoss——hullo, wot does this +mean? Carl Humpendinck, an' wavin' his hand to us like he war +crazy."</p> +<p>Rasco had discovered the German boomer sweeping up a side trail. +Humpendinck had made out Rasco but a second before and now shouted +for the man of the plains to halt.</p> +<p>"What is it, Dutchy?" called out Rasco, when they were within +speaking distance.</p> +<p>"Vot ist it? Donner und blitzen, Rasco, it vos der vorst news +vot efer you heard!" burst from Carl Humpendinck's lips. "I chust +here him apout quarter of an hour ago, und I ride der horse's legs +off ter told yer."</p> +<p>"But what is it—out with it?"</p> +<p>"It's apout dot girl you vos lookin' for. Rosy Delaney, dot +Irish vomans vot haf such a long tongue got, she tole me der +sthory. Gott im himmel! it vos dreadful!"</p> +<p>"But tell me what it is, Dutchy!" exploded Rasco. "Wot is +dreadful?"</p> +<p>"Der sthory she tole—I can's most believe him."</p> +<p>"See here, out with the whole thing, or I'll swat yer one on the +cocoanut, Humpendinck!" roared Rasco. "Yer as long-winded ez a mule +thet's gone blind."</p> +<p>"Gracious, Rasco, you vouldn't hit me, afther I ride me dree +miles und more ter tole you?" wailed the German, reproachfully. "I +dink me you vos mine pest friend, next to Pawnee Prown, ain't +it?"</p> +<p>"There'll be a dead Dutchman here in another minute if yer don't +open up clear down ter the bottom!" howled Rasco, who had never +before suffered such exasperation.</p> +<p>"Tell us the exact trouble," put in Dick, calmly. He saw that +exciting Humpendinck still more would do no good.</p> +<p>"Der Indian haf carried dot girl avay!" exploded +Humpendinck.</p> +<p>"Carried the girl away!" ejaculated Dick.</p> +<p>"My Nellie?" yelled Rasco.</p> +<p>"Dot's it, Rasco. Ain't it awful! Dot Irish vomans seen dot +Indian mit dot girl in his arms, flying der trail ofer like a biece +of baber pefore a cyclone alretty!"</p> +<p>"Humpendinck, are you telling the truth?"</p> +<p>"I vos tole you vot dot Irish vomans tole me. Mike Delaney und +dree udder mans vos lookin' for you."</p> +<p>On the instant Louis Vorlange was forgotten, not only by Rasco, +but also by Dick. It made both shudder to think that Nellie had +been carried off by a redskin. They turned into the trail from +which Humpendinck had emerged, and were soon on their way to the +camp.</p> +<p>Here Rosy Delaney was found very much disturbed. She came up to +Rasco wringing her hands.</p> +<p>"To think o' the red rascal a-takin' thet young leddy off!" she +cried. "I know her by thet photygraph! Och, the villain! An' it +moight have been Rosy Delaney, bad cess to him!"</p> +<p>"Show me the exact trail he followed," said Rasco, and this the +Irish woman did willingly. Soon Rasco was tearing over the prairie, +followed by Humpendinck, Delaney, Clemmer and by Dick, who borrowed +a horse from another boomer.</p> +<p>The trail left by Yellow Elk was easily followed to the vicinity +of Honnewell, but here it led away to the southwest and was +swallowed up among the bushes and rocks leading down into the +ravine previously mentioned.</p> +<p>"Oi reckon thot's the trail," said Delaney, after an +examination.</p> +<p>"And I vos dink dot ist der trail," put in Humpendinck.</p> +<p>"An' I calkerlate this is the trail," added Cal Clemmer.</p> +<p>Each pointed in a different direction, while Rasco and Dick were +of the opinion that none of them were right and that the trail led +up the ravine, just as it really did.</p> +<p>An interruption now occurred. There was a stir in the bushes +above their heads, and an elderly scout peered down upon them, +rifle in hand.</p> +<p>"Hullo, Jack Rasco, wot's the best word? Whar is Pawnee +Brown?"</p> +<p>"Dan Gilbert!" cried Rasco. "Come down, Pawnee ought to be +somewhere about here."</p> +<p>In a moment more Dan Gilbert, a heavy-set, pleasant-looking +frontiersman, stood among them. A hasty consultation immediately +followed. Dan Gilbert was on his way back to where he had left the +blaze on the tree, and it was decided that Rasco and Dick should +accompany him, while Clemmer, Delaney and Humpendinck went to +reconnoitre in the opposite direction. A double pistol shot from +either party was to bring the other to its aid.</p> +<p>In less than five minutes the first party was on its way to the +blazed tree. Dan Gilbert feeling certain that if Pawnee Brown had +passed that way he must have seen the sign and left word of his +own.</p> +<p>"If Pawnee was down here you can bet he spotted that Injun if he +came within a hundred yards of him," said Gilbert. "He can smell a +red like a cat can smell a rat."</p> +<p>The tree reached, the frontiersman threw back the flat rock and +brought forth the message left by the great scout. He read it +aloud.</p> +<p>"Following Yellow Elk!" cried Jack Rasco. "I know the rascal! +And it was he as stole my gal! Jess wait till I git my hand on his +windpipe, thet's all! Whar's thet cave, Gilbert?"</p> +<p>"I don't know, but it must be somewhere up the ravine. Come +on."</p> +<p>And away went the trio, on the hunt for Yellow Elk, Pawnee Brown +and poor Nellie Winthrop.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> +<h3>ATTACKED BY A WILDCAT.</h3> +<p>"You fiend!"</p> +<p>This was all Pawnee Brown could say, as with a face full of +bitter hatred Yellow Elk advanced and applied the torch to the dry +brush which encircled his feet.</p> +<p>In vain the great scout endeavored to wrench himself free from +the fire-stake. Yellow Elk and his followers had done their work +well and he was held as in a vise.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown shall burn slowly," said the Indian chief, hoping +to make the scout show the white feather. "Yellow Elk will watch +that the fire does not mount to his body too quickly."</p> +<p>"If you want to kill me why don't you put a bullet through my +heart and have done with it," said the boomer as coolly as he +could. The fire was now burning around his feet and ankles and the +pain was increasing with every second of time.</p> +<p>"White man shall learn what it is to suffer," said Spotted Nose. +"He killed my friend, the Little Mule."</p> +<p>"Your friend tried to take my life."</p> +<p>"Bah! say no more but burn! burn!" hissed Yellow Elk.</p> +<p>And with a stick he shoved the flaming brush closer in around +the scout's legs.</p> +<p>It was a fearful moment—a moment in which Pawnee Brown's +life hung by a single thread. The flames were leaping up all around +him. He closed his eyes and half murmured a prayer for divine +aid.</p> +<p>Crack! bang! crack! Two pistol shots and the report of a rifle +echoed throughout the cave, and as Pawnee Brown opened his eyes in +astonishment Spotted Nose threw up his arms and fell forward in the +flames at his feet, dead! The Indian who had been with Spotted Nose +also went down, mortally wounded, while Yellow Elk was hit in the +left arm.</p> +<p>"Down with the reds!" came in the ringing voice of Jack Rasco, +and he appeared from out of a cloud of smoke, closely followed by +Dan Gilbert and Dick. "Pawnee! Am I in time? I hope ter Heaven I +am!"</p> +<p>"Jack!" cried the great scout. A slash of Rasco's hunting knife +and he was free. "Good for you!" and then Pawnee Brown had his +hands full for several minutes beating out the flames which had +ignited his boot soles and the bottoms of his trousers.</p> +<p>"We plugged the three of 'em," said Gilbert. "I knocked thet +one," and he pointed to the Indian who was breathing his last.</p> +<p>"I hit the Indian with the yellow plume," put in Dick, and he +could not help but shudder.</p> +<p>"That was Yellow Elk," said Rasco. "But whar is he now?"</p> +<p>All the white men turned quickly, looking up and down the cave. +It was useless. Yellow Elk had disappeared.</p> +<p>"He must not escape!" cried Pawnee Brown. "I have an account to +settle with him for starting that fire."</p> +<p>"But whar is Nellie?" asked Rasco, impatiently, looking around +with a falling face.</p> +<p>"She ran away when the other Indians came to Yellow Elk's +assistance," answered Pawnee Brown, and in a few hurried words he +told his story.</p> +<p>"Then she can't be far off."</p> +<p>"Let us hunt for her at once," cried Dick, and his enthusiasm +made the men laugh, at which the boy blushed furiously.</p> +<p>"Never mind, Dick, yer don't think no more of her nor I do," +said Rasco. "Which way, Pawnee?"</p> +<p>"This way, boys." The scout turned to the Indian who had been +wounded. "Dead as a door nail. Pity it wasn't Yellow Elk."</p> +<p>"So say I," answered Rasco. "But we'll git him yet, mark my +words!"</p> +<p>With all possible speed they ran out of the cave and to the spot +where they had left their horses. Here a disagreeable surprise +awaited them. Every animal was gone, including the one Pawnee Brown +had ridden.</p> +<p>"More of Yellow Elk's work!" muttered the boomer. "I'll tell +you, men, that red is a corker, and as a dead Indian he couldn't be +beat."</p> +<p>"I declar' this most stumps me!" growled Dan Gilbert. "Here's +the trail plain enough, but it's all out of the question ter follow +on shank's own mare."</p> +<p>"Let us hunt up Clemmer and the others," suggested Jack +Rasco.</p> +<p>"We must be cautious—the cavalry may be somewhere in the +vicinity," added Pawnee Brown. "How the redskins escaped them is a +mystery to me."</p> +<p>"They are evidently as sly as their forefathers," said Dick. +"But, really, something ought to be done. If we—hullo, +there's a horse down in yonder clearing!"</p> +<p>"Bonnie Bird!" shouted Pawnee Brown, in great delight. It was +indeed the beautiful mare. A second cry and the steed came bounding +up to her master.</p> +<p>"Now I can follow even if the others can't," said the scout. +"Rasco, it's a pity you haven't a mount. It is no more than right +that you should follow up your niece. If you insist upon it I'll +let you have Bonnie Bird. I wonder if Nellie or the redskin had +her?"</p> +<p>"I won't take yer horse, Pawnee—it's askin' too much," +answered Rasco. "Supposin' we both mount her? If Bonnie Bird got +away from Yellow Elk it's more'n likely one of the other hosses got +away, too."</p> +<p>"That's so. Well, get up, Jack, and let us lose no time."</p> +<p>Soon both men were mounted. A few words all around followed, and +it was agreed that Dick and Gilbert should try to hunt up Clemmer +and the others, and then away went Pawnee Brown and Rasco upon +Yellow Elk's trail.</p> +<p>Suddenly Jack Rasco uttered a cry.</p> +<p>"See, Pawnee, here's whar another of the hosses got away. Hang +me if I don't think it war my hoss, too!"</p> +<p>"Yes, and here is where the horse dropped into a walk," he +answered. "I don't believe he can be far off."</p> +<p>Without delay Rasco slid to the ground.</p> +<p>"I'll follow him up afoot," he declared. "I'm fresh and can run +it putty good. You go ahead with the regular trail."</p> +<p>The trail left by Yellow Elk ran down along the edge of the +stream for a distance of perhaps a hundred yards, then it came out +on a series of flat rocks and was lost to view.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown came to a halt. Had Yellow Elk crossed the stream, +or doubled on the trail and gone back?</p> +<p>Dismounting, he got down upon his hands and knees and examined +the last hoof-prints with extreme care.</p> +<p>The examination lasted for fully ten minutes. No white man could +follow a trail better than this leader of the boomers, yet for the +time being he was baffled.</p> +<p>Yellow Elk had led the horses into the water, but the trail did +not extend across the stream.</p> +<p>"He's an artful dodger!" mused Pawnee Brown, when of a sudden he +became silent.</p> +<p>A faint scratching, as of tree bark, had come to his ears. The +noise was but a short distance away.</p> +<p>"Some animal," he thought. "No human being would make such a +sound as that."</p> +<p>Another ten seconds of painful silence followed. The scratching +sound had just been resumed when Bonnie Bird wheeled about as if on +a pivot.</p> +<p>"Ha!"</p> +<p>The exclamation came from between Pawnee Brown's set teeth. +There, from between the branches of a tree just in front of him, +glared a pair of yellowish-green eyes.</p> +<p>The blazing optics belonged to a monstrous wildcat!</p> +<p>As quick as a flash Pawnee Brown raised his pistol and pulled +the trigger.</p> +<p>Crack! The wildcat was hit in the side. The shot was a glancing +one and did but little damage.</p> +<p>Whirr! down came the body straight for the boomer, landing half +upon his shoulder and half upon Bonnie Bird's mane.</p> +<p>The little mare was thoroughly frightened, and giving a snort +and a plunge she threw both rider and wildcat to the ground.</p> +<p>As Pawnee Brown went down he tried to push the monstrous cat +from him, but the beast had its claws fastened in the scout's +clothing and could not be shook off.</p> +<p>Crack! Again Pawnee Brown fired. The flash was almost directly +in the wildcat's face, and shot in the left forepaw the beast +uttered a fearful howl of pain and dropped back.</p> +<p>But only for an instant. The pain only increased its anger, and +with gleaming teeth it crouched down and made another spring, right +for the boomer's throat.</p> +<p>Crack! crack! twice again the pistol rang out. But the big cat +was now wary and both shots failed to take effect.</p> +<p>The pistol being now empty, Pawnee Brown hurled it at the +enraged beast, striking it in the nose and eliciting another scream +of rage.</p> +<p>Then, as the wildcat came on for a final attack, the scout +pulled out his hunting knife.</p> +<p>As the wildcat came down the hand holding the hunting knife was +raised, with the blade of the knife pointing upward.</p> +<p>A lightning-like swing and a thrust, and for one brief instant +the wildcat was poised in the air, upon the very blade of the long +knife.</p> +<p>The blow had been a true one, the knife point reaching the +beast's heart, and when the animal fell it rolled down among the +leaves, dead.</p> +<p>"By thunder! but that was something I hadn't bargained for!" +murmured the great scout, as he surveyed the carcass. "That's about +the biggest wildcat I ever saw. It's a good thing I didn't meet him +in the dark."</p> +<p>Wiping off his hunting knife, he restored it to his belt. Then +he picked up his pistol and started to reload it, at the same time +whistling for Bonnie Bird, who, he felt sure, must be close by.</p> +<p>As Pawnee Brown stood reloading the pistol and whistling for his +mare he did not notice a shadow behind him. Slowly but surely +someone was drawing closer to him. It was Yellow Elk.</p> +<p>The Indian chief was on foot. In his left hand he carried a +cocked revolver, in his right an old-time tomahawk, from which he +had refused to be parted when placed on the Indian reservation.</p> +<p>The redskin's face was full of the most bitter animosity it is +possible to imagine. The glare of wickedness in his eyes fairly put +the look that had lived in the wildcat's optics to shame. His snags +of yellow teeth were firmly set.</p> +<p>He was resolved to kill his enemy there and then. Pawnee Brown +should not again escape him.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> +<h3>THE MEETING IN THE WOODS.</h3> +<p>After leaving Pawnee Brown, Jack Rasco followed the trail of his +horse through a small grove of trees and along the upper bank of +the very stream upon which the great scout encountered Yellow +Elk.</p> +<p>"Blamed ef he didn't go further nor I expected," muttered Rasco +to himself as he trudged along. But the hoof-prints were now +growing fresher and fresher, telling that the animal could not be +far off.</p> +<p>The woods passed, he began ascending a small hill. At the top of +this was a level patch, thickly overgrown with short brush.</p> +<p>He had just entered the brush when he heard a strange sound. He +listened intently.</p> +<p>"Thet's a hoss in pain," he said to himself. "Too bad if the +critter hez had a tumble an' broke a leg! If that's—— +By gum!"</p> +<p>Jack had stumbled upon a large opening directly in the midst of +the brush. Before he could turn back the very soil beneath his feet +gave way, and over and over he rolled down an incline of forty-five +degrees, to bring up at last at the edge of a pool of black water +and mud.</p> +<p>Fortunately he was not hurt, although the roll had dazed him and +cut short his wind. As soon as he could he leaped to his feet and +gazed around him.</p> +<p>The horse he had heard lay half in and half out of the mud. Its +leg was caught between two rocks, and it was trying frantically to +free itself. It was his own beast, and at once recognized him.</p> +<p>"Whoa there!" cried Rasco, and did all he could to soothe the +animal. The horse appeared to understand that assistance was at +hand, and became quiet, while Rasco quickly released the locked leg +and the beast floundered up to a safe footing.</p> +<p>"Well, we're in a pocket, 'pears ter me," reflected the man of +the plains as he gazed about him. On three sides the walls of the +hole were very nearly perpendicular, on the fourth the slant was as +previously stated, but here the soil was spongy and +treacherous.</p> +<p>"Hang me ef I'm a-goin' ter stay here all day," muttered Rasco, +after a view of the situation. "Come, boy, it's up thet slope or +nuthin'," and he leaped on the horse's back and urged him forward +on a run.</p> +<p>Twice did the horse try to ascend to the plain above and fail. +Then Rasco urged him forward a third time. This time the beast +balked and away went the man of the plains over his head.</p> +<p>Fortunately Rasco landed in a tolerably soft spot, otherwise his +neck would surely have been broken. As it was, his head struck the +root of a fallen tree, which had once stood upon the edge of the +hole, and he rolled back near the pool all but senseless.</p> +<p>It was a quarter of an hour later before he felt like stirring +again.</p> +<p>"Hang the hoss!" he murmured half aloud, yet, all told, he did +not blame the animal so much for balking. "Couldn't do it, eh, +boy?" he said, and the beast shook his mane knowingly.</p> +<p>"Git along alone, then!" went on Rasco, and struck the horse on +the flank.</p> +<p>Away went the steed, and this time the top of the hole was +gained without much difficulty.</p> +<p>"Now you're out, how am I ter make it?"</p> +<p>It was easy to ask this question, but not so easy to answer it. +Rasco tried to run up the spongy incline and sank to his knees.</p> +<p>"Ain't no use; I'll try a new game," he growled.</p> +<p>Fortunately, Rasco was in the habit of carrying, in cowboy +fashion, a lariat suspended from his belt. This he now unwound and +with a dexterous throw caught the outer loop over a sturdy bush +growing over one of the perpendicular sides of the opening.</p> +<p>Testing the lariat, to make certain it was firm, he began to +ascend hand over hand. This was no light task, yet it was speedily +accomplished, and with a sigh of relief he found himself safe once +more.</p> +<p>But in the meantime the horse had trotted off, alarmed by a +black snake in the long grass. Rasco saw this snake a minute later, +but the reptile slunk out of sight before he could get a chance to +dispatch it.</p> +<p>The trail of the horse led again back to the ravine, but not in +the direction of the cave. Bound to secure the animal before +rejoining Pawnee Brown, Rasco loped along in pursuit.</p> +<p>He was in the ravine, and had just caught sight of his steed +once more, when he heard several pistol shots coming from a +distance. These were the shots fired by Pawnee Brown at the +wildcat. He listened intently, but no more shots followed, and +being below the level of the surrounding country, he was unable to +locate the discharge of firearms.</p> +<p>"Something is wrong somewhar," he mused. "Can thet be Pawnee +shootin', or is it Dick an' the others?"</p> +<p>He secured the horse and began to ascend out of the ravine, when +a murmur of voices broke upon his ears. One of the voices sounded +familiar and he soon recognized it as that of Louis Vorlange.</p> +<p>Instantly dismounting, he tied his animal fast to a tree that +the creature might not wander away again, and worked his way +noiselessly through the brush. The voices came from a nearby +clearing, and approaching, Rasco saw on horseback Louis Vorlange +and half a dozen cavalrymen, among them Tucker, Ross and Skimmy, +the trio who had sought to detain Dick as a horse thief.</p> +<p>"I feel certain they will come this way," one of the strange +troopers was saying. "I saw at least two boomer spies along yonder +ravine."</p> +<p>"They will come to Honnewell," answered Vorlange. "It may be +that instead of making a rush they will try to sneak in during the +night, one at a time."</p> +<p>"We'll be ready for 'em," muttered Tucker. "I know my meat," he +added, significantly, to Vorlange, meaning that he had not +forgotten the reward offered if, in a battle he should lay Pawnee +Brown and Dick low. At the words Vorlange nodded.</p> +<p>"When will the reinforcements be up this way?" asked Ross.</p> +<p>"I have already sent word to headquarters," answered Vorlange. +"The lieutenant is sure to respond without delay."</p> +<p>"Do you reckon the boomers know we are on hand to stop them?" +questioned Skimmy.</p> +<p>"They know nothing," answered Vorlange. "If Pawnee Brown leads +his men in this direction they will fall directly into a +trap—if the lieutenant does as I have advised, and I think he +will."</p> +<p>"I hope the boomers start to fight and give us a chance to wipe +'em out," muttered Ross.</p> +<p>"There will be a fight started, don't you fear," answered +Vorlange.</p> +<p>The spy meant what he said. Too cowardly to meet Pawnee Brown +face to face, he wanted to make sure that the great scout should be +killed.</p> +<p>This would happen if a battle came off, for he felt sure Tucker +would do exactly as he promised.</p> +<p>Vorlange had determined to be on hand. Secreted in a tree or +elsewhere he could fire a dozen shots or so into the air, and this +would arouse both cavalrymen and boomers to think that actual +hostilities had already started, and then neither side would longer +hold off.</p> +<p>"When will the boomers move?" was one of the cavalryman's +questions.</p> +<p>"They are waiting for Pawnee Brown," said the spy.</p> +<p>"Where is he?"</p> +<p>"Somewhere about the country."</p> +<p>"Can he be up here?"</p> +<p>Vorlange started.</p> +<p>"I—I think not.</p> +<p>"He's a slick one, Vorlange; remember that."</p> +<p>"I know it, but some men are slicker. Wait until this boom is +busted and you'll never hear of Pawnee Brown again."</p> +<p>So the talk ran on. Rasco listened with much interest, +forgetting the fact that he had promised to follow Pawnee Brown as +soon as the stray-away horse was secured.</p> +<p>What he had heard surprised him greatly.</p> +<p>Many of the plans of the boomers, made in such secrecy, were +known to the government authorities. The plan to move westward to +Honnewell was known, and a passage through to Oklahoma from that +direction was, consequently, out of the question.</p> +<p>"The boys must know of this," thought Rasco. "I must tell +Clemmer and Gilbert before I try to hunt up Pawnee again, or go +after Nellie. If there was a fight as Vorlange seems to think, +there might be a hundred or more killed."</p> +<p>Having overheard all that he deemed necessary, the man of the +plains started to retreat.</p> +<p>He had taken but a few steps when he found himself cut off from +his horse.</p> +<p>Three additional cavalrymen were approaching from the +thicket.</p> +<p>"Here's a horse tied up!" cried one. "Boys, whose animal is +this?"</p> +<p>The call instantly attracted the attention of Vorlange and his +companions. They turned toward the speaker, and now there remained +nothing for Rasco to do but to run for it, and this he did at the +top of his speed.</p> +<p>As long as he could he kept out of sight behind the bushes. But +soon Tucker caught sight of him.</p> +<p>"Halt, or I'll fire!" came the command.</p> +<p>Tucker spoke first, and several others followed. As Rasco was +now in plain view, and as each of the enemy had a firearm of some +sort aimed at him, it would have been foolishness to have thus +courted death, and the man of the plains halted.</p> +<p>"It is Jack Rasco!" cried Vorlange. "Boys, this is Pawnee +Brown's right-hand man!"</p> +<p>"I know him!" growled Tucker. "Rasco, you're in a box now and +don't you forget it. You've been spying on us."</p> +<p>"Make him a prisoner," said another of the cavalrymen, an under +officer. "If he is a spy we'll have to take him back to the fort +and turn him over to the captain."</p> +<p>A minute later Jack Rasco found himself a close prisoner. It was +destined to be some time ere he again obtained his liberty. Thus +were his chances of helping Pawnee Brown cut off.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER +XVIII.</h2> +<h3>A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS.</h3> +<p>Let us return to Pawnee Brown, who, totally unconscious of the +fact that Yellow Elk was creeping up behind him, stood beside the +body of the dead wildcat, re-loading the empty revolver.</p> +<p>One of the chambers of the firearm had been loaded, when +something about the pistol caused the great scout to examine it +more closely. As he was doing this Yellow Elk advanced to within +three feet of him and raised the tomahawk for the fatal blow.</p> +<p>At this terrible moment it must surely have been Providence +which interfered in the boomer's behalf, for, totally unconscious +of his peril, he would have done absolutely nothing to save +himself. He bent over the pistol more closely.</p> +<p>"That trigger seems to catch," he thought, and threw the weapon +up and fired it over his shoulder, just to test it.</p> +<p>The bullet did not pass within a yard of Yellow Elk, but the +movement came so unexpectedly that the Indian chief was taken +completely off his guard and dropped back as though actually shot. +His cry of astonishment and fear lasted longer than did the pistol +report, and Pawnee Brown swung around to confront him.</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk!" came from his lips, when whizz! the tomahawk left +the redskin's hand and came swirling through the air directly for +his head. He dropped like lightning, and the keen blade sank deeply +into the tree behind him.</p> +<p>"Wough!" grunted the Indian when he saw how he had missed his +mark. Then he leveled the pistol in his left hand at Pawnee Brown's +head.</p> +<p>The great scout felt his position was still a trying one. His +own shooter, though still in hand, was empty. He pointed it and +started to back away to the tree behind him.</p> +<p>"Stop, or I kill!" commanded Yellow Elk, but instead of +complying, the scout took a flying leap to a safe shelter. Seeing +this, Yellow Elk also lost no time in getting behind cover.</p> +<p>With the pistol loaded once more the boomer felt safer. He +listened intently for some movement upon the part of his enemy, but +none came. The Indian is a great hand at playing a waiting game and +Yellow Elk was no exception to this rule.</p> +<p>"Well, if you can wait, so can I," thought Pawnee Brown and +settled down with eyes and ears on the alert. He thought of Nellie +Winthrop and of Rasco, and wondered what had become of uncle and +niece. He did not want to wait, feeling it was important to get +back to the boomers' camp, but there was no help for it, and he +remained where he was.</p> +<p>Fifteen minutes went by and no sound broke the stillness saving +that of the water in the brook as it flowed down over a series of +rocks. Then came the faint crack of a single dry twig over upon his +left. He turned around and blazed away in that direction.</p> +<p>A fierce but suppressed exclamation in the Indian tongue +followed, showing that Yellow Elk had been hit. How serious the +Indian chief was injured there was no telling. It might be only a +flesh wound, it might have been fatal and Yellow Elk might have +died without further sound, and then again it might be only a ruse. +Again Pawnee Brown paused to listen.</p> +<p>Thus another quarter of an hour was wasted. It must be confessed +that the great scout's nerves were strung to the topmost tension. +At any moment a shot might come which would end his life. It was +ten times more trying than to stand up in line of battle, for the +enemy could not be seen.</p> +<p>Again came the crack of a twig, but very faint, showing that the +sound came from a distance. There followed a faint splash, some +distance up the stream. Yellow Elk was retreating.</p> +<p>"I reckon I hit him pretty bad," mused Pawnee Brown. "But I'll +go slow—it may be only a trick," and away he crawled as +silently as a snail along the brook's bank.</p> +<p>Inside of the next half hour he had covered a territory of many +yards on both sides of the brook. In one spot he had seen several +drops of blood and the finger marks of a bloody hand. Yellow Elk, +however, had completely disappeared.</p> +<p>"He is gone, and so is the trail," muttered the great scout at +last. He spoke the truth. Further following of the Indian chief was +just then out of the question.</p> +<p>"There is one thing to be thankful for," he mused. "I don't +believe he captured Nellie Winthrop again after he left the cave. I +wonder what has become of that girl?"</p> +<p>Bonnie Bird had wandered down the brook for a drink and +instantly returned at her master's call. With something of a sigh +at not having finished matters with Yellow Elk the boomer leaped +once again into the saddle and turned back in the direction from +whence he had come.</p> +<p>It was now growing dark, and the great scout felt that he must +ere long return to the boomers' camp and give the order necessary +to start the long wagon train on its way westward to Honnewell. +Little did he dream of what the government spy and the cavalrymen +had discovered and how Jack Rasco had been taken prisoner.</p> +<p>"Pawnee!"</p> +<p>It was a cry from a patch of woods to the northward, and +straining his eyes he saw Cal Clemmer waving his sombrero toward +him. Scout and cowboy boomer were soon together.</p> +<p>"Well, whar's Rasco and the gal?" were Clemmer's first +words.</p> +<p>"Both gone—I don't know where, Cal. Where are the other +boys?"</p> +<p>"Started back toward Honnewell; thet is, all but Dick Arbuckle. +He's over ter yonder spring gittin' a drink o' water."</p> +<p>"I am sorry I failed to find the girl," said Pawnee Brown. "She +must have wandered off in the woods and got lost. I am quite +certain the Indians did not spot her again."</p> +<p>"And Jack?"</p> +<p>"Went off after his horse."</p> +<p>"Wot do yer advise us ter do—stay here?"</p> +<p>"I am afraid staying here will do no good, Cal. I must get back +to camp and start the wagons up. I know they won't move a step +unless I am personally there to give directions. The old boomers +are all afraid of being fooled by some trick of the soldiers."</p> +<p>"Thet's so. Wall, if yer want me ter stay here I'll +stay—otherwise I'll go back," concluded Clemmer.</p> +<p>Dick now came up, as anxious as Clemmer had been to know the +news. His face grew very sober when he heard that Nellie had not +been found.</p> +<p>"I wish I knew more of this territory—I'd go after her +myself," he said, earnestly. "I hope you won't abandon the +search?"</p> +<p>"Oh, no, lad; that is not my style. But I must get back to the +camp first and start the train along. I'll be on this ground again +by midnight."</p> +<p>"Then why can't I stay here? I am not afraid."</p> +<p>"Alone?" ejaculated Clemmer.</p> +<p>"Yes—if you want to join Pawnee."</p> +<p>"By gosh, but that boy's nervy fer a city chap!" cried the +cowboy boomer, in admiration.</p> +<p>"Well, you know there's a girl in this, Cal," rejoined Pawnee +Brown, dryly. "And I reckon she's a girl well worth going through +fire and water for."</p> +<p>At this Dick blushed.</p> +<p>"I want to find out about Rasco, too," he hastened to say. "You +know I was going through with him, and he was going to do some +business for my father, later on."</p> +<p>The matter was talked over for several minutes, and it was at +last decided that Dick should secrete himself in a thicket and +stand watch there or close by until he heard from Pawnee Brown +again.</p> +<p>"Be on your guard, boy, for enemies may be thick here," were the +boomer's last words of caution. "Don't uncover to anybody until you +are positive it is a friend."</p> +<p>"And here's a bite for yer," added Clemmer, handing out some +rations he carried in a haversack. "You'll get mighty hungry ere +the sun comes up again."</p> +<p>In a minute more the two horsemen were galloping away. Dick +watched them until they were lost to view, then dropped to a +sitting position on a flat rock in the centre of a clump of +trees.</p> +<p>The youth's heart beat rather strongly. He was not used to this +sort of thing. How different the prairies and woods were to the +city streets and buildings.</p> +<p>"Lonesome isn't a name for it," he mused. "Puts me in mind of +one vast cemetery—a gigantic Greenwood, only there aren't any +monuments. What is that?"</p> +<p>There was a flutter and a whirl, and Dick grasped his pistol +tighter. It was only a night-bird, starting up now that the sun was +beginning to set.</p> +<p>Soon the woods and the prairies began to grow dark. The sun was +lost to view behind tall trees which cast shadows of incalculable +length. It grew colder, too, and he buttoned his light coat tightly +about him.</p> +<p>To pass the time he began to eat some of the food left behind by +Clemmer. It was not particularly appetizing, and in the city Dick +might have passed it by for something better. But just then it +tasted "just boss," to use Dick's own words. A bracing air and +hunger are the best sauces in the world.</p> +<p>An hour had gone by, and all was dark, when Dick started up from +a reverie into which he had fallen. What was that which had reached +his ears from a distance? Was it a cry, or merely the moaning of +the rising wind?</p> +<p>He listened. No, it was not the wind—it was a cry—a +girl's voice—the voice of Nellie Winthrop!</p> +<p>"It is Nellie!" came from his set lips, and his face grew pale. +Again came the cry, but this time more faintly.</p> +<p>From what direction had that cry for help proceeded? In vain the +boy asked himself that question. He was not used to a life in the +open and the rising wind was very deceptive.</p> +<p>"I must find her!" he gasped, leaping from the rocks. "I shan't +remain here while she is in trouble."</p> +<p>He had no horse the men being unable to provide him with one +when they had come together, but for this he did not care. He was +resolved to aid the girl if such a thing were possible.</p> +<p>Away he went over the prairie at a rapid gait, in the direction +from whence he imagined the cry had proceeded. Two hundred yards +were covered and he came to a halt and listened. Not a sound broke +the stillness, although he fancied he heard the hoof-strokes of a +horse at a great distance.</p> +<p>Then he turned in another direction, and then another. It was +all to no purpose. No trace of the girl could be found. He gave a +groan.</p> +<p>"It's no use; she's gone and that is all there is to it. Poor +girl!"</p> +<p>With a sinking heart he set off to return to the spot from +whence he had come. He advanced a dozen steps, then halted and +stared about him.</p> +<p>Suddenly an awful truth burst upon him. He was lost among the +brush!</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> +<h3>NELLIE MEETS VORLANGE.</h3> +<p>What had that awful cry heard by Dick meant?</p> +<p>To learn the particulars, we must go back to the time when +Nellie Winthrop started to escape from the cave in the cliff.</p> +<p>The heart of the poor girl almost stopped beating as she saw +Pawnee Brown face about, ready to defend both her and himself from +any enemy who might appear to help Yellow Elk.</p> +<p>Urged by the great scout, she set off on a hasty run for the +mouth of the cave.</p> +<p>Before the entrance was gained she heard the crack of a pistol, +but whether fired by the boomer or an Indian she could not +tell.</p> +<p>"Heaven spare that brave man!" was the prayer which came to her +almost bloodless lips.</p> +<p>She looked around in vain for the horse spoken of by Pawnee +Brown. Not an animal was in sight. Then she remembered what the +scout had said about riding down the ravine, and she set off on +foot.</p> +<p>Not far from the mouth of the cave the ravine forked into two +branches, the smaller fork ending at the distance of quarter of a +mile in a cul de sac, or blind pocket. Not knowing she was making +any mistake, she entered this fork and kept on running, expecting +each instant to find Pawnee Brown coming up behind her.</p> +<p>"Oh, dear, I can't be right!"</p> +<p>Such was the cry which escaped her when she came to a halt, +realizing she could go no further in that direction. On both sides +and in front arose a series of rocks, more or less steep, and +covered only with scrub brush, impossible to ascend.</p> +<p>She looked behind. No one was coming. All about her was as +silent as a tomb.</p> +<p>"Perhaps I had better go back," she mused, but the thought of +encountering an Indian made her shiver. In her life in the open she +had had many an encounter with a wild animal, but redskins were as +yet almost new to her, and her experience with the hideous Yellow +Elk had been one she did not care to repeat.</p> +<p>She had just turned to move back to the ravine proper, when a +sound among the rocks caused her to pause. She looked intently in +the direction, but could see nothing out of the ordinary.</p> +<p>"Hullo, there, miss; what are you doing away out here?"</p> +<p>The cry came from the rocks on her right. Turning swiftly, she +saw an evil-looking man scowling down upon her from a small opening +under one of the rocky walls of the <i>cul de sac</i>. The man was +Louis Vorlange.</p> +<p>Nellie did not know the fellow; indeed she had never heard of +him. But there was that in the spy's manner which was not at all +reassuring as he leaped down to where she stood.</p> +<p>"I say, how did you come here?" went on Vorlange.</p> +<p>"I—I just escaped from an Indian who carried me off from +Arkansas City," answered Nellie.</p> +<p>"An Indian! Who was it, do you know?"</p> +<p>"A fellow named Yellow Elk."</p> +<p>Vorlange uttered a low whistle.</p> +<p>"Where is he now?" he questioned.</p> +<p>"I left him back in yonder hills, in a cave."</p> +<p>Again the spy uttered a whistle, but whether of surprise or +dismay Nellie could not tell.</p> +<p>"Were you alone with Yellow Elk?"</p> +<p>"I was for a time. But a white man came to my aid and the two +had a fight."</p> +<p>"Who was the white man?"</p> +<p>Before she gave the matter a second thought, Nellie +answered:</p> +<p>"Mr. Pawnee Brown."</p> +<p>"Ha!" Vorlange's eyes gleamed, and the girl felt certain she had +made a mistake.</p> +<p>"Where is Pawnee Brown now?"</p> +<p>"I left him in the cave with the Indian. I expected him to +follow me."</p> +<p>"I see. And what may your name be?"</p> +<p>The man's words were fair enough, but Nellie did not like his +manner at all, so she turned upon him coldly.</p> +<p>"And what is your name, and who are you?"</p> +<p>"I am not here to answer questions, miss. I am a government +official, let that be enough for you to know."</p> +<p>As he spoke Louis Vorlange caught Nellie by the arm.</p> +<p>"Let go of me," cried the frightened girl, and attempted to pull +away, but Vorlange held her tight.</p> +<p>"You come along with me. No one, and especially Pawnee Brown, +has any right in this territory just now, and it is my business to +see that all such people are kept out. I presume you belong to that +crowd of boomers, since you say you were carried off from Arkansas +City?"</p> +<p>"I shall answer no more of your questions, sir. Let me go!"</p> +<p>"You'll come along with me," muttered Vorlange. "I take it you +know what the boomers intend to do, and, if that is so, your +information is just what the government wants."</p> +<p>So speaking he attempted to drag Nellie up the rocks to the +opening before mentioned. The girl resisted with all of her +strength, and Vorlange received a box on the left ear which made +that member of his body hum for a long time after.</p> +<p>"You little wretch!" he cried, as he caught her up in his arms. +"I will get square with you for that."</p> +<p>"You are no gentleman! Let me go!" replied Nellie. Then she +attempted to scream, but he promptly clapped his hand over her +mouth.</p> +<p>In another moment, despite her utmost struggles, he was carrying +her up to the opening. This spot once reached, he took her inside +and over to a well-like hole upon one side.</p> +<p>"Do you see that hole?" he said sternly. "I am going to put you +in that for the present, for safe keeping. I call it my prison +cell, and no cell could be better. It is not a cheerful place, but +you will be as safe there as in the best prison in Chicago or San +Francisco. I'll be back for you soon, and in the meantime you had +better make no attempt to escape, for at the mouth of this opening +is set a gun, with a wire attachment, which may blow you up."</p> +<p>This latter statement was a false one, but Vorlange rightfully +calculated that it would have its due effect upon the frightened +girl.</p> +<p>Having thus intimidated Nellie, Vorlange lowered her into the +opening in the rocks, which was about six feet in diameter and at +least ten feet deep. This done, he lit a lantern and hung it so +that its rays might shine down upon his captive.</p> +<p>"You won't feel so lonesome with the light," he said. "Now keep +quiet until I return. If you behave yourself you have nothing to +fear. I am a government officer and I am holding you as a prisoner +only until I can turn you over to the proper authorities."</p> +<p>"It is a—a queer proceeding," faltered Nellie. She could +hardly bring herself to believe the man.</p> +<p>"Out here we can't do things exactly as they are done in the big +cities," grinned Vorlange. "We are out here after the boomers just +now, and your being here with Pawnee Brown will rather go against +you. But keep quiet now until I return."</p> +<p>Thus speaking, the spy quirted the opening, leaving Nellie +alone. With hasty steps Vorlange made his way along the fork of the +ravine until the opening proper was reached. Here he settled +himself in a tree to watch for Pawnee Brown's possible coming. But, +as we know, the scout did not move in that direction.</p> +<p>For over two hours Nellie was left alone, a prey to the keenest +mental torture it is possible to imagine. As the day was drawing to +a close Vorlange appeared, a peculiar smile upon his face.</p> +<p>He had met the cavalrymen, and Jack Rasco had been captured as +previously described.</p> +<p>"Well, we are going to move now," he said to Nellie, and threw +down a rope that he might haul her up out of the hole.</p> +<p>"Where to?"</p> +<p>"You'll learn that later."</p> +<p>As she did not wish to remain in that damp spot longer, she +caught the rope and was drawn up. Then Vorlange took her outside +and sat her down before him on his horse, first, however, tying her +hands.</p> +<p>It was during the ride that followed that Dick heard her cry for +help and started to her rescue, only to miss her and get lost in +the brush.</p> +<p>A ride of half an hour brought the pair to the edge of a heavy +timber. Through this they picked their way, until a small clearing +was gained, where was located a low log cabin, containing two +rooms. The log cabin was not inhabited, and Vorlange pushed open +the door without ceremony.</p> +<p>"You'll stay here over night," he said, as he ushered Nellie +into the smaller room. "You can see this has been used for a prison +before, as all of the windows are nailed up. I don't believe you'll +try to escape anyway, for, let me warn you, it won't pay. Make +yourself as comfortable as you can, and in the morning we'll come +to an understanding. We've got another prisoner besides yourself, +and between the two of you I reckon we'll find out before long just +what the boomers are up to."</p> +<p>And with a dark look upon his face, Louis Vorlange stalked out +of the apartment, locking the door after him, and thus leaving +Nellie to her fate.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> +<h3>THE MOVING OF THE BOOMERS.</h3> +<p>"Pawnee Brown at last!"</p> +<p>The words came from one of the boomers, a fat but spry old chap +named Dunbar.</p> +<p>"Yes, Dunbar," answered the great scout. "Were you getting +anxious about me?"</p> +<p>"Well, just a trifle, Pawnee."</p> +<p>"The camp must move at once. Send the word around immediately, +Dunbar."</p> +<p>"Whar do we move to?"</p> +<p>"To Honnewell. As soon as all hands are at Honnewell I'll send +out further orders."</p> +<p>In less than half an hour the immense wagon train organized by +the boomers located in Kansas was on the way.</p> +<p>At the front rode Pawnee Brown, Clemmer and several others who +were personal friends of the scout.</p> +<p>It was a grand sight, this moving. To this day some of the +boomers say it was the grandest sight they ever beheld.</p> +<p>Every heart was full of hope. Past trials and hardships were +forgotten. The boomers were to enter the richest farming lands in +the States and there start life anew.</p> +<p>The movement was made in silence and in almost utter darkness. +Of course, it was impossible to hide the news from the citizens of +Arkansas City, but the train was well on its way before the news +had any chance of spreading.</p> +<p>At the time of which we write there were several trails to +Honnewell from Arkansas City. The regular road was a fair one in +good weather, but, after such a rain as had fallen, this trail was +hub-deep with mud in more than one spot.</p> +<p>"Oi'll not go thot trail," was Delaney's comment. "Oi'll take +the upper road."</p> +<p>"Thot's roight, Mike," put in Rosy, his wife. "It's not meself +as wants to stick fast in this black mud. Sure, and it's worse nor +the bogs of Erin!"</p> +<p>"Vot's dot road you vos speakin' apout alretty?" put in +Humpendinck, who had as heavy a wagon as anyone.</p> +<p>"It's a better road nor this, Humpy," replied Mike Delaney. +"Folly me an' we'll rach Honnewell afore enny of 'em, mark me +wurrud."</p> +<p>Thus encouraged, Humpendinck followed Delaney on the upper +trail, and, seeing the two go off, half a dozen followed.</p> +<p>It was more than half an hour after before Pawnee Brown heard of +their departure.</p> +<p>The great scout was much disturbed.</p> +<p>"It's foolishness for them to start off on the upper trail," he +declared. "I went over it but a few days ago, and at Brown's +Crossing the road is all torn up by a freshet. Besides that, we +must keep together."</p> +<p>"Yer right thar, Pawnee," answered Clemmer. "Delaney ought to +know better. But yer can't tell the Irish anything."</p> +<p>"Humpendinck went with him," put in Dunbar, who had brought the +news.</p> +<p>"Both the Irishman and the German are smart enough in their +way," answered Pawnee Brown. "But they've made a mistake. Cal and +Dunbar, you continue at the head, and I'll ride across country and +head Delaney and his crowd back through the Allen trail. I'll +probably rejoin you just this side of Honnewell."</p> +<p>With this command, Pawnee Brown left the wagon train and plunged +off through the darkness alone.</p> +<p>He had been over that district many times and thought he knew +about every foot of the ground.</p> +<p>But for once the great scout was mistaken, and that mistake was +destined to bring him into serious difficulty.</p> +<p>About half a mile had been covered, and he was just approaching +a patch of small timber, when he noticed that Bonnie Bird began to +show signs of shyness. She did not refuse to go forward, but +evidently was proceeding against her will.</p> +<p>Quick to notice a change in the beautiful mare's mood, Pawnee +Brown spoke to her. She pawed the ground and tossed her head.</p> +<p>"What is it, Bonnie? Danger ahead?"</p> +<p>Again the mare pawed the ground. Feeling certain something was +wrong, Pawnee Brown stood up in his stirrups and looked about +him.</p> +<p>All was dark and silent upon every side. Overhead the faint +stars shed but an uncertain light.</p> +<p>"It's one too many for me, Bonnie," he mused. "Forward until the +danger becomes clearer."</p> +<p>Thus commanded, the mare moved forward once more, but this time +much slower. Once or twice her feet seemed to stick fast, but +Pawnee Brown did not notice this. At last she came to a dead halt +and would not go another step.</p> +<p>"The danger must be in the timber," thought the boomer. "Bonnie +Bird wouldn't balk for nothing. I'll dismount and reconnoitre."</p> +<p>Springing to the ground, he drew his pistol and moved forward +silently. Scarcely had he taken a dozen steps than he realized the +cause of his mare's unwillingness to proceed further.</p> +<p>He was in a bed of quicksand.</p> +<p>Anybody who knows what a bed of quicksand is knows how dangerous +it is—dangerous to both man and beast. Just as the scout made +his discovery he sank up to his knees in the mass.</p> +<p>"By Jove! I must get back out of this, and in double-quick +order," he muttered, and tried to turn, to find himself sinking up +to his waist.</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown was now fully alive to the grave peril of his +situation.</p> +<p>He tried by all the strength at his command to pull himself to +the firm ground from which he had started.</p> +<p>He could not budge a foot. True, he took one step, but it was +only to sink in deeper than ever.</p> +<p>Several minutes of great anxiety passed. He had sunk very nearly +up to his armpits.</p> +<p>Quarter of an hour more and he would be up to his head, and +then——? Brave as he was, the great scout did not dare +to think further. The idea of a death in the treacherous quicksand +was truly horrible.</p> +<p>His friends would wonder what had become of him, but it was not +likely that they would ever find his body.</p> +<p>And even faithful Bonnie Bird would be dumb, so far as telling +the particulars of her master's disappearance was concerned.</p> +<p>The mare now stood upon the edge of the quicksands, fifteen feet +off, whining anxiously. She knew as well as though she had been a +human being that something was wrong.</p> +<p>Suddenly an inspiration came to Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>"How foolish! Why didn't I think of that before?" he +muttered.</p> +<p>At his belt had hung a lariat, placed there when the wagon train +started, in case any of the animals should attempt to run off in +the darkness.</p> +<p>The boomer could use a lariat as well as Clemmer or any of the +cowboys. More than once, riding at full speed upon his mare, he had +thrown the noose around any foot of a steer that was selected by +those looking on.</p> +<p>He put his hand down to his waist and felt for the lariat. It +was still there, and he brought it up and swung it over his head, +to free it from the quicksand.</p> +<p>As has been stated, the belt of timber was not far away, the +nearest tree being less than fifty feet from where he remained +stuck.</p> +<p>Preparing the lariat, he threw the noose up and away from him. +It circled through the air and fell over the nearest branch of the +tree. Hauling it taut, Pawnee Brown tested it, to make sure it +would not slip, and then began to haul himself up, as Rasco had +done at the swamp hole.</p> +<p>It was slow work, and more than once he felt that the lariat +would break, so great was the strain put upon it.</p> +<p>But it held, and a few minutes later Pawnee Brown found himself +with somewhat cut hands, safe in the branches of the tree.</p> +<p>Winding up the lariat, he descended to the ground, and made a +detour to where Bonnie Bird remained standing, and to where he had +cast his pistol.</p> +<p>The mare and weapon secured, he continued on his way, but made +certain to wander into no more quicksand spots.</p> +<p>"It was too narrow an escape for comfort," was the way in which +Pawnee Brown expressed himself, when he told the story later.</p> +<p>An hour after found him again among the boomers.</p> +<p>Mike Delaney was just coming in by the Allen trail. The Irishman +was much crestfallen over his failure to find a better trail than +that selected by the scout, and Rosy was giving it to him with a +vengeance.</p> +<p>"Th' nixt toime ye go forward it will be undher Pawnee Brown's +directions, Moike Delaney!" she cried. "It's not yerself thot is as +woise as Moses in the wilderness, moind thot!" And her clenched +fist shook vigorously to emphasize her words. After that Delaney +never strayed from the proper trail again.</p> +<p>All of the boomers but Jack Rasco were now on hand, and as hour +after hour went by and Rasco did not turn up, Pawnee Brown grew +anxious about the welfare of his right-hand man.</p> +<p>"Looking for the girl had brought him into trouble, more than +likely," he thought, as he rode away from Honnewell, taking a due +south course. "And what can have become of her?"</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown was on his way to the spot where he had left Dick. +He had decided that as soon as he had found the lad, he would +return to camp, and then the onward march of the boomers for +Oklahoma should at once be begun.</p> +<p>On through the ravine where he had met Yellow Elk he dashed, +Bonnie Bird feeling fresh after a short rest and her morning meal, +for the sun was now creeping skyward. On through the brush, and he +turned toward the open prairie.</p> +<p>"Halt! Throw up your hands!"</p> +<p>The unexpected command came from the thicket on the edge of the +prairie. On the instant the boomer wheeled about. The sight which +met his gaze caused his heart to sink within him. There, drawn up +in line, was the full troop of cavalry sent out by the government +to stop the boomers' entrance to the much-coveted territory.</p> +<p>Vorlange's spy work was responsible, and Pawnee Brown's +carefully-laid plan had fallen through.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> +<h3>DICK'S DISAGREEABLE DISCOVERY.</h3> +<p>"Lost!"</p> +<p>Dick murmured the word over and over again, as he peered through +the brush, first in one direction and then in another.</p> +<p>"I ought to have kept track of where I was going," he went on +bitterly. "Of course, away out here one place is about as good as +another for hiding, but how am I going to find the others, or, +rather, how are they going to find me, when they come back?"</p> +<p>He pushed on for nearly a quarter of an hour; then, coming to a +flat rock, threw himself down for reflection.</p> +<p>"Just my luck!" he muttered. "I'll have to have a string tied +about my neck like a poodle dog. What a clown I was to go it blind! +But Nellie's cry for help made me forget everything else. Poor +girl! I do hope she is safe. If that redskin—gosh! what's +that?"</p> +<p>The flat rock was backed up by a number of heavy bushes. From +these bushes had come a peculiar noise, half grunt, half yawn! Dick +leaped to his feet, the bushes parted and there appeared the savage +face of Yellow Elk!</p> +<p>Dick knew the Indian by that plume of which he had heard so +much. He rightfully guessed that Yellow Elk had been taking a nap +behind the bushes. He had been shot in the thigh, and this, coupled +with the fact that he had had no sleep for two nights, had made him +very weary.</p> +<p>As the Indian chief shoved his face into view he caught sight of +Dick and uttered a slight huh! Up came the boy's weapon, but on the +instant Yellow Elk disappeared.</p> +<p>For the moment Dick was too paralyzed to move. Like a flash he +realized that Yellow Elk had the better of him, for the Indian was +behind shelter, while he stood in a clearing.</p> +<p>"White boy stand still!" came in guttural tones from the +redskin. "Don't dare move, or Indian shoot."</p> +<p>"What do you want of me?" asked Dick.</p> +<p>"White boy all alone?"</p> +<p>"What business is that of yours?"</p> +<p>At this Yellow Elk muttered a grunt. Then from out of the bushes +Dick saw thrust the shining barrel of a horse pistol.</p> +<p>"White boy throw down little shooter," commanded the redskin. By +little shooter he meant Dick's pistol.</p> +<p>There was no help for it, and the youth did as requested.</p> +<p>"White boy got udder shooter?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"Now say if white boy alone. Speak if want to save life."</p> +<p>"Yes, I am alone, Yellow Elk."</p> +<p>"Ha! you know Yellow Elk?" cried the Indian in surprise.</p> +<p>"I've heard of you."</p> +<p>"What white boy do here?"</p> +<p>"I am lost."</p> +<p>"Lost. Huh!" and a look of disgust crossed the Indian chiefs +face. The idea of a human being losing his way was something he +could not understand. During his life he had covered thousands of +miles of prairie and forest lands and had never yet lost himself. +Such is the training and instinct of a true American +aboriginal.</p> +<p>While speaking Yellow Elk had leaped through the brush, and now +he came up and peered into Dick's face. Instantly his eyes filled +with anger.</p> +<p>"I know white boy; he friend to Pawnee Brown. Indian see him at +big moving."—meaning the camp of the boomers. He had not +noticed Dick in the fight at the cave.</p> +<p>"Yes, Pawnee Brown is my friend," answered Dick. "Where is he +now?" he added, to throw the Indian off the series of questions he +was propounding.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown dead!" muttered Yellow Elk simply. "White boy come +with me."</p> +<p>"With you!" ejaculated Dick, a chill creeping up to his +heart.</p> +<p>"Yes; come now. No wait, or Yellow Elk shoot!" and again the +horse pistol was raised.</p> +<p>The tone was so ugly that Dick felt it would be useless to hang +back. Yellow Elk pointed with his arm in the direction he wished +the lad to proceed, and away they went, the Indian but a pace +behind, and keeping his pistol where it would be ready for use +whenever required.</p> +<p>Dick never forgot that walk in the starlight, taken at about the +same time that Pawnee Brown was floundering in the quicksand. A +mile or more was covered, over prairies, through a wood and across +several small streams, for the fertile Indian Territory abounds in +water courses. Yellow Elk stuck to him like a shadow, and the +pistol was continually in evidence. Yellow Elk had likewise +appropriated Dick's weapon, the one cast to the ground.</p> +<p>Presently a clearing was gained where stood a cabin built of +logs. All about the place was deserted. Going up to the cabin the +Indian opened the door and lit a match.</p> +<p>"White boy go inside and we have talk," said Yellow Elk, when +there came a noise from the woods beyond. At once Yellow Elk pushed +Dick into the cabin and bolted the door from the outside.</p> +<p>"White boy keep quiet or Yellow Elk come in and kill!" he +hissed, in a low but distinct tone. "No make a sound till Indian +open door again."</p> +<p>The Indian's words were so terrifying that Dick stood still for +several minutes exactly where he had been thrust. All was pitch +dark around him. He listened, but not a sound reached his ears.</p> +<p>"Where in the world is this adventure going to end?" was the +thought which coursed through his mind.</p> +<p>He wondered what had alarmed Yellow Elk. Was it the approach of +some white friend? Fervidly he prayed it might be.</p> +<p>A low, half-suppressed cough from somewhere close at hand caught +his ear and made him start.</p> +<p>"Who is there?" he asked aloud.</p> +<p>"Oh, Dick Arbuckle, is that you?" came in an eager voice.</p> +<p>"Nellie Winthrop! Is it possible? Where are you?"</p> +<p>"In the next room."</p> +<p>"Can't you come out?"</p> +<p>"No; I'm locked in."</p> +<p>"Gosh, you don't say!" Forgetting his former fear, Dick hurried +across the cabin floor to the door of the inner apartment. Feeling +around in the dark he found a hasp and staple and pulled out the +plug which fastened the barrier. In another instant boy and girl +plumped into each other's arms in the darkness. Even in that moment +of peril Dick could not resist giving Nellie a little squeeze, +which she did not resent.</p> +<p>"But how came you here?" asked the youth quickly.</p> +<p>"I was captured by a government spy, who wants to get from me +some secret of the boomers. He is a bad-looking man, and I was +awfully afraid of him."</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk brought me here. We are prisoners together. Some +noise in the woods just took Yellow Elk off."</p> +<p>"The man has been gone less than five minutes. Perhaps they are +in league with each other," suggested Nellie.</p> +<p>"Perhaps, or they may be enemies. But never mind how that +stands. We must get away, Nellie, and that before Yellow Elk comes +back."</p> +<p>"Heaven knows, I am willing!" gasped the trembling girl. "I want +no more of Yellow Elk."</p> +<p>"The window is nailed up," went on Dick, after an examination. +"And the Indian fastened that door from the outside. I wonder if I +can't get out by way of the roof?" He lit a match and gazed upward. +"There is an opening. Here goes!"</p> +<p>In another instant he was climbing up beside the fireplace, to +where a scuttle led to the sloping roof. He was soon without, and +Nellie heard him drop to the ground. Then the outer door was thrown +back.</p> +<p>"Quick! The Indian is coming back, and there is somebody with +him!" whispered Dick, and, taking hold of Nellie's hand, he led her +away as fast as possible. Their course was from the rear of the +cabin and across a broad but shallow stream.</p> +<p>"We'll go down the stream a bit before we land," said Dick, as +they were on the point of stepping out of the water. "That may +serve to throw Yellow Elk off the trail."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes, but do hurry!" answered the girl. "If Yellow Elk gets +hold of me again I'll die!" The fear of getting into the clutches +of the red man was so great she trembled from head to foot and +would have gone down had not Dick's strong arm supported her.</p> +<p>It was wonderful how strong the youth felt, now that he had +somebody besides himself to protect. It is said that nature fits +the back to the burden, and it must have been so in this case. For +himself, he might have feared to face Yellow Elk single-handed; +defending Nellie he would, if called upon, have faced a dozen +redskins.</p> +<p>On and on they went, as silently as possible. The trees overhung +the brook from both sides, making it pitch dark beneath.</p> +<p>A distance of fifty yards had been covered, when they heard a +loud exclamation of rage, followed by an Indian grunt.</p> +<p>"The white man and the Indian have met and both have discovered +our flight," whispered Dick. "Come, we will leave the stream and +take to yonder woods. Surely among those trees we can find some +safe hiding place."</p> +<p>They turned in toward shore. As they were about to step to dry +land Nellie's foot slipped on a round stone, making a loud splash. +At the same time the girl gave a faint cry.</p> +<p>"My ankle—it's twisted!"</p> +<p>"Quick! let me carry you!" returned Dick, and, seeing the ankle +must pain her not a little, he picked her up in his arms and dove +in among the trees.</p> +<p>They were not a moment too soon, for the ready ears of Yellow +Elk had heard the splash and the cry, and now he came bounding in +the direction, with Louis Vorlange at his heels.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> +<h3>DICK HITS HIS MARK.</h3> +<p>"They are coming closer, Dick! What shall we do?"</p> +<p>It was Nellie Winthrop who asked the question. Boy and girl had +entered the woods a distance of fifty feet from the bank of the +brook, and both rested where several large rocks and some +overhanging bushes afforded a convenient hiding place.</p> +<p>"Keep quiet, Nellie," he said in a murmur, with his lips close +to her shell-like ears. And he gripped her arm to show her that he +would stand by her no matter what danger might befall them.</p> +<p>It would have been foolhardy to say more, for Yellow Elk and +Louis Vorlange were now within hearing distance, and the ears of +the Indian chief were more than ever on the alert. The government +spy had lighted a torch, which he swung low to the brook bank, +while Yellow Elk made an examination of the ground.</p> +<p>"Here footmarks!" grunted the redskin, a minute later, and +pointed them out. "They go this way—cannot be far off."</p> +<p>"Then after them," muttered Vorlange. "It was through your +stupidity that the girl got away. Yellow Elk, I always put you down +for being smarter than that."</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk smart enough!" growled the Indian chief.</p> +<p>"No, you're not. In some things you are like a block of wood," +grumbled Vorlange. The escape of Nellie had put him out a good +deal.</p> +<p>The manner of the government spy provoked the Indian. To be +called a block of wood is, to the red man, a direct insult. Yellow +Elk straightened up.</p> +<p>"White man big fool!" he hissed. "Yellow Elk not make chase for +him," and he folded his arms.</p> +<p>"You won't go after the boy and the girl?" queried Vorlange.</p> +<p>"No—white man hunt for himself if he want to catch the +little woman again."</p> +<p>And having thus delivered himself, Yellow Elk sat down by the +brook and refused to budge another step.</p> +<p>The Indian's objections to continuing the search were more +numerous than appeared on the surface. The so-called insult, bad as +it was, was merely an excuse to hide other motives. Yellow Elk had +known Vorlange for years and as the spy was naturally a mean +fellow, the redskin hated him accordingly.</p> +<p>Another reason for refusing to go ahead was that Yellow Elk knew +only too well that if Dick and Nellie were again taken, Vorlange +would consider both his own captives, and Yellow Elk would be +"counted out" of the entire proceedings. He could not go to the +agency and claim any glory, for he had run away without permission, +although he had told Vorlange he was away on a special mission +connected with the soldiers.</p> +<p>And deeper than all was the thought that if he did not capture +Nellie now, he might do so later on, when he had separated from the +spy. Ever since he had first seen the beautiful girl he had been +covetous of making her his squaw. Indian fashion, he felt he could +compel Nellie to choose him, even if he had to whip her into making +the choice.</p> +<p>"You won't go on with the search?" cried Vorlange, in a +rage.</p> +<p>"No," was the short answer.</p> +<p>"I say you shall! See here, Yellow Elk, do you want to be +shot?"</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk not afraid of Vorlange—Vorlange know dat. +Yellow Elk go back to cabin to see if girl or boy leave anything +behind."</p> +<p>Then he got up, waded across the brook again and disappeared +among the trees surrounding the log cabin.</p> +<p>Louis Vorlange muttered a good many things in a very angry tone. +Then, torch in hand, he started up the brook bank to follow the +trail alone.</p> +<p>Dick and Nellie listened to the quarrel with bated breath. Both +hoped that Vorlange would follow to the cabin. When he approached +closer than ever, their hearts seemed to almost stop beating.</p> +<p>Feeling that a contest was at hand, Dick groped around in the +darkness for some weapon. No stick was at hand, but at his feet lay +a jagged stone weighing all of a pound. He took it up and held it +in readiness.</p> +<p>Closer and closer came Vorlange, turning now to the right and +now to the left, for following the trail among the rocks and brush +was no easy matter.</p> +<p>"Might as well give yourselves up!" he called out. "I am bound +to spot you sooner or later."</p> +<p>To this neither offered any reply, but Dick felt Nellie shiver. +They could now see the flare of the torch plainly, for Vorlange was +less than thirty feet away.</p> +<p>Presently the spy uttered a low cry of pleasure. He had found +several footprints, where Dick had slipped from a rock into the +dirt. Now he came straight for them, waving the torch above his +head that it might throw its light to a greater distance.</p> +<br /> +<p><a name="p179" id="p179"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src= +"images/img181.jpg" alt="Dick had let fly the jagged stone, +taking him directly in the forehead" title= +"" /></div> +<h5>"Dick had let fly the jagged stone, +taking him directly in the forehead and keeling him over like a +tenpin"</h5> +<br /> +<p>"So there you are!" The man caught sight of Nellie's dress. "I +told you I would catch you. It's not such an easy matter to get +away from Louis Vorlange. The next time I lock you +up—oh!"</p> +<p>A deep groan escaped the spy. Dick had let fly the jagged stone, +taking him directly in the forehead and keeling him over like a +tenpin. The blow left a deep cut from which the blood flowed in a +stream, and Vorlange was completely stunned.</p> +<p>"Oh, Dick, have you—you—killed him?" burst from +Nellie's lips, in horror.</p> +<p>"I guess not, Nellie; he's stunned, that's all. Come, let us run +for it again—before that Indian changes his mind and comes +back."</p> +<p>"You might take his pistol," suggested the quick-witted +girl.</p> +<p>"A good idea—I will. Now let me carry you again, I see you +can hardly stand on that foot." For Nellie had limped along a dozen +steps in great pain.</p> +<p>"But I am so heavy, Dick——"</p> +<p>"Never mind, I can carry you a little distance, at least."</p> +<p>"You had better save yourself and let me go."</p> +<p>"What! Nellie, do you think me so selfish? Never! Come, and +we'll escape or die in the attempt."</p> +<p>And catching her up as before, he started off on as rapid a gait +as the weight of his fair burden would permit.</p> +<p>A distance of a hundred yards had been covered and Dick found +himself ascending a slight hill. The climb was by no means easy, +yet he kept on manfully, knowing what capture by Yellow Elk might +mean.</p> +<p>"He would tomahawk me and carry Nellie off," he thought, and it +would be hard to say which he thought the worst, the tomahawking or +the carrying off of the girl for whom he entertained such a high +regard.</p> +<p>The top of the hill reached, they saw before them a broad +stretch of open prairie, flanked to the north and the south by the +woods from which they had just emerged.</p> +<p>"I'll be thrashed if I know where we are," he said. "Have you +any idea?"</p> +<p>"No, Dick, I am completely bewildered."</p> +<p>"I wonder if it is safe to attempt to cross this prairie? It is +pretty dark, but that redskin has mighty sharp eyes."</p> +<p>"Let us go down to the edge of the woods first and rest a bit. I +am sure you are pretty well out of breath, and if I can bathe my +ankle in some cold water perhaps I'll be able to walk on it before +long."</p> +<p>"Don't try it, Nellie; I'll carry you," and again the youth +picked her up.</p> +<p>It was not long before they reached a convenient hollow, where +there was a small pool. Here Nellie made herself comfortable and +took off the shoe which hurt her so much. Bathed, the ankle which +had been twisted felt much better. It was still, however, much +swollen, and to walk far on that foot was as yet out of the +question.</p> +<p>An hour went by, a quiet hour, in which only the cries of the +night birds and the occasional hoot of an owl disturbed them. They +conversed in whispers and Dick's ears were ever on the alert, for +he felt certain that Vorlange or Yellow Elk would sooner or later +continue the search for them.</p> +<p>Nellie was very sleepy and at last her eyes closed and she +dropped into a slumber upon Dick's shoulder, forming such a pretty +picture the youth could do nothing but admire her. "I'll save +her—I must do it!" he murmured, and kissed her wavy tresses +softly.</p> +<p>It wanted still two hours to sunrise when he awakened her. She +leaped up with a start.</p> +<p>"I have been asleep! Oh, Dick, why did you let me drop off?"</p> +<p>"I knew how tired you must be after going through all you did. +But we must be on our way now, before it grows lighter. How is the +foot?"</p> +<p>"It is stiff, but much better. Which way shall we go?"</p> +<p>"Let us strike across the prairie and to the north. That is +bound to bring us into Kansas sooner or later, and once there we'll +be sure to locate the boomers without much trouble."</p> +<p>Both were hungry, but, as there was no food at hand, neither +said a word on that point. Getting a drink at a running brook close +by, they started off, Dick holding Nellie's hand, that she might +not go down on the ankle that was still weak.</p> +<p>Only a corner of the broad prairie passed, and then they turned +again into a woods. The sun was now up and it was growing +warmer.</p> +<p>"I'll shoot a few birds if I can't find anything else," said +Dick. "We can't starve, and birds broiled over a fire will make a +fair meal."</p> +<p>"But the noise?" began Nellie.</p> +<p>"I know; but, as I said, we can't starve, Nellie. We'll have to +take the risk. Here goes!"</p> +<p>Dick crept forward to where half a dozen birds sat on a nearby +bush. The birds were in a flutter over something, but Dick did not +notice this. Bringing two of the birds into range for a single +shot, he blazed away with his pistol.</p> +<p>The sharp crack of the firearm was still echoing through the +woods when there came a roar from behind the bushes the birds had +occupied. Dick had brought down his game and more, he had struck a +bear in the shoulder. In another moment the huge beast leaped into +sight, and with angry eyes and gleaming teeth bore straight for the +astonished boy.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER +XXIII.</h2> +<h3>THE SOLDIERS AGAIN.</h3> +<p>Never was Dick Arbuckle more astonished than when the big bear +leaped out from behind the bushes and confronted himself and Nellie +Winthrop.</p> +<p>"Oh, Dick! a bear!" screamed the girl, and stood still, too +paralyzed with fright to move.</p> +<p>As we know, Dick had just brought down several birds with his +pistol—indeed it was this very shot which had clipped the +bear—and now the weapon was empty and useless, having had but +one chamber loaded.</p> +<p>But as the great beast came forward, Dick knew enough not to +stand still. He retreated in double-quick order, and forced Nellie +to accompany him. Away they went through the woods with the bear in +close pursuit.</p> +<p>At the start of the chase girl and boy were at least forty feet +in advance, but despite his bulk the bear made rapid progress, and +slowly but surely began to lessen the distance between himself and +those he sought to make his victims. Looking over his shoulder, +Dick saw him lumbering along, his mouth wide open and his blood-red +tongue hanging out as though ready to lick him in.</p> +<p>"I—I—can't run any more," gasped Nellie. Her heart +was beating as though ready to break. "Oh, Dick, what shall we +do?"</p> +<p>"Here is a tree with low branches—jump for that—I +will help you up!" returned the youth, and in a few seconds they +were in the tree, a scrub oak, with the big bear underneath, eying +them angrily, and speculating upon how he could bring them down +within reach of his powerful embrace and his hungry maw.</p> +<p>"He is going to climb up," came from Nellie's lips a few seconds +later. She was right. Bruin had attacked the tree trunk and now he +was coming up slowly, as though afraid of moving into some +trap.</p> +<p>Dick did not answer, for talking would have done no good. He was +re-loading the pistol with all possible speed.</p> +<p>Crack! Dick had leaned down through the branches of the oak and +taken aim at one of those bloodshot eyes. There was a howl and a +roar, and the bear fell down with a crash that shook the forest. As +to whether the bullet had found that eye or not Dick could not +tell, but certain it was that once on the ground the bear picked +himself up in short order and started to run away.</p> +<p>"You hit him!" cried Nellie. "Oh, Dick, if only he don't come +back!"</p> +<p>"He's not going away—very far," answered the boy. The shot +had encouraged him and his blood was up. A moment later Nellie was +horrified to behold him drop to the grass and make off after the +beast.</p> +<p>"That bear will kill him sure!" she ejaculated. "Oh, Dick, come +back! please do!" she screamed.</p> +<p>A shot answered her, a shot which was quickly followed by +another. A minute of painful silence; then suddenly the bear +staggered into view with Dick at his heels.</p> +<p>"I've nailed him!" shouted the boy, joyfully, and another shot +did the work. With a groan the bear keeled over, gave a jerk or +two, and died.</p> +<p>Nellie was in such a tremble she could scarcely descend from the +tree. When she did come down she found Dick hard at work cutting +out a juicy steak from the bear's flank.</p> +<p>"We'll have a breakfast fit for a king now," he said, with a +little laugh, to scatter his former nervousness. "Just wait till I +light a fire. I must gather the driest available sticks, so as to +make as little smoke as possible."</p> +<p>"Yes, we don't want our enemies to locate us," answered the +girl, and saw to it that every twig which went on the blaze which +was kindled was as dry as a bone.</p> +<p>In less than half an hour the steak had been done to a turn, and +they sat down to eat it. It was certainly a most informal meal, +without plates or platter, and only Dick's pocket knife to cut the +steak with. Yet neither had ever enjoyed a repast more. Having +finished, they procured a drink at a flowing stream behind them, +and then Dick cut off a chunk of the bear meat, wrapped it in a bit +of skin and slung it over his shoulder.</p> +<p>"We may want another meal of it before we reach civilization," +he explained, "Nothing like preparing one's self, when we have the +chance."</p> +<p>"It's a shame to leave such a beautiful bear skin robe behind," +answered Nellie. "But I suppose it cannot be helped. Oh, if only we +were safe once more."</p> +<p>Again they set off on their weary tramp northward, and thus +nearly two miles were covered. The sun was now coming out strongly, +and Dick saw that his fair companion was beginning to grow +tired.</p> +<p>"We will rest a little, Nellie," he said, "I think perhaps we +can afford to take it easy now."</p> +<p>"I am so fearful that Indian is following us!" answered the girl +with a shudder. "If he should find that bear, and—Oh, Dick, +look!"</p> +<p>Nellie leaped to her feet from the seat she had just taken, and +pointed behind her. Dick gave one look and his heart sank within +him. Yellow Elk was bearing down upon them as swiftly as his long +legs would permit!</p> +<p>In his hand the Indian chief carried a gun, and as Nellie arose +he caught sight of the pair and pointed the weapon at Dick's +head.</p> +<p>"White boy throw down pistol!" he called out, when within +speaking distance.</p> +<p>"Let Yellow Elk throw down his gun," answered Dick. His pistol +was up and now he shoved Nellie behind him.</p> +<p>"White boy fool—cannot shoot against Yellow Elk," growled +the redskin. He had been following their trail since sun-up and was +somewhat winded.</p> +<p>"Perhaps I can shoot. Did you see that bear I brought down?" +rejoined Dick.</p> +<p>At this the Indian frowned.</p> +<p>"Bear must have been sick—white boy no bring game down +like that if well—too powerful."</p> +<p>"I brought him down and I'll bring you down if you don't stop +where you are," was the steady answer.</p> +<p>"Oh, Dick, he'll shoot you," whispered Nellie. She wanted to get +before him, but he would not allow it.</p> +<p>By this time Yellow Elk had arrived to within a dozen steps of +them. Now he stopped and the frown upon his ugly countenance +deepened.</p> +<p>"Did white boy hear what Yellow Elk said?"</p> +<p>"I did."</p> +<p>"Does white boy want to die?"</p> +<p>"Does Yellow Elk want to die? I can shoot as straight as +you."</p> +<p>The words had scarcely left Dick's mouth than there came a clear +click.</p> +<p>The redskin had fired point-blank at the lad, but the gun had +failed to go off, the weapon being an old one the Indian had found +at the fort—a gun some soldier had discarded as useless.</p> +<p>Following the click Nellie uttered a scream. Then came a crack +as Dick fired, and Yellow Elk uttered a yell of pain, having +received a painful wound in the side.</p> +<p>With clubbed gun the Indian now rushed in and a hand-to-hand +struggle followed. Dick fought valiantly, but was no match for the +tall redskin, and a well-directed blow laid him senseless upon the +prairie grass. "You have killed him!" screamed Nellie. She was +about to kneel at Dick's side, when Yellow Elk hauled her back.</p> +<p>"White dove come with me—boy no killed—be right +by-an-by," said the redskin.</p> +<p>"I will not go with you!" she gasped. "Let me down!" for Yellow +Elk had raised her up to his broad shoulder.</p> +<p>The redskin merely smiled grimly and set off on a swift walk, +which speedily took both Nellie and himself out of sight of poor +Dick.</p> +<p>The girl's heart was almost broken by this swift turn of +affairs. She had hoped in a few more hours to be safe among her +friends, and here she was once again the captive of the Indian she +so much feared.</p> +<p>On and on kept Yellow Elk until the stream was reached upon +which was located the log cabin where Nellie had been a prisoner. +She wondered if Yellow Elk was going to take her there again, but +she asked no questions.</p> +<p>Presently the Indian chief came to a sudden halt and raised his +head as if to listen. Nellie listened, too, and at a distance heard +the tramp of several men. At once Yellow Elk darted behind a number +of bushes.</p> +<p>"White girl make noise Yellow Elk kill!" he hissed into his fair +captive's ear, and drew his hunting knife.</p> +<p>The tramp of feet came closer. A detachment of foot soldiers +were moving through the woods. Soon they came within sight of the +pair.</p> +<p>As they came closer Nellie saw they were Government troops. A +prisoner was between them—a man. It was Jack Rasco.</p> +<p>"Uncle Jack!" she moaned, when Yellow Elk clapped his hand over +her mouth and pointed the hunting knife at her throat.</p> +<p>"Hush!" he commanded, but this was unnecessary, for the +discovery and her great fear had caused Nellie to swoon. She fell +back, and for a long while she knew no more.</p> +<p>In the meantime Dick had slowly recovered consciousness. The +blow had been a fearful one, and long after he sat up he was unable +to rise to his feet, so shaky was he in the legs. Slowly the +realization of what had occurred came back to him.</p> +<p>"Gone—poor Nellie!" he gasped, and braced himself as best +he could. Gazing around he saw that neither girl nor redskin was in +sight. Without delay he started to search for Yellow Elk's +trail.</p> +<p>He was loping along over the prairies when a shout from his left +struck upon his ears. As he gazed in the direction he beheld a +number of soldiers swooping down upon him. These were the men who +had Jack Rasco a prisoner, the cavalrymen having turned the man of +the plains over to them. In a moment Dick was surrounded.</p> +<p>"Jack!" cried the youth, and rushed up to Rasco. "What does this +mean?"</p> +<p>"It means I'm a prisoner," answered Rasco, sadly. "Have you seen +anything of Nellie?"</p> +<p>In a moment Dick had told his story, to which the soldiers as +well as Rasco listened closely. At once several of the guard were +sent off to hunt up the redskin, if it were possible to do so. +Rasco wanted to go along, but his request was refused.</p> +<p>"You'll slip us if you get the chance," said the officer in +charge. "You'll go to the fort. And I fancy the boy will go, too, +since he seems to belong to the boomers."</p> +<p>And against his earnest protestations Dick was made to accompany +the soldiers, being bound hand to hand with the man of the +plains.</p> +<p>An hour later the soldiers' camp was reached, and Rasco and Dick +were placed in a temporary guard house. They had been there but a +short while when a visitor entered. It was—Louis +Vorlange!</p> +<p>"So they have you safe, I see," began Vorlange, when Rasco +sprang at him and knocked him down.</p> +<p>"Will you make my niece a prisoner," he cried, wrathfully, for +Dick had told him the story. "You dirty spy!"</p> +<p>"Hold up," gasped Vorlange, his face growing white. "Rasco, +don't be a fool. I—I—made her a prisoner because I have +orders to arrest anybody found roaming around——"</p> +<p>"I won't argy the p'int!" roared Rasco. "I know you, Vorlange, +and so does Dick here. You robbed and nearly murdered thet boy's +father!"</p> +<p>At these words Vorlange staggered back as though struck a +blow.</p> +<p>"Who says I—I did that?" he faltered.</p> +<p>"I say so."</p> +<p>"And so do I," put in Dick, boldly. "We'll have a nice story to +tell when we are brought out for examination, I'll tell you +that."</p> +<p>Vorlange breathed hard and glared from one to the other. Then of +a sudden he caught Dick by the arm and turned him to one side.</p> +<p>"Boy, beware how you cross me," he hissed into Dick's ears. +"Beware, I say! I have known your father for years, and I have the +knowledge in my possession which can send your father to the +gallows."</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIV" id="CHAPTER_XXIV"></a>CHAPTER XXIV.</h2> +<h3>CHASED BY CAVALRY.</h3> +<p>"Checkmated! By Jove, but this is too bad."</p> +<p>Such were the words which issued from Pawnee Brown's lip as he +swung around and saw the cavalrymen sitting on their horses at +attention.</p> +<p>His disappointment was keen. In speaking of it afterwards he +said:</p> +<p>"I never felt so bad in my life. I had promised to take the +boomers through and I felt that I had disappointed nearly four +thousand people who were looking to me with utmost confidence."</p> +<p>But disappointment was not the worst of it. Hardly had the +command to halt been issued than the captain of the troops advanced +toward the scout.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown!" he ejaculated, in surprise, and a smile of +satisfaction crossed his face. "This is a great pleasure."</p> +<p>"Is it?" answered the great scout, coldly.</p> +<p>"It is indeed. Do you intend to throw up your hands?"</p> +<p>For the scout's hands had not yet been lifted skyward.</p> +<p>"This looks as if you meant to arrest me, captain."</p> +<p>"Why shouldn't I? You are at the head of the Kansas boomers, are +you not?"</p> +<p>"I have that honor, yes."</p> +<p>"It's a question to me if it is an honor. You are transgressing +the laws of the United States when you try to get into Oklahoma for +homestead purposes."</p> +<p>"Say rather that we transgress the laws of the cattle kings, +captain. Under the U. S. Homestead Law we have a perfect right to +this land, if we can get in and stake our claims, and you know +it."</p> +<p>"I know nothing of the sort. This talk about the cattle kings is +all nonsense!" roared the cavalry officer. He knew Pawnee Brown was +more than half right, but felt he must obey the orders he had +received from his superiors. "I'll have to take you to the +fort."</p> +<p>"All right, take me—if you can, captain," came the quick +answer. "Don't you dare fire on me, for you know I am a crack shot +and I promise I'll fire on you in return and lay you low!"</p> +<p>Thus speaking, the boomer wheeled about and sent Bonnie Bird off +like a shot along the trail he had come.</p> +<p>The movement was so quick that for the moment the cavalry +officer was paralyzed and knew not what to do. He raised his long +pistol, but Pawnee Brown's stern threat rang in his ears and he +hesitated about using the weapon, having no desire to be laid +low.</p> +<p>"After him, men!" he roared, upon recovering his wits. "We must +capture him!"</p> +<p>"Shall we fire, cap'n?" came from several, and a number of +shining pistol barrels were leveled toward the great scout.</p> +<p>"N—no, capture him alive," came the hesitating reply; and +away went the calvary men at a breakneck speed in pursuit.</p> +<p>Looking back over his shoulder, Pawnee saw them coming. To +lessen the chances of being shot, he bent low over his faithful +mare's neck.</p> +<p>"On, Bonnie, on!" he cried softly, and the beautiful animal +seemed to understand that it was a race for life and death.</p> +<p>"Crack!" It was the report of a pistol close at hand. Looking +among the trees, Pawnee Brown saw an arm wearing the colors of a +cavalryman disappearing among the foliage of a nearby tree. He +aimed his own weapon and pulled the trigger. A yell of pain +followed.</p> +<p>The marksman had been Tucker, the fellow hired to take the great +scout's life. Tucker had been on picket duty for the cavalry troop, +but had failed to note Pawnee Brown's first movement in that +direction. Seeing the scout coming, he had instantly thought of the +promised reward and taken aim. The bullet had struck Pawnee Brown's +shoulder, merely, however, scraping the skin. On the return fire +Tucker was hit in the side and nearly broke his neck in a tumble +backward into a hole behind him.</p> +<p>The chase was not of long duration. Although they had good +steeds, not one of the cavalryman's horses could gain upon the +scout's sturdy racing mare, and soon they dropped further and +further behind. Seeing this, Pawnee Brown turned to the eastward, +out of the ravine, and in three minutes had his pursuers entirely +off the trail.</p> +<p>His face grew thoughtful as he allowed Bonnie Bird to drop into +a walk. The cavalry had followed the wagon train +westward—they were bound to keep the boomers in sight. What +was to be done? Should he advise another movement during the night +to come and then a forward dash?</p> +<p>"We might make it," he mused. "But if we did not there would be +a fearful fight and possibly slaughter. I wish I knew just how +matters were going at Washington."</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown had friends at the Capital, men who were doing +their best to defeat the cattle kings by having a bill passed in +Congress opening Oklahoma to settlement—a bill that would +smooth the present difficulty for all concerned. He felt that the +bill was not needed, yet it would be better to have such a law than +to have some of the boomers killed before their rights could be +established.</p> +<p>"I'll send a messenger off to the nearest telegraph station and +telegraph for the news," he went on. "A day's delay may mean many +lives saved. It shall never be said that Pawnee Brown rushed in, +heedless of the danger to those who trusted in him."</p> +<p>It was not long before the scout reached the boomers' camp. Here +he found several waiting for him.</p> +<p>"I want to see Pawnee Brown." It was Dan Gilbert, who was making +his way through the crowd to the great scout's side. Gilbert held a +message from Arkansas City. It was to the effect that Pawnee Brown +should telegraph to Washington at once and wait until noon at +Arkansas City for a reply.</p> +<p>Five minutes later Pawnee Brown was on the trail over which the +wagon train had journeyed the night before. He had told Gilbert, +Clemmer and the others of the nearness of the Government cavalrymen +and had advised a halt until further orders from himself. Clemmer +had promised to wait, although ready "ter swoop down on 'em, b' +gosh, an' take wot belongs ter us," as he expressed himself.</p> +<p>The ride back to Arkansas City was an uneventful one, and +arriving there, Pawnee Brown lost no time in visiting the telegraph +office.</p> +<p>"A message for you," said the operator, and handed it over.</p> +<p>It was from Washington and stated: "The Oklahoma bill is now +before the Lower House; wait for more news."</p> +<p>"I'm glad we've woke up those politicians at Washington," +murmured the scout, and then wrote out a telegram in reply.</p> +<p>There was now nothing to do but to wait, and impatient as he was +to rejoin the boomers, Pawnee Brown had to content himself until +another message should reach him. To make the time pass more +quickly the great scout went around to a number of places buying +supplies that were much needed.</p> +<p>An hour later he found himself on the outskirts of the city, +whence he had come to look up several wagons, to replace some that +had broken down. He was galloping along on horseback when the sight +of two men quarreling near the open doorway of a deserted barn +caught his eye, and impelled by something which was more than +curiosity, he turned in from the road to see how the quarrel might +end. As he came closer he saw that one of the men was Mortimer +Arbuckle!</p> +<p>"Hullo, what can this mean?" he cried, softly. "I thought Dick's +father was still in bed from the effects of that dastardly night's +work. Who can that stranger be?"</p> +<p>Dismounting, he tied Bonnie Bird to a tree and came forward, but +in line with the barn, that he might not be seen. Soon he was +within easy hearing distance of all that was being said.</p> +<p>"I want to know what brought you out here, Dike Powell?" he +heard Mr. Arbuckle say in excited tones. "Did you follow me?"</p> +<p>"No, I did not, Arbuckle," came in reply. "What makes you think +I did?"</p> +<p>"I was knocked down and robbed but a few nights ago, and my most +valuable papers, as well as my money, were taken from me."</p> +<p>"Do you mean to insinuate that I am a thief?" cried Dike +Powell.</p> +<p>"You are none too good for it. I have not forgotten how you used +to sneak around my office in New York after information concerning +my Western mining claims."</p> +<p>"You're getting mighty sharp, Arbuckle."</p> +<p>"I hope I am. I used to feel queer in my head at times, +but—but—I think I am growing better of that."</p> +<p>As he spoke Mortimer Arbuckle drew his white hand across his +forehead.</p> +<p>The attack and the adventure on the river had been fearful, but +it really looked as if they were going to prove of benefit to him. +His eyes were brighter than they had been for many a day. Pawnee +Brown noticed, too, that his manner of talking was more direct than +he usually employed.</p> +<p>"I hope for the boy's sake his mind is clearing," he +thought.</p> +<p>"I think you are growing more queer—to accuse me," said +Dike Powell. "I never harmed you."</p> +<p>"I know better. While I was on my back I thought it all over. +Dike Powell, you are a villain, and if ever I get the chance I'll +turn you over to the police. You have followed me to the West, and +for no good purpose. I will unmask you."</p> +<p>"Will you? Not much!"</p> +<p>Thus speaking, Dike Powell leaped forward. He was a powerful +man, and catching Mortimer Arbuckle by the throat, he would have +borne the semi-invalid to the floor had not Pawnee Brown +interfered.</p> +<p>There was a rush and a crack, as the scout's fist met Dike +Powell's ear, and over the man rolled, to bring up against the side +of the barn with a crash.</p> +<p>"Who—who hit me?" spluttered the rascal, as, half dazed, +he staggered to his feet. "If I—Pawnee Brown!"</p> +<p>"Dike Powell!" ejaculated the scout, as he saw the fellow full +in the face for the first time. "Where have you been these long +years?"</p> +<p>"Oh, Pawnee, how glad I am that you came in," panted Mortimer +Arbuckle, sinking down upon an old feed box. "The villain +was—was——"</p> +<p>"I saw it all, Arbuckle; rest yourself. I will take care of this +forger."</p> +<p>"Forger!" came simultaneously from Mortimer Arbuckle and from +his assailant, but in different tones of voice. "Do you then know +Dike Powell?"</p> +<p>"Yes, I know him as Powell Dike, a forger, who fled from Peoria +a dozen years ago. And what do you know of him?"</p> +<p>"I know him as a Wall street sneak—a man who was forever +hanging around, trying to get information out of which he might +make a few dollars. I have accused him of following me to the West. +I am inclined to think he robbed me——"</p> +<p>"I did not," ejaculated Powell Dike, for such really was his +name.</p> +<p>"I believe you," replied Pawnee Brown. He had spoken to Dick and +Rasco of this man. "But you know who did rob Mortimer Arbuckle," he +went on, significantly.</p> +<p>"I—I—do not," answered Powell Dike, but his lips +trembled.</p> +<p>"You lie, Dike. Now tell the truth."</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown saw the manner of man he had to deal with and +tapped his pistol. Instantly Powell Dike fell upon his knees.</p> +<p>"Don't—don't shoot me!" he whined. "I'll tell +all—everything. I am not dead positive, but—but I guess +Louis Vorlange robbed Arbuckle."</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown looked at Mortimer Arbuckle to see what effect this +declaration might have upon Dick's father. He saw the ex-stock +broker start forward in amazement. Then he faltered, threw up his +hands, and fell forward in a dead faint!</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXV" id="CHAPTER_XXV"></a>CHAPTER XXV.</h2> +<h3>GOOD NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.</h3> +<p>"Fainted, by Jove!"</p> +<p>So spoke Pawnee Brown as he sprang forward to Mortimer +Arbuckle's aid.</p> +<p>The man was as pale as the driven snow, and for the instant the +great scout thought his very heart had stopped beating.</p> +<p>He raised Mortimer Arbuckle up and opened his collar and took +off his tie, that he might get some air.</p> +<p>"Wot's the row here?"</p> +<p>It was the voice of Peter Day, the backwoodsman who had agreed +to take care of Arbuckle during his illness. He had followed the +man out of the house to see that no harm might befall him.</p> +<p>"He has fainted," answered Pawnee Brown. "Fetch some water, and +hold that—hang it, he's gone!"</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown rushed to the barn door. Far away he saw Powell +Dike running as though the old Nick was after him. A second later +the rascal disappeared from view. The boomer never saw or heard of +him again.</p> +<p>Between the great scout and Pawnee Brown, Mortimer Arbuckle was +once again taken to Day's home and made comfortable.</p> +<p>"He insisted on taking a walk to-day," explained the +backwoodsman. "I told him he couldn't stand it. I reckon he's as +bad now as he ever was."</p> +<p>"Take good care of him, Day, and beware of any men who may be +prowling about," answered Pawnee Brown. "There is something wrong +in the air, but I'm satisfied that if we help this poor fellow +we'll be on the right side of the brush."</p> +<p>Mortimer Arbuckle was now coming around, but when he spoke he +was quite out of his mind. The doctor was hastily sent for, and he +administered a potion which speedily put the sufferer to sleep.</p> +<p>"It's an odd case," said the medical man. "The fellow is +suffering more mentally than physically. He must have something +awful on his mind."</p> +<p>"He is the victim of some plot—I am certain of it," was +the scout's firm answer.</p> +<p>Not long after this, Pawnee Brown was returning to Arkansas +City, certain that Mortimer Arbuckle would now be well cared for +and closely watched until he and Dick could return to the +sufferer.</p> +<p>"As soon as this booming business is over I must try to clear +things for that old gent," murmured the boomer to himself as he +rode up to the telegraph office. "I'd do a good deal for him and +that noble son of his."</p> +<p>Another telegram had just come in, by way of Wichita, which ran +as follows:</p> +<p>"The Lower House of Congress has passed the Oklahoma bill. +Pawnee Brown has woke the politicians up at last. Stand ready to +enter Oklahoma if an attempt is made to throw the bill aside in the +Senate, but don't be rash, as it may not be long before everything +comes our way—in fact, it looks as if everything would come +very soon."</p> +<p>At this telegram the great scout was inclined to throw up his +hat and give a cheer. His work in Kansas was having an effect. No +longer could the cattle kings stand up against the rights of the +people. He handed the message to a number of his friends standing +near.</p> +<p>"Hurrah fer Pawnee Brown!" shouted one man, and standing on a +soap box read the telegram aloud.</p> +<p>"Score one fer the boomers!"</p> +<p>"An' a big one fer Pawnee."</p> +<p>"Don't hurry now, Pawnee, you've got 'em whar the hair ez good +an' long!"</p> +<p>"It would seem so, men," answered the great scout. "No, I'll be +careful now—since the tide has turned. In less than sixty +days I'll wager all I am worth we'll march into Oklahoma without +the first sign of trouble."</p> +<p>It did not take the news long to travel to the boomers' camp, +and great was the rejoicing upon every side.</p> +<p>"Dot's der pest ding I vos hear for a month," said Humpendinck. +"Pawnee ought to haf a medal alreatty."</p> +<p>"It's a stattoo we will put up fer him in Oklahomy," said +Delaney. "A stattoo wid Pawnee a-ridin' loike mad to the new lands, +wid the Homestead act in wan hand an' a bundle o' sthakes in th' +other, an' under the stattoo we'll put the wurruds, 'Pawnee Brown, +the St. Patrick av Oklahomy!'"</p> +<p>"Ach! go on mit yer St. Patrick!" howled Humpendinck. "He vos +noddings but a snake killer."</p> +<p>"Oh, mon!" burst in Rosy Delaney. "A snake killer, Moike, do ye +moind thot? Swat the Dootchman wan, quick!"</p> +<p>And Mike "swatted" with an end of a fence rail he was chopping +up for firewood. But Humpendinck dodged, and Rosy caught the blow, +and there followed a lively row between her and Mike, in the midst +of which the German boomer sneaked away.</p> +<p>"Dot Irishmans vos so fiery as der hair mit his head," he +muttered to himself. "I dink I vos keep out of sight bis he vos +cool off, and den—Mine gracious, Bumpkin, var did you come +from? I dinks you vos left behind py Arkansas City."</p> +<p>For there had suddenly appeared before Humpendinck the form of +the dunce, hatless and with his black hair tumbled over his face in +all directions.</p> +<p>"Ha, ha! where have I been?" cried Pumpkin. "Where haven't I +been you had better ask. I've been everywhere—among the +soldiers and the boomers and the Indians." He stopped short. "Where +is Pawnee Brown?"</p> +<p>"Ofer py Clemmer's vagon. But he ton't vont ter pother mit you +now."</p> +<p>"He will bother with me," and so speaking Pumpkin ran off, to +reach the great scout's side and pluck him by the coat sleeve.</p> +<p>"At your service, sir," he said, bowing low, for with all of his +peculiarities Pumpkin had a great respect for Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>"What is it, lad?"</p> +<p>"I have to report, sir, that your pard is captured—Jack +Rasco; he had a fearful fight and the soldiers have him. Ha! ha! +they will shoot Jack—if you let 'em, but I know you +won't—will you now?"</p> +<p>"You are certain Jack is captured?"</p> +<p>"Dead sure—saw him with my own eyes. Ha! ha! they tried to +catch Pumpkin, but they might as well try to catch a ghost. Ha! ha! +but I give 'em a fine run."</p> +<p>It took a good deal of talking to get a straight story from the +half-witted youth, but at last Pawnee Brown was in full possession +of the facts. Pumpkin had seen Rasco on the march just before Dick +was taken.</p> +<p>Immediately after this the boomer held a short consultation with +Clemmer.</p> +<p>"I feel it my duty to help Rasco to escape, if it can be done," +he said. "Besides, it is high time for me to return to Dick +Arbuckle and to find out, if possible, what has become of Jack's +niece."</p> +<p>"Shall I go along?" questioned Clemmer, "I wouldn't like +anything better."</p> +<p>"All right, come on," answered the great scout.</p> +<p>He had scarcely spoken when a loud cry rang out, coming from the +lower end of the camp.</p> +<p>"Buckley's bull has broken loose! Look out for yourself, the +beast has gone mad!"</p> +<p>"Buckley's bull!" muttered Pawnee Brown. "I ordered him to +slaughter that vicious beast. Why, he's as fierce as those the +Mexicans use in their bull fights!"</p> +<p>"He's a terror," answered Clemmer. "If he—By gum, here he +comes, Pawnee!"</p> +<p>As he spoke Clemmer turned to one side and started to run. +Looking forward the great scout saw the bull bearing down upon him. +The eyes of the creature were bloodshot and the foam was dripping +from the corners of his mouth, showing that he was clearly beyond +control.</p> +<p>The bull, which was of extra large size, had Clemmer in view, +and made after the cowboy, who happened to be unarmed. Away went +man and beast in something of a circle, to fetch up near Pawnee +Brown less than a minute later. As they came close, Clemmer fell +and went sprawling almost at the scout's feet.</p> +<p>"Save me!" he panted. "Save me, Pawnee!"</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown did not answer. Leaping over the cowboy's prostrate +form, he pulled out his pistol and his hunting knife and stood +ready to receive the bull, who came tearing along, with lowered +horns, ready to charge the scout to the death.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVI" id="CHAPTER_XXVI"></a>CHAPTER XXVI.</h2> +<h3>THE BOOMER AND THE BULL.</h3> +<p>For the moment it looked as if Pawnee Brown meant to let the mad +bull gore him to pieces.</p> +<p>On and on came the beast until less than two yards separated him +and the great scout.</p> +<p>Crack! came the report of the boomer's pistol, and the bull fell +back a pace, clipped between the horns. A lucky swerve downward had +saved him from a bullet wound through the eye.</p> +<p>There was no time for another shot. With a bellow the bull +leaped the intervening space and landed almost on top of Pawnee +Brown!</p> +<p>A yell went up from those who saw the movement.</p> +<p>"Pawnee is done fur. The bull will rip him inside out."</p> +<p>"Buckley ought to have killed that bull long ago—that's +the second time he's gone on a rampage."</p> +<p>"Somebody shoot him and save Pawnee!"</p> +<p>The last was a well meant cry, but a shot could not be thought +of, for man and beast were too close together.</p> +<p>But Pawnee Brown was not yet defeated. He still held his trusty +hunting knife, and he was not terrorized as some of the onlookers +imagined.</p> +<p>A few words will explain the cause. In his day the scout had +visited Mexico more than once, and while there had participated in +more than one bull fight, on one occasion defeating a celebrated +Mexican fighter and gaining a handsome prize.</p> +<p>As the mad bull charged, the scout leaped like lightning to one +side, and drove the hunting knife up to the hilt into the beast's +throat.</p> +<p>There was a spurt of blood, a bellow of pain, and the bull +staggered back several steps.</p> +<p>He was badly wounded, but by no means out of the fight, as his +glaring eyes still showed. He shook his head vigorously, then +charged again.</p> +<p>Once more the knife went up and came down, this time just below +the beast's ear. A fearful bellow came after the stroke. Before the +bull could retire, the knife was withdrawn and plunged in a third +and last time. This third stroke wound up the encounter, for +limping to one side the bull fell forward upon his knees, gave a +kick or two with his hind legs, and rolled over on the prairie +grass, dead.</p> +<p>"Hurrah! Pawnee has killed him."</p> +<p>"Talk about yer bull fighters! They ain't in it with +Pawnee!"</p> +<p>"Yer saved my life," exclaimed Clemmer, who had risen. "I shan't +forget yer, Pawnee," and he held out his broad hand for a +shake.</p> +<p>The bull dead, Pawnee Brown called Buckley up and gave him a +lecture for not having killed the vicious beast long ago.</p> +<p>"You have no business to bring such a bull into camp in the +first place, Buckley," he said. "Be more careful in the future, or +you'll have to get out, bag and baggage. That bull might have +killed half a dozen people had he charged the crowd."</p> +<p>A short while after this the great scout and Clemmer set off +from Honnewell along the ravine in search of Dick, Rasco and Nellie +Winthrop. The cheering news from Washington had set Pawnee Brown at +rest so far as his duty to the boomers was concerned, and he felt +quite free to pursue his own affairs and those of his immediate +friends.</p> +<p>"If possible I would like to meet Louis Vorlange and have a talk +with him," he said to Clemmer, after having related what had +occurred near Peter Day's home. "I think that spy can clear up much +of this mystery concerning Mortimer Arbuckle, if he will."</p> +<p>"It ain't likely he'll open his trap," answered Clemmer. "By +doin' thet he'd only be gettin' himself in hot water."</p> +<p>"We'll make him speak," was Pawnee Brown's grim response.</p> +<p>An hour of hard riding brought them to the spot where Dick had +been left. Not a single trace of the lad could be found. Both men +looked blank.</p> +<p>"Bet he's wandered off and got lost," said Clemmer, and Pawnee +Brown nodded.</p> +<p>"We'll strike off eastward, Cal, and see if we can't find some +trace of him. It is no use of going westward. If he had gone that +way, he would have reached the ravine and come up into Kansas."</p> +<p>Once again they set off. An hour was spent here and there, when +suddenly Clemmer uttered a cry.</p> +<p>"Been a struggle hyer, Pawnee. See them footprints?"</p> +<p>"Three people," answered the scout, making an inspection. "A +boy, a girl or a woman, and an Indian. Can they have been Dick, +Nellie Winthrop and Yellow Elk? Hang me if it doesn't look like +it."</p> +<p>"Hyer's where the trail leads off," said Clemmer. "And that's +the boy's. Can't see nuthin' o' the gal's."</p> +<p>"That means the Indian carried her off," ejaculated Pawnee +Brown. "Let us follow his trail without delay."</p> +<p>"But the boy's?"</p> +<p>"You follow that, and I'll follow the redskin. If he had the +girl I want to know it."</p> +<p>A few words more and they separated. Pawnee Brown was on his +mettle and followed Yellow Elk's trail with all the keenness of an +Indian himself. In half an hour he had reached the brook. Here he +came to a series of rocks and was forced to come to a halt.</p> +<p>But not for long. Fording the water-course, he began a search +which speedily revealed the trail again, leading to a small river a +quarter of a mile further on.</p> +<p>He followed the river for less than fifty feet, when a number of +voices broke upon his ears.</p> +<p>"I'm sure I saw the redskin on the river, and he had a girl with +him, Ross."</p> +<p>"You must have been dreaming, Tucker. No redskins up here."</p> +<p>"All right, I know what I am talking about."</p> +<p>"I think I saw something, too," said a third voice, that of +Skimmy, the calvary man.</p> +<p>The three calvary men were out on a scouting expedition, to +learn if the boomers were in the vicinity of the river.</p> +<p>Tucker especially was on the lookout for Pawnee Brown, +determined to bring the great scout down and thus win the reward +Louis Vorlange had promised.</p> +<p>The scout listened to the talk of the cavalrymen for fully ten +minutes with great interest.</p> +<p>He had just started to move on, satisfied that it would be of no +benefit to remain longer, when Tucker turned and walked his horse +directly toward the spot where he was concealed.</p> +<p>"A boomer behind the brush!" shouted the cavalryman. "Come, +boys, and take him!"</p> +<p>Immediately there was a rush, and Pawnee Brown was surrounded. +He had his pistol out and in return came the weapons of the +trio.</p> +<p>"Well, gentlemen, you seem to want to make me your prisoner," +said the scout, coolly.</p> +<p>"Thet's wot," cried Ross. "Eh, Tucker?"</p> +<p>To make Pawnee Brown a prisoner would be of no personal benefit +to him.</p> +<p>"You seem to bear me a grudge," said the boomer, eying him +sharply.</p> +<p>Tucker could not stand that gaze and his eyes dropped.</p> +<p>"Yes, you're a prisoner," said Ross. "Let's bind him up, +Skimmy."</p> +<p>"Take that!"</p> +<p>Pawnee Brown leaped forward and hurled both Ross and Skimmy to +the ground. Ere they could rise he had turned upon Tucker. The tall +calvary man had his pistol cocked, and now he blazed away almost in +Pawnee Brown's face, and then both went down, with the scout on +top.</p> +<p>The flash of the pistol had scorched the boomer's skin, but the +bullet sung over his head, missing him by less than an inch. As he +came down upon Tucker he hit the cavalryman a terrific blow in the +jaw, breaking that member and knocking out several teeth.</p> +<p>"On him!" yelled Skimmy, and tried to rise. But now Pawnee Brown +was again up, and flung Skimmy on top of Ross. In a moment more he +was running along the river bank.</p> +<p>He was almost out of sight, when there came two shots, from Ross +and Skimmy. Neither hit him, however, and he continued on his way, +while the two cavalrymen turned back to pick up Tucker, who lay in +a heap, groaning and twisting from intense pain. The tall +cavalryman could not, of course, talk, and his wound was so serious +that there was nothing to do but to carry him to his horse, support +him in the saddle and ride back to the fort for medical assistance. +It was a clean knock-out, and one that Tucker had good cause to +remember to the day of his death.</p> +<p>It was some time ere Pawnee Brown struck the trail of Yellow Elk +again, but having once spotted it he pursued his course with +increased vigor. The trail led along the river to where there was +almost a lake. This had just been reached, when he heard a scream. +Instantly he recognized Nellie Winthrop's voice.</p> +<p>"Thank heaven I came as soon as I did," he murmured, and dashed +forward to the spot from whence the sound had proceeded.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVII" id="CHAPTER_XXVII"></a>CHAPTER +XXVII.</h2> +<h3>THE LAST OF YELLOW ELK.</h3> +<p>When Nellie Winthrop recovered sufficiently to realize what was +going on around her, she found herself upon Yellow Elk's back, with +her hands tied together at the wrists behind her.</p> +<p>Away went the redskin until the vicinity where the encounter +with Dick had occurred was left far behind.</p> +<p>The brook crossed, the Indian chief set off for the river. Not +once did he stop or speak until a pond was gained.</p> +<p>Beyond the pond was a shelter of trees, growing in a circle +which was about fifteen feet in diameter. Against the trees the +brush had been piled, forming a rude hut.</p> +<p>Taking Nellie inside of this shelter, Yellow Elk deposited her +on the ground. Of the cord which bound her hands there were several +feet left, and this end he wound around a tree and tied fast.</p> +<p>"Now white girl no run away," he grinned. "Stay here now until +Yellow Elk ready to let her go."</p> +<p>To this she made no answer, for what would be the use of talking +to such a fierce creature? She looked at his hideously painted face +and shivered.</p> +<p>Yellow Elk now went off, to be gone a long while. When he came +back he found her so tired she could scarcely stand beside the +tree. She had tried to free herself from her bonds but failed, and +a tiny stream of blood was running from one of her tender +wrists.</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk got horse now," said the redskin. "We ride +now—go many miles."</p> +<p>"Where to?" she faltered.</p> +<p>"Never mind where—white girl come on."</p> +<p>Yellow Elk's manner was so fierce she was frightened more than +ever. The Indian had stolen a horse and he had also stolen a lot of +"fire-water," and this drink was beginning to make him ugly. He +drew out his hunting knife.</p> +<p>"White girl got to become Yellow Elk's squaw!" he cried, +brandishing the knife before her face. "No marry Yellow Elk me cut +out her heart wid dis!"</p> +<p>At this Nellie gave a shriek and it was this which was borne to +the ears of Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>"Crying do white girl no good," growled the redskin. "Come with +me."</p> +<p>"I will not go another foot," and Nellie began to struggle. The +Indian chief upbraided her roundly in his own language and ended by +raising his knife over her once more.</p> +<p>"Help!" cried Nellie, and a moment later Pawnee Brown burst into +view. A glance showed him the true situation, and without +hesitation he fired at Yellow Elk.</p> +<p>His bullet clipped across the redskin's chest. By this time +Yellow Elk had his own pistol out, and standing erect he aimed +straight for the boomer's heart.</p> +<p>Nellie screamed, and knowing nothing else to do, gave the Indian +a vigorous shove in the side, which destroyed the aim and made the +bullet fly wide of the mark.</p> +<p>In a second more the two men were at it in a hand-to-hand +encounter each trying his best to get at the other with his hunting +knife, being too close together to use a pistol. As Pawnee Brown +afterward said:</p> +<p>"It was Yellow Elk's life or mine, and I made up my mind that it +should not be mine—I considered myself worth a good deal more +than that worthless redskin."</p> +<p>A cut and a slash upon each side, and the two broke. Yellow Elk +had had enough of the fight, and now ran for it in sudden fear. He +did not take to the river shore, but skirted the pond and began to +ascend a slight hill, beyond which was another fork of the ravine +which has figured so largely in our story.</p> +<p>"Let him go! he may kill you!" called out Nellie, when she saw +Pawnee Brown start in pursuit. But the scout paid no attention to +her. His blood was up and he was determined to either exterminate +Yellow Elk or bring him to terms.</p> +<br /> +<p><a name="p220" id="p220"></a></p> +<div class="figcenter"><img src= +"images/img224.jpg" alt="In a second more the two men were +in a hand-to-hand encounter" title= +"" /></div> +<h5>"In a second more the two men were +in a hand-to-hand encounter"</h5> +<br /> +<p>The top of the hill was reached. Yellow Elk paused, not knowing +exactly how to proceed. Looking back, he saw Pawnee Brown preparing +to fire upon him. A pause, and he attempted to leap down to a ledge +below him. His foot caught in the roots of a bush and over he went +into a deep hollow headlong. There was a sickening thud, a grunt, +and all became quiet.</p> +<p>Yellow Elk had paid the death penalty at last.</p> +<p>When Pawnee Brown managed to climb down to the Indian's side, to +make certain the wily redskin was not shamming, he found Yellow Elk +stone dead, his neck having been completely broken by his fall. He +lay on his back, his right hand still clutching his bloody hunting +knife.</p> +<p>"Gone now," murmured the great scout. His face softened for an +instant. "Hang it all, why must even a redskin be so all-fired bad? +If he had wanted to, Yellow Elk might have made a man of himself. I +can't stop to bury him, and yet——Hullo, what are those +papers sticking out of his pocket?"</p> +<p>The boomer had caught sight of a large packet which had been +concealed in Yellow Elk's bosom. He took up the packet and looked +it over. It consisted of half a dozen legal-looking documents and +twice that number of letters, some addressed to Mortimer Arbuckle +and some addressed to Louis Vorlange.</p> +<p>He read over the letters and documents with interest. Those of +Dick's father related to the mine in Colorado and were evidently +those stolen by Louis Vorlange upon the night of the opening of +this tale. The letters belonging to the government spy were +epistles addressed to Vorlange from a former friend and partner in +various shady transactions. Of these we will hear more later.</p> +<p>"Yellow Elk must have robbed Vorlange of these," mused the great +scout, as he rammed the packet in his pocket. In this he was right. +Vorlange had dropped the packet by accident and the Indian had +failed to restore it, there having been, as the reader knows, no +love lost between the two rascals.</p> +<p>Having placed the dead body among the bushes in a little hollow, +Pawnee Brown climbed out of the ravine again and rejoined Nellie, +who was growing impatient regarding his welfare. The story of what +had happened to Yellow Elk was soon told, the scout softening out +the ghastly details. Then, to change the subject, he asked her if +she knew her uncle was a prisoner of the soldiers.</p> +<p>"Yes," she replied. "Oh, sir, what will they do with him?"</p> +<p>"I don't believe they can do much, Nellie," he answered. +"According to the news from Washington, everything is to be +smoothed out, and of course the government will have no case +against any of us."</p> +<p>"Can I get to my uncle from here? Where is he?"</p> +<p>"About five miles from here. Yes, we can get to him if we want +to." Pawnee Brown mused for a moment. "I'll risk it," he said, half +aloud. "They can't arrest me for coming to expose a criminal, and I +have the facts right here in my pocket."</p> +<p>A moment later he was riding the horse Yellow Elk had stolen, +while Nellie was seated upon Bonnie Bird. In this manner they +struck out for the agency, called by the soldiers a fort.</p> +<p>About three miles had been covered, when suddenly there came a +shout from a thicket to one side of them.</p> +<p>"The cavalry!" gasped Nellie. "What shall we do?"</p> +<p>"Take it coolly, Nellie. I have a winning card this trip," +smiled the great scout.</p> +<p>A few seconds later half a dozen fine looking men rode forward, +a well-known official of the Indian Territory at their head.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown!" ejaculated the official, on recognizing the +scout. "It would seem we had made quite a capture. What are you +doing with Sergeant Morris' horse?"</p> +<p>"Is this the animal?"</p> +<p>"It is.</p> +<p>"I found him in the possession of a runaway Indian, Yellow Elk. +If he is your property you are welcome to him," and Pawnee Brown +leaped to the ground.</p> +<p>"Humph! That is all right, but what are you doing here? Don't +you know you are on forbidden ground?"</p> +<p>The scout's coolness was a great surprise to the official.</p> +<p>"I would be—under ordinary circumstances, sir. But just +now I am on a mission to the agency: a mission I am convinced you +will not attempt to hinder."</p> +<p>"What is it?"</p> +<p>"I wish to expose a great criminal, a man who is now in the +active service of the United States, although he ought to be in +prison or on the gallows."</p> +<p>The official was much surprised.</p> +<p>"I would like to know some of the particulars, Pawnee."</p> +<p>"Are you bound for the agency?"</p> +<p>"Yes."</p> +<p>"Then we will go together, and you can see what takes place. It +will probably be well worth your while."</p> +<p>"This is no trick—I know you are itching to get into +Oklahoma."</p> +<p>"I will give you my word of honor, sir. I have received word +from Washington, and I feel certain that ere long this whole matter +will be settled to our mutual satisfaction. In the meantime, +booming can wait," and Pawnee Brown smiled in a quiet way.</p> +<p>A few words more followed, and Nellie was introduced. Then the +whole party set off on a gallop for the agency, where was to be +enacted the last scene in this little drama of the southwest.</p> +<hr width="30%" size="6" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXVIII" id="CHAPTER_XXVIII"></a>CHAPTER +XXVIII.</h2> +<h3>CLEARING UP A MYSTERY—CONCLUSION.</h3> +<p>As Vorlange uttered his dire threat into Dick's ear, the boy +turned pale and staggered against the wall of his prison.</p> +<p>"Wot's that yer sayin'?" demanded Jack Rasco, who plainly saw +the changed look upon his companion's features.</p> +<p>"It is none of your business, Rasco," muttered the spy. "I told +the boy; that's enough."</p> +<p>Dick breathed hard. Part of that mystery of the past was out at +last. His father was accused of murder—Vorlange held the +evidence against him. Like a flash came back to him several things +he had almost forgotten. He remembered how on more than one +occasion his father had sent money to the West after a letter had +come which had upset him greatly. That must have been hush money, +to keep this rascal quiet.</p> +<p>"I—I—do not believe you!" he cried in a faint tone. +"My father is as upright as any gentleman in the land."</p> +<p>"Is he?" sneered Vorlange. "All right, if you think so, just +drive me to the wall and see."</p> +<p>"Where was this crime committed?"</p> +<p>"In Creede, Colorado—at the time the camp was +started."</p> +<p>"Who was killed?"</p> +<p>"A miner named Rickwell. He was once a partner of a man named +Burch, of whom you have no doubt heard ere this."</p> +<p>"Yes, Burch left us the property you know all about, since you +stole the deeds to it. Louis Vorlange, you are playing a deep part +but you cannot make me swallow your statements about my +father."</p> +<p>"Do you want me to expose him?"</p> +<p>"We'll see about that later. Rasco and I will certainly try to +show you up for what you really are."</p> +<p>"Very well," blustered Vorlange. "Your father is a murderer, and +he shall swing for it—unless you keep your mouth shut. +I——"</p> +<p>Footsteps outside of the prison interrupted Louis Vorlange. An +instant later Pawnee Brown and half a dozen others stepped inside +of the apartment.</p> +<p>"Pawnee Brown!" cried Dick and Rasco together.</p> +<p>"Are you a prisoner, too?" continued the boy.</p> +<p>"Hardly," smiled the great scout. Then he noticed Vorlange. +"Just the men we are after."</p> +<p>"Me?" ejaculated the spy.</p> +<p>"Yes, you."</p> +<p>"What do you want of me, Pawnee Brown? I want nothing to do with +such as you—a thieving, low-down +boomer—who—oh!"</p> +<p>Vorlange ended with a yell, for Pawnee Brown had caught him by +the ear and almost jerked him off his feet.</p> +<p>"Let up! Let up! Oh!"</p> +<p>"Now keep quiet Vorlange," said the scout sternly. "You can +thank your stars that I didn't put a bullet through you for letting +your tongue run so loosely."</p> +<p>"Thet's so, b'gosh," was Rasco's comment. "But say, Pawnee, he's +a reg'lar snake in the grass."</p> +<p>"I know it." Pawnee Brown looked at Dick. "Has he been +threatening you, lad?"</p> +<p>"Yes; threatened me and my father, too."</p> +<p>"Have no fear of him, Dick. Louis Vorlange, you have about +reached the end of your rope."</p> +<p>"What do you mean?" and the spy's lips quivered as he spoke.</p> +<p>"I mean that I am here to expose you." Pawnee Brown turned to +the others who had come in. "Gentlemen, let me introduce to you +Louis Vorlange, alias Captain Mull, once of Creede, Colorado."</p> +<p>"Captain Mull!" exclaimed several. "Do you mean the Captain Mull +that was wanted for several shady doings, Pawnee?"</p> +<p>"The same Captain Mull, gentlemen."</p> +<p>"It is a—a lie!" screamed Louis Vorlange, but his looks +belied him.</p> +<p>"It is the truth, gentlemen, he is the man who once sported +under the name of Captain Mull. But that is not all."</p> +<p>"What else, Pawnee?"</p> +<p>"Some years ago a man by the name of Andrew Rickwell was +murdered in the Last Chance hotel at Creede. At that time Creede +was but a small place and Captain Mull ran the hotel. Who murdered +Rickwell was not discovered. But he had occupied a room with +another man, a mining agent from New York named Mortimer Arbuckle, +the father of this lad here, and some thought Arbuckle had done the +foul deed, and he had to run away to escape the fury of a mob. The +horror of this occurrence unbalanced the man's mind and to this day +he sometimes thinks he may be guilty. But he is innocent."</p> +<p>"He is guilty!" shrieked Louis Vorlange. "I saw him do the +deed!"</p> +<p>"I see you acknowledge you were in Creede at that time," +answered Pawnee Bill, and Vorlange staggered back over the bad +break he had made. "As I said, Mortimer Arbuckle is innocent. There +is the murderer, and here are the documents to prove it—and +to prove more—that Vorlange is a thief, that he assaulted +Mortimer Arbuckle in the dark and left him for dead, and that he is +now acting against the best interests of the United States +government."</p> +<p>As Pawnee Brown ended he pointed at Vorlange, and held aloft the +packet he had taken from Yellow Elk.</p> +<p>"My father's documents!" cried Dick.</p> +<p>"The letters!" shrieked Louis Vorlange. Then he made a sudden +leap to secure them, but Pawnee Brown was too quick for him. The +scout turned to the captain of cavalry standing near.</p> +<p>"You had better arrest him before he tries to escape."</p> +<p>"They shall not arrest me!" came from Louis Vorlange's set lips. +"Clear the way!"</p> +<p>Like a flash his pistol came up and he fired into the crowd, +which parted in surprise and let him pass. But not more than ten +steps were covered when Pawnee Brown caught him by the arm and +threw him headlong to the ground. At the same time the prison +sentry fired, and Vorlange was mortally wounded in the side.</p> +<p>"I'll not forget you!" he cried to Pawnee Brown. "But for you I +would have lived in clover the balance of my life!" Then he fell +into a faint from which he recovered presently, to linger for +several days in terrible anguish, dying at last in convulsions.</p> +<p>With the death of Vorlange we bring our story to a close. By +what was said during the man's last hours on earth, Mortimer +Arbuckle was entirely cleared of the cloud which had hung over his +honorable name. Soon after this his right mind came back to him and +to-day he is as well and happy as it is possible to imagine.</p> +<p>Whatever became of Stillwater and Juan Donomez is not known.</p> +<p>With the truce declared by the actions of the authorities at +Washington and the word given by Pawnee Brown that no attempt +should be made to enter Oklahoma for the present, it was not deemed +advisable to hold either Dick or Rasco longer, and the two were +given their freedom, to journey at once to Honnewell, in company +with the great scout and Nellie Winthrop.</p> +<p>From Honnewell, Dick rode post haste to carry the glad news to +his father. A scene followed which no pen can describe, a scene so +sacred to the two it must be left entirely to the imagination of +the reader. Never was a man more proud of his son than was Mortimer +Arbuckle of Dick, or more grateful than was the mine-owner to +Pawnee Brown for his courageous and marvelous work in clearing up +the mystery.</p> +<p>"He is a man among men," he said. "God bless him!"</p> +<p>Nellie Winthrop was overjoyed to be with her uncle once again, +and took good care that nothing should separate them. As for Jack, +he guarded her with a care which could not be exceeded.</p> +<p>"Ef they carry her off again it will be over my dead body, +b'gosh," he murmured more than once.</p> +<p>And yet Nellie was carried off four years later. But this time +the carrying off was done by Dick Arbuckle, and both Nellie and +Jack were perfectly willing. The wedding was a grand one, for the +Colorado claims had panned out big for the Arbuckles, and the best +man at the affair was Pawnee Brown.</p> +<p>In due course of time the bill concerning Oklahoma was passed by +the United States Senate and signed by the President. This was +followed by a grand rush of the boomers to get the best of the land +granted to them. The advance was led by Pawnee Brown, who, riding +his ever faithful Bonnie Bird, covered twenty miles in the short +space of sixty-five minutes and located his town site at the mouth +of Big Turkey Creek. This town site, along with his other Oklahoma +possessions, made the great scout a rich man. He never grows weary +of telling about this great rush into Oklahoma. "It was grand, +awe-inspiring," he says. "I would go a thousand miles to see it +again—those hundreds of wagons, thousands of horsemen and +heads of cattle, all going southward, over hills, through forests, +crossing brooks and rivers—all bound for the land which has +since made them so prosperous and happy."</p> +<p>And here let us take leave of Dick Arbuckle, Pawnee Brown, and +all their friends, wishing them well.</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Land Boomer, by Ralph Bonehill + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY LAND BOOMER *** + +***** This file should be named 20618-h.htm or 20618-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/6/1/20618/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Marcia and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Boy Land Boomer + Dick Arbuckle's Adventures in Oklahoma + +Author: Ralph Bonehill + +Illustrator: W. H. Fry + +Release Date: February 18, 2007 [EBook #20618] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY LAND BOOMER *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Marcia and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + +THE BOY +LAND BOOMER + +OR + +DICK ARBUCKLE'S +ADVENTURES IN OKLAHOMA + +BY + +CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL + +AUTHOR OF + +"THREE YOUNG RANCHMEN," +"A SAILOR BOY WITH DEWEY," ETC. + + +[Illustration: "The youth had to cling fast around his neck to save +himself a lot of broken bones"] + + +ILLUSTRATED BY W. H. FRY + + +H. M. CALDWELL COMPANY +NEW YORK Publishers BOSTON + +COPYRIGHT, 1902, +BY +THE SAALFIELD PUBLISHING COMPANY + +Made by +Robert Smith Printing Co., +Lansing, Mich. + + +--------------- +Transcriber's Note: Obvious printer errors have been corrected. All +other inconsistencies have been left as they were in the original. +--------------- + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + + PAGE + +"The youth had to cling fast around his neck to save +himself a lot of broken bones" _Frontispiece_ + +"The next instant the boy was hurled headlong into +the boiling and foaming current" 62 + +"Dick had let fly the jagged stone, taking him directly +in the forehead and keeling him over like a tenpin" 179 + +"In a second more the two men were in a hand-to-hand +encounter" 220 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +"The Boy Land Boomer" relates the adventures of a lad who, with his +father, joins a number of daring men in an attempt to occupy the rich +farming lands of Oklahoma before the time when that section of our +country was thrown open to settlement under the homestead act. + +Oklahoma consists of a tract of land which formerly formed a portion of +the Indian Territory. This region was much in dispute as early as 1884 +and 1885, when Captain "Oklahoma" Payne and Captain Couch did their best +to force an entrance for the boomers under them. Boomers remained in the +neighborhood for years, and another attempt was made to settle Oklahoma +in 1886, and up to 1889, when, on April 22, the land was thrown open to +settlement by a proclamation of the President. The mad rush to gain the +best claims followed, and some of these scenes are related in the +present volume. + +The boomers, who numbered thousands, had among them several daring and +well-known leaders, but not one was better known or more daring than +the leader who is known in these pages as Pawnee Brown. This man was not +alone a great Indian scout and hunter, but also one who had lived much +among the Indians, could speak their language, and who had on several +occasions acted as interpreter for the Government. He was well beloved +by his followers, who relied upon his judgment in all things. + +To some it may seem that the scenes in this book are overdrawn. Such, +however, is not the fact. There was much of roughness in those days, and +the author has continually found it necessary to tone down rather than +to exaggerate in penning these scenes from real life. + +CAPTAIN RALPH BONEHILL. + + + + + +THE BOY LAND BOOMER. + + + * * * * * + + +CHAPTER I. + +DICK ARBUCKLE'S DISCOVERY. + + +"Father!" + +The call came from a boy of sixteen, a bright, manly chap, who had just +awakened from an unusually sound sleep in the rear end of a monstrous +boomer's wagon. + +The scene was upon the outskirts of Arkansas City, situated near the +southern boundary line of Kansas and not many miles from the Oklahoma +portion of the Indian Territory. + +For weeks the city had been filling up with boomers on their way to +pre-empt land within the confines of Oklahoma as soon as it became +possible to do so. + +The land in Oklahoma had for years been in dispute. Pioneers claimed the +right to go in and stake out homesteads, but the soldiers of our +government would not allow them to do so. + +The secret of the matter was that the cattle kings of that section +controlled everything, and as the grazing land of the territory was +worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to them they fought desperately +to keep the pioneers out, delaying, in every manner possible, +legislation which tended to make the section an absolutely free one to +would-be settlers. + +But now the pioneers, or boomers as they were commonly called, were +tired of waiting for the passage of a law which they knew must come +sooner or later, and they intended to go ahead without legal authority. + +It was a dark, tempestuous night, with the wind blowing fiercely and the +rain coming down at irregular intervals. On the grassy plain were +huddled the wagons, animals and trappings of over two hundred boomers. +Here and there flared up the remains of a campfire, but the wind was +blowing too strongly for these to be replenished, and the men had +followed their wives and children into the big, canvas-covered wagons, +to make themselves as comfortable as the crowded space permitted. + +It was the rattle of the rain on the canvas covering of the wagon which +had aroused the boy. + +"I say father!" he repeated. "Father!" + +Again there was no reply, and, kicking aside the blanket with which he +had been covered, Dick Arbuckle clambered over some boxes piled high in +the center of the vehicle to where he had left his parent resting less +than three hours before. + +"Gone!" cried the lad in astonishment. "What can this mean? What could +take him outside in such a storm as this? Father!" + +He now crawled to the opening at the front of the wagon and called at +the top of his voice. Only the shrieking of the wind answered him. A +dozen times he cried out, then paused to strike a somewhat damp match +and light a smoky lantern hanging to the front ashen bow of the +turn-out's covering. Holding the light over his head he peered forth into +the inky darkness surrounding the boomer's temporary camp. + +"Not a soul in sight," he mused. "It must be about midnight. Can +something have happened to father? He said he felt rather strange in his +head when he went to bed. If only Jack Rasco would come back." + +From the front end of the wagon Dick Arbuckle shifted back to the rear. +Here the same dreary outlook of storm, mud and flapping canvases +presented itself. Not so much as a stray dog was in sight, and the +nearest wagon was twenty feet away. + +"I must find out where he is. Something is wrong, I feel certain of it." + +Thus muttering to himself the youth hunted up his overcoat and hat, put +them on, and, lantern in hand, swung himself into the sea of +half-submerged prairie grass, and stalked over to the other wagon just +mentioned. + +"Mike Delaney!" he cried, kicking on the wagon wheel with the toe of his +boot; "Mike Delaney, have you seen my father anywhere?" + +"Sure, an' Moike Delaney is not here, Dick Arbuckle," came in a female +voice. "He's gone off wid Pawnee Brown, and there's no tellin' whin +he'll be back. Is yer father gone?" + +"Yes, and I don't know where," and now Dick stepped closer, as the round +and freckled face of Rosy Delaney peered forth from a hole in the canvas +end. "He went to bed when I did, and now he's missing." + +"Saints preserve us! Mebbe the Injuns scalped him now, Dick!" came in a +voice full of terror. + +"There are no Indians around here, Mrs. Delaney," answered the youth, +half inclined to laugh. "But he's missing, and it's mighty strange, to +say the least." + +"He was sick, too, wasn't he?" + +"Father hasn't been real well for a year. He left New York very largely +in the hope that this climate would do him some good." + +"Moike was sayin' his head throubles him a good bit." + +"So it does, and that's why I am so worried. When he gets those awful +pains he is apt to walk away and keep right on without knowing where he +is going." + +"Poor mon! Oi wisht Oi could help yez. Mebbe Moike will be back soon. +Ain't Jack Rasco about?" + +"No, he is off with Pawnee Brown, too. Rasco and Brown have been looking +over the trails leading to Oklahoma. They are bound to outwit the United +States cavalry, for the boomers have more right to that land than the +cattle kings, and right is always might in the end." + +"Especially wid Pawnee on the end o' it, Dick. He's a great mon, is +Pawnee, only it do be afther givin' me the shivers to hear him spake the +Pawnee language loike he was a rale Injun. Such a foine scout as he is +has no roight to spake such a dirthy tongue. How illegant it would be +now if he could spake rale Oirish." + +"His knowledge of the Indian tongue has helped both him and our +government a good deal, Mrs. Delaney. But I mustn't stop here talking. +If my father----" + +A wild, unearthly shriek cut short further talk upon Dick Arbuckle's +part. It came from the darkness back of the camp and caused Mrs. Delaney +to draw back and tumble to the bottom of her house on wheels in terror. + +"It's the Banshee----" she began, when Dick interrupted her. + +"It's Pumpkin Bill. I'd know his voice a mile off," he declared. +"Somebody ought to send him back to where he belongs. Creation, what a +racket!" + +Nearer and nearer came the voice, rising and falling with the wind. The +shrill shrieking penetrated to every wagon, and head after head was +thrust out of the canvases to see what it meant. In another minute +Pumpkin Bill, the dunce of the boomer's camp, "a nobody from nowhar," to +use Cal Clemmer's words, came rushing along, hatless and with his wild +eyes fairly starting from their sockets. + +"Save me! a ghost!" he yelled, swinging his hands over his head. "A +ghost full of blood! Oh, oh! I'm a dead boy! I know I am! Stop him from +following me!" + +"Pumpkin!" ejaculated Dick, striding up and catching the fleeing lad by +the arm. "Hold on; what's this racket about?" + +The dunce paused, then stood stock still, his mouth opening to its +widest extent. He was far from bright, and it took him several seconds +to put into words what was passing in his mind. + +"About, about?" he repeated. "Dick Arbuckle! Oh, dear me! I've seen your +father's ghost!" + +"Pumpkin!" + +"Yes, I did. Hope to die if I didn't. I was just coming to camp from +town. Some men kept me, and made me sing and dance for them--you know +how I can sing--tra-la-la-da-do-da-bum! They promised me a dollar, but +didn't give it to me. I was running to get out of the wet when I plumped +into something fearful--a ghost! Your father, covered with blood, and +groaning and moaning, 'Robbed, robbed; almost murdered!' That's what the +ghost said, and he caught me by the hand. See, the blood is there yet, +even though I did try to wash it off in the rain. Oh, Dick, what does it +mean?" + +"It means something awful has happened, Pumpkin, if your story is +true----" + +"Hope to die if it ain't," and the dunce crossed his heart several +times. Suddenly, to keep up his courage, he burst into a wild snatch of +song: + + "A big baboon + Glared at the moon, + And sang la-la-la-dum! + 'Come down to me + And I will be + Your lardy-dardy----'" + +"Stop it, Pumpkin," interrupted Dick. "Come along with me." + +"To where?" + +"To where you saw my father." + +"Not for a million dollars--not for a million million!" cried the +half-witted boy. "It wasn't your father; it was a ghost, all covered +with blood!" and he shrank back under the Delaney wagon. + +"It was my father, Pumpkin; I am sure of it. He is missing, and +something has happened to him. Perhaps he fell and hurt himself. Come +on." + +The dunce stopped short and stared. + +"Missing, is he? Then it wasn't a ghost. La-la-dum! What a joke. Will +you go along, too?" + +"Of course." + +"And take a pistol?" + +"Yes." + +"Poor mon, Oi thrust he is not very much hurted," broke in Rosy Delaney, +who had been a close listener to the foregoing. "If he is, Dick +Arbuckle, bring him here, an' it's Rosy Delaney will nurse him wid th' +best of care." + +As has been said, many had heard Pumpkin Bill's wild cries, but now that +he had quieted down these boomers returned to their couches, grumbling +that the half-witted lad should thus be allowed to disturb their rest. + +In a minute Dick Arbuckle and Pumpkin were hurrying along the road the +dunce had previously traveled. The rain was letting up a bit, and the +smoky lantern lit up the surroundings for a circle thirty feet in +diameter. + +"Here is where I met him," said Pumpkin, coming to a halt near the edge +of a small stream. "There's the hat he knocked off my head." He picked +it up. "Oh, dear me! covered with blood! Did you ever see the like?" + +Dick was more disturbed than ever. + +"Which way did he go?" + +"I don't know." + +"Didn't you notice at all, Pumpkin? Try to think." + +"Nary a notice. I ran, that's all. It looked like a bloody ghost. I'll +dream about it, I know I will." + +To this Dick did not answer. Getting down on his knees in the wet he +examined the trail by the lantern's rays. The footsteps which he thought +must be those of his father led around a bend in the stream and up a +series of rocks covered with moss and dirt. With his heart thumping +violently under his jacket he followed the footprints until the very +summit of the rocks was gained. Then he let out a groan of anguish. + +And not without cause. Beyond the summit was a dark opening fifteen feet +wide, a hundred or more feet long and of unfathomable depth. The +footprints ended at the very edge of this yawning abyss. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +DICK ON A RUNAWAY. + + +"If he fell down here he is dead beyond all doubt!" + +Such were Dick Arbuckle's words as he tried in vain to pierce the gloom +of the abyss by flashing around the smoky lantern. + +"Gosh! I reckon you're right," answered Pumpkin in an awe-struck +whisper. "It must be a thousand feet to the bottom of that hole!" + +"If I had a rope I might lower myself," went on the youth, with quiet +determination. "But without a rope----" + +A pounding of hoof-strokes on the grassy trail below the rocks caused +him to stop and listen attentively. + +"Somebody is coming. I'll see if I can get help!" he cried, and ran down +to the trail, swinging his lantern over his head as he went. In ten +seconds a horseman burst into view, riding a beautiful racing steed. The +newcomer was a well-known leader of the land boomers, who rejoiced in +the name of Pawnee Brown. + +"Ai! Pawnee Brown!" cried Dick, and at once the leader of the land +boomers came to a halt. + +"What is it, Arbuckle?" he asked kindly. + +"My father is missing, and I have every reason to fear that he has +tumbled into an opening at the summit of yonder rocks." + +"That's bad, lad. Missing? Since when?" + +Dick's story was soon told, and Pawnee Brown at once agreed to go up to +the opening and see if anything could be done. "It's the Devil's +Chimney," he explained. "If he went over into it I'm afraid he's a +goner." + +A lariat hung from the pommel of the scout's saddle, and this he took in +hand as he dismounted. Soon he stood by the edge of the black opening, +while Dick again waved the lantern. + +"You and the dunce can lower me by the lariat. I don't believe the +opening is more than fifty feet deep," said Pawnee Brown. + +The lariat was quickly adjusted around the edge of a smooth rock, and +with his foot in a noose and the lantern in hand, the scout was lowered +into the depths of the opening. + +Down and down he went, the light finding nothing but bare, rocky wall to +fall upon. Presently the lowering process ceased. + +"We have reached the end of the lariat," called out Dick. + +Hardly had he spoken when a fearful thing happened. There was a snap and +a whirr, and Dick and Pumpkin went flat on their backs, while ten feet +of the lariat whirled loosely over their heads. + +The improvised rope had broken. + +"Gone!" gasped Dick. "Merciful heavens!" + +He scrambled up and looked over the edge of the opening. The lantern had +been dashed into a thousand pieces, and all was dark below. + +"Pawnee Brown!" he cried, and Pumpkin joined in with a cry which was +fairly a shriek. + +The opening remained as silent as a tomb. Again and again both called +out. Then Dick turned to his companion. + +"This is awful, Pumpkin. Something must be done. I shall mount his mare +and ride back to camp and get help. For all I know to the contrary both +my father and Pawnee Brown are lying dead below." + +"I shan't stay here alone," shivered the half-witted boy. Then, before +Dick could stop him, he set off at the top of his speed, yelling +discordantly as he went. + +"Poor fool, he might have ridden with me," thought Dick. + +He was already rushing down to the trail. Now he remembered that he had +heard a strange noise down where Pawnee Brown's beautiful mare, Bonnie +Bird, had been tethered--a noise reaching him just before the lariat had +parted. What could that mean? + +He reached the clump of trees where Bonnie Bird should have been. The +mare was gone! + +"Broken away!" he groaned. "Was ever such luck before! Everything is +going wrong tonight! Poor father; poor Pawnee Brown! I must leg it to +camp just as Pumpkin is doing. Hullo!" + +He had started to run, but now he pulled up short. Grazing in the wet +grass not a dozen steps away was a bay horse, full and round, a perfect +beast. At first Dick Arbuckle thought he must be dreaming. He ran up +rubbing his eyes. No, it was no dream; the horse was as real as a horse +could be. He was bridled, but instead of a saddle wore only a patch of a +blanket. + +"It's a Godsend," he murmured. "I don't know whom you belong to, old +boy, but you've got to carry me back to camp, and that, too, at a +licking gait, you understand?" + +The horse pricked up his ears and gave a snort. In a trice Dick was on +his back and urging him around in the proper direction. He was a New +York boy, not much used to riding, and the management of such a beast as +this one did not come easy. The horse arose upon his forelegs and +nearly pitched Dick over his head, and the youth had to cling fast +around his neck to save himself a lot of broken bones. + +"Whoa, there! Gee Christopher, what a tartar! Whoa, I say! If only I had +a whip!" he panted, as the horse began to move around on a pivot. "Now, +why can't you act nice, when I'm in such dire need of your services? If +you don't stop--Whoa! whoa!" + +For the horse had suddenly stopped pivoting and started off like a +streak, not up or down the trail, but across a stretch of prairie grass. +On and on he went, the bit between his teeth and gaining speed at every +step. In vain Dick yelled at him, kicked him and banged him on the head. +It was of no use, and he had to cling on for dear life. + +"I might as well let him go and jump for it," he thought at last, when +nearly a mile had been covered. "It's just as useless to try to stop him +as it would be to stop a limited express. If I jump off--but I won't, +now!" + +For the prairie had been left behind, and the bay was tearing along a +rocky trail leading to goodness knew where, so Dick thought. A jump now +would mean broken bones, perhaps death. He clung tighter than ever, and +tried to calm the horse by speaking gently to him. + +At first the beast would not listen, but finally, when several miles had +been covered he slackened up, and at last dropped into a walk. He was +covered with foam, and now he was quite willing to be led. + +"You old reprobate!" muttered Dick, as he tightened his hold on the +reins. "Now where in the name of creation have you brought me to, and +how am I to find my way back to camp from here?" + +Sitting upright once again, the youth tried to pierce the darkness. The +rain had stopped, only a few scattering drops falling upon himself and +the steaming animal, but the darkness was as great as ever. + +On two sides of him were forest lands, on the third a slope of rocks and +on the fourth a stretch of dwarf grass. The trail, if such it could be +called, ran along the edge of the timber. Should he follow this? He +moved along slowly, wondering whether he was right or wrong. + +"Halt! Who goes there?" + +It was a military challenge, coming out of the darkness. Dick stopped +the horse, and presently made out the form of a man on horseback, a +cavalryman. + +"I'm a friend who has lost the way," began the youth, when the +cavalryman let out a cry of surprise. + +"Tucker's horse, hang me if it isn't! Boy, where did you get that nag? +Tucker, Ross, come here! I've collared one of the horse-thieves!" + +In a moment more there came the clatter of horses' hoofs through the +timber, and Dick found himself surrounded by three big and decidedly +ugly-looking United States cavalrymen--troopers who belonged to a +detachment set to guard the Oklahoma territory from invasion. + +"A boy and a boomer!" ejaculated the fellow named Tucker. "I saw the kid +over near Arkansas City a couple of days ago. And riding Chester, too! +Git off that hoss, before I kick you off!" + +And riding up he caught Dick by the collar and yanked him to the ground. +In an instant he was beside the boy and had produced a pair of +reservation handcuffs. + +"Out with your hands, sonny, and be quick about it." + +"What for?" asked Dick, somewhat bewildered by the unceremonious way in +which he was being handled. "I didn't steal that horse." + +"Too thin, sonny. All you boomers are a set of thieves, and I suppose +you think stealing our hossflesh is the rarest kind of a joke. Out with +those hands, I say, and consider yourself a prisoner of Uncle Sam. +You've nearly ridden Chester to death and for two pins I'd take the law +into my own hands and string you up to the nearest tree. Take that!" + +And having handcuffed Dick the cavalryman let out with his heavy right +hand and landed a savage slap that sent the helpless youth headlong at +his feet. + +The blow aroused all of the lion in the youth's makeup. As quickly as he +could he leaped up. + +"You brute!" he cried. "Why don't you fight fair? Take that, and that +and that!" + +Each "that" meant two blows, for Dick could not separate his hands, and +therefore struck out with both at a time--two in the chest, two on the +chin and the final pair on either side of Tucker's big and reddish nose. +The cavalryman, taken by surprise, let out a cry of rage and pain. + +"You imp!" he screamed. "To hit a man in uniform! I'll show you what I +can do! How do you like that?" + +With incredible swiftness he drew his heavy Sabra and leaped upon Dick. +The boy tried to retreat, but slipped on the wet ground and went down. +On the instant Tucker was upon him, and, with a fierce cry, the +infuriated cavalryman raised his blade over Dick's head. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +A CAVE AND A CAVE-IN. + + +Let us go back and see what happened to Pawnee Brown at the time the +lariat parted and he found himself going down into what seemed +bottomless space. + +Instinctively he put out both hands as far as he was able, to grasp +anything which might come within reach and thereby check his awful +downward course. + +The lantern fell from his fingers and jingled to pieces on a protruding +rock. + +Then his right hand slid over the ends of a bush growing out of a +fissure. He caught the bush and held on like grim death. + +The bush gave way, but not instantly, and his descent was checked so +that the tumble to the bottom of the hole, fifteen feet further down, +was not near as bad as it would otherwise have been. + +Yet he came down sideways, and his head striking a flat rock, he was +knocked insensible. + +Half an hour went by, and he opened his eyes in a wondering way. Where +was he and what had happened? + +Soon the truth burst upon him, and he staggered to his feet to see if +any bones had been broken. + +"All whole yet, thanks to my usual good luck," he thought. "But that's a +nasty lump on the back of my head. Hullo, up there!" + +He called out as loudly as he could, but no answer came back, for Dick +and Pumpkin were already gone. + +"Well, I always allowed that I would explore the Devil's Chimney some +day, but I didn't calculate to do it quite so soon," he went on. "What +can have become of those boys? Have they deserted me or gone off for +help? If I can read character I fancy that Dick Arbuckle will do all he +can for me--and, by the way, can his father's corpse really be down +here?" + +He brought forth a match and lit it. The battered lantern lay close at +hand, and, although without a glass, it was still better than nothing, +and, turned well up, gave forth a torch-like flame which lit up the +surroundings for a dozen feet or more. No body was there, nor did he +find any for the full distance up and down the dismal hole. + +"The boy was mistaken; his father wandered elsewhere," was the boomer's +conclusion. "Poor fellow, he was in no mental or physical condition to +push his claims in the West. He should have remained at home and allowed +some hustling Western lawyer to act for him. If he falls into the +clutches of some of our land agents they'll swindle him out of every +cent of his fortune. I must give him and the boy the tip when I get the +chance." The great scout laughed softly. "When I get the chance is good. +I reckon I had best pull myself out of this man-trap first." + +He made a careful investigation of the rocks. At no point was there +anything which gave promise of a footing to the top. + +"In a pocket and no error," he mused. "I wonder if I've got to stay here +like a bull-croaker at the bottom of a well?" + +The rain had formed a long pool between the slanting rocks. He threw a +chip into this pool and saw that it drifted slowly off between two scrub +bushes growing partly under a shelving rock. + +With the light he made an inspection of the locality, and a cry of +surprise escaped him. Beyond the bushes was the opening to an irregular, +but apparently large cavern. + +The stream flowed along one side of the flooring to this opening. + +"Must be some sort of an outlet beyond," he mused. "I'll try it and +see," and in a moment more he was inside of the cavern and crawling +along on hands and knees. + +He had not far to go in this fashion. Twenty feet beyond the cavern +became so large that he could stand up with ease. He flashed the light +above his head. + +"By Jove! a miniature Mammoth Cave of Kentucky!" burst from his lips. + +On he went until a bend in the formation of the cavern was gained. Here +the stream of water disappeared under a pile of loose stones, and the +opening became less than six feet in height. + +"Checked!" he muttered, and his face fell. It looked as if he would have +to go back the way he had come. + +Again he raised his light and gazed about him with more care than ever. + +The loose rocks soon caught his attention, and, setting down the +lantern, he began to pull away first at one and then another. + +The last turned back, he saw another opening, evidently leading upward. + +"This must lead to the open air--" he began, when a grinding of stone +caught his ears. In a twinkle a veritable shower of rocks came down +around his head. He was knocked flat and almost covered. + +For fully ten minutes he lay gasping for breath. The blood was flowing +from a wound on his cheek, and it was a wonder that he had not been +killed. + +"In the future I'll have more care," he groaned, as, throwing first one +stone and then another aside, he sat up. The falling of the stones had +been followed by some dirt, and now a regular landslide came after, +burying him up to the armpits. + +"Planted," was the single word which issued from his lips. He was not +seriously hurt, and was half inclined to laugh at his predicament. +Still, on the whole, it was no laughing matter, and Pawnee Brown lost no +time in trying to dig himself free. + +The stones and dirt were wedged tightly about his legs, and not wishing +to run the risk of a broken or twisted ankle, the scout worked with +care, all the time wondering if Dick Arbuckle was back, and never once +dreaming of the peril the poor lad was encountering. The rain was +soaking through the ceiling of the cavern, and the situation was far +from a comfortable one. + +At last he was free again, and striking a match, he hunted up the +lantern and lit it once more. + +The opening to the inner cave was now large enough to pass through with +ease, and making sure of his footing, the scout moved forward, straining +his eyes eagerly for some sign of an egress to the outer world. + +Presently he saw a number of straggly things dangling downward from the +rocks and soil overhead. + +They were the bottom roots of some great tree standing fifteen or twenty +feet above. + +"Not far from the surface now, that's certain," he thought, with +considerable satisfaction. "And yet, hang me if I can see an opening of +any sort yet." + +On and on he went, until nearly a hundred feet more had been passed. + +The cave had widened out, but now it narrowed once again to less than a +dozen feet. The roof, too, sloped downward until it occasionally scraped +the crown of his sombrero. + +The light of the lantern began to splutter and flare up, showing that +the oil in the cup was running low. + +"If only the thing lasts until I find the door to this confounded +prison," he thought. + +Suddenly a peculiar hiss sounded out upon the darkness. + +Pawnee Brown knew that hiss only too well, and leaping back he snatched +a pistol from his belt. + +The hiss was followed by a rattle, and now, flashing the light around, +the scout saw upon a flat rock the curled-up form of a huge rattlesnake. + +The eyes of the reptile shone like twin stars, and when Pawnee Brown +discovered him he was getting ready to strike. + +The rattler was less than six feet away, and the scout knew that he +could cover that space with ease. Therefore, whatever was to be done +must be done quickly. + +Like a flash the pistol came up. But ere Pawnee Brown could fire a +curious thing happened. + +A large drop of water, splashing down from the roof of the cavern, +caused the light to splutter and go out. + +The scout was in the dark with his enemy. + +More than this, he was boxed up in a narrow place, from which escape was +well-nigh impossible. + +Aiming as best he could under the circumstances, he fired. + +The bullet struck the flat rock, bounded up to the side wall of the +cavern and then hit him in the leg. + +"Missed, by thunder!" + +He jumped past the spot and moved up the cavern a distance of several +yards. + +A rattle and a whirr followed, as the great rattlesnake made a vicious +strike in the dark. An intense hiss sounded out when the reptile +realized that the object of his anger had been missed. + +Listening with strained ears, the boomer heard the deadly thing sliding +slowly from rock to rock, coming closer at every movement. + +To flee was impossible, so with bated breath he stood his ground. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +OUT OF THE CAVERN. + + +Slowly but surely the great rattlesnake came closer to where Pawnee +Brown stood motionless in the darkness of the cavern. + +The reptile had been enraged by the shot the great scout fired, and now +meant to strike, and that fatally. + +Listening with ears strained to their utmost, the boomer heard the form +of the snake slide from rock to rock of the uneven flooring. + +The rattler was all of ten feet long and as thick around as a good-sized +fence rail. + +One square strike from those poisonous fangs and Pawnee Brown's hours +would be numbered. + +Yet the scout did not intend to give up his life just now. He still held +his pistol, four chambers of which were loaded. + +"If only I had a light," he thought. + +Retreat was out of the question. A single sound and the rattlesnake +would have been upon him like a flash. + +It was only the darkness and the utter silence that made the reptile +cautious. + +Suddenly the scout heard a scraping on the rocks less than three feet in +front of him. + +The time for action had come; another moment and the rattler would be +wound around his legs. + +Crack! crack! Two reports rang out in quick succession and by the flash +of the first shot Pawnee Brown located those glittering eyes. + +The second shot went true to its mark, and the rattler dropped back with +a hole through its ugly head. + +The long, whip like body slashed hither and thither, and the scout had +to do some lively sprinting to keep from getting a tangle and a squeeze. + +As he hopped about he struck a match, picked up the lantern, shook the +little oil remaining into the wick and lit it. Another shot finished the +snake and the body curled up into a snarl and a quiver, to bother him no +more. + +It was then that Pawnee Brown paused, drew a deep breath and wiped the +cold perspiration from his brow. + +"By gosh! I've killed fifty rattlers in my time, but never one in this +fashion," he murmured. "Wonder if there are any more around?" + +He knew that these snakes often travel in pairs, and as he went on his +way he kept his eyes wide open for another attack. + +But none came, and now something else claimed his attention. + +The cavern was coming to an end. The side walls closed in to less than +three feet, and the flooring sloped up so that he had to crouch down and +finally go forward on his hands and knees. + +The lantern now went out for good, every drop of oil being exhausted. + +At this juncture many a man would have halted and turned back to where +he had come from, but such was not Pawnee Brown's intention. + +"I'll see the thing through," he muttered. "I'd like to know how far I +am from the surface of the ground." + +A dozen yards further and the cavern become so small that additional +progress was impossible. + +He placed his hand above him and encountered nothing but dirt, with here +and there a small stone. + +With care he began to dig away at the dirt with his knife. Less than a +foot of the cavern ceiling had thus been dug away when the point of the +knife brought down a small stream of water. + +Feeling certain he was now close to the surface, he continued to work +with renewed vigor. + +"At last!" + +The scout was right. The knife had found the outer air, and a dim, +uncertain light struck down upon the hero of the plains. + +It did not take long to enlarge the opening sufficiently to admit the +passage of Pawnee Brown's body. + +He leaped out among a number of bushes and stretched himself. + +Having brushed the dirt from his wet clothing, he "located himself," as +he put it, and started up a hill to the entrance to the Devil's Chimney. + +He was on the side opposite to that from which he had descended, and, in +order to get over, had to make a wide detour through some brush and +small timber. + +This accomplished, he hurried to where he had left Bonnie Bird tethered. + +As the reader knows, the beautiful mare was gone, and had been for some +time. + +"I suppose that young Arbuckle took her," he mused. "But, if so, why +doesn't he come back here with her?" + +There being no help for it, the scout set off for the camp of the +boomers on foot. + +He was just entering the temporary settlement when he came face to face +with Jack Rasco, another of the boomers. + +"Pawnee!" shouted the boomer, "You air jess the man I want ter see. Hev +ye sot eyes on airy o' the Arbuckles?" + +"I'm looking for Dick Arbuckle now," answered the scout. "Isn't he in +the camp? I thought he came here with my mare?" + +"He ain't nowhar. Rosy Delaney says he went off with Pumpkin to look for +his dad, who had disappeared----" + +"Then he didn't come back? What can have become of him and Bonnie Bird?" +Pawnee Brown's face grew full of concern. "Something is wrong around +here, Jack," he continued, and told the boomer of what had happened up +at the Devil's Chimney. "First it's the father, and now it's the son and +my mare. I must investigate this." + +"I'm with yer, Pawnee--with yer to the end. Yer know thet." + +"Yes, Jack; you are one of the few men I know I can trust in everything. +But two of us are not enough. If harm has befallen the Arbuckles it is +the duty of the whole camp--or, at least, every man in it--to try to +sift matters to the bottom." + +"Right ye air, Pawnee. I'll raise a hullabaloo and rouse 'em up." + +Jack Rasco was as good as his word. Going from wagon to wagon, he shook +the sleepers and explained matters. In less than a quarter of an hour a +dozen stalwart boomers were in the saddle, while Jack Rasco brought +forth an extra horse of his own for Brown's use. + +"Has anybody seen the dunce?" questioned the scout. + +No one had since he had gone off with Dick to look for the so-called +ghost. + +"We will divide up into parties of two," said Pawnee Brown, and this was +done, and soon he and Jack Rasco were bounding over the trail leading +toward the Indian Territory, while others were setting off in the +direction of Arkansas City and elsewhere. + +"Something curious about them air Arbuckles," observed Rasco as they +flew along side by side. "Mortimer Arbuckle said as how he was coming +hyer fer his health, but kick me ef I kin see it." + +"I think myself the man has an axe to grind," responded the leader of +the boomers. "You know he came West to see about some land." + +"Oh, I know thet. But thar's somethin' else, sure ez shootin' ez +shootin', Pawnee. It kinder runs in my noddle thet he is a'lookin' fer +somebuddy." + +"Who?" + +"Ah, thar's where ye hev got me. But I'll tell ye something. One night +when the boy wuz over ter Arkansas City the old man war sleeping in the +wagon, an' he got a nightmare. He clenched his fists an' begun ter moan +an' groan. 'Don't say I did it, Bolange,' he moans. 'Don't say +that--it's an awful crime! Don't put the blood on my head!' an' a lot +more like thet, till my blood most run cold an' I shook him ter make him +wake up. Now, don't thet look like he had something on his mind?" + +"It certainly does, and yet the man is not quite right in his upper +story, although I wouldn't tell the son that, Rasco. But what was the +name he mentioned?" + +"Bolange, or Volange, or something like thet. It seems ter me he +hollered out Louis onct, too." + +A sudden light shone in the great scout's eyes. He gripped his companion +by the arm. + +"Try to think, Jack. Did Arbuckle speak the name of Vorlange--Louis +Vorlange?" + +"By gosh! Pawnee, you hev struck it--Vorlange, ez plain ez day. Do yer +know the man?" + +"Do I know him?" Pawnee Brown drew a long breath. "Jack, I believe I +once told you about my schoolboy days at Wellington and elsewhere before +I left home to take up a life on the cattle trails?" + +"Yes, Pawnee. From all accounts you wuz cut out for a schoolmaster, +instead of a leader of us boomers." + +"I was a professor once at the Indian Industrial school at Pawnee +Agency. That is where I got to be called Pawnee Brown, and where the +Pawnees became so friendly that they made me their white chief. But I +aspired to something more than teaching and more than cow punching in +those boyhood days at Wellington; I wanted to have a try at entrance to +West Point and follow in the footsteps of Grant and Custer, and fellows +of that sort." + +"Ye deserved it, I'll bet, Pawnee." + +"I worked hard for it, and at last I got a chance to compete at the +examination. Among the other boys who competed was Louis Vorlange. He +had been the bully of our school, and more than once we had fought, and +twice I had sent him to bed with a head that was nearly broken. He hated +me accordingly, and swore I should not win the prize I coveted." + +"Did he try, too?" + +"Yes, but he was outclassed from the start, for, although he was sly and +shrewd, book learning was too much for him. The examination came off, +and I got left, through Vorlange, who stole my papers and changed many +of my answers. I didn't learn of this until it was too late. My chance +of going to West Point fell through. There was nothing to do but to +thrash Vorlange, and the day before I left home I gave him a licking +that I'll wager he'll remember to the day of his death. As it was, he +tried to shoot me, but I collared the pistol, and for that dastardly +attack knocked two of his teeth down his throat." + +"Served him right, Pawnee. But I don't see whar--" + +"Hold on a minute, Jack. I said Vorlange didn't go to West Point; but he +was strong with the politicians, and as soon as he was old enough he got +a position under the government, and now I understand he is somewhere +around the Indian Territory acting as a spy for the land department." + +"By gosh! I see. An' ye think Mortimer Arbuckle knows this same chap?" + +"It would look so. If I can read faces, the old man is innocent of +wrong-doing, and if that is so and there is the secret of a crime +between him and Louis Vorlange you can wager Vorlange is the guilty +party." + +"Pawnee, you hev a head on yer shoulders fit fer a judge, hang me ef ye +ain't," burst out Jack Rasco admiringly. "I wish yer would talk to +Arbuckle the next time he turns up. Mebbe yer kin lift a weight off o' +his shoulders. The poor old fellow--creation! wot's that?" + +Jack Rasco stopped short and pulled up his horse. A wild, unearthly +scream rent the air, rising and falling on the wind of the night. The +scream was followed by a burst of laughter which was truly demoniacal. + +Pawnee Brown pulled his horse up on his haunches. What was this new +mystery which confronted him? + +Again the cry rang out; but now the scout recognized it and a faint +smile shone upon his face. + +"It's the dunce," he exclaimed. "Pumpkin! Pumpkin! Come here!" + +A moment of silence followed and he called again. Then from the brush +which grew among the rocks emerged the form of the half-witted boy. + +"Pumpkin, where is Dick Arbuckle?" questioned Pawnee Brown, leaping to +the ground and catching the lad by his arm. + +"Lemme go! I didn't hurt him!" screamed Pumpkin. "He went that way--like +the wind--on a bay horse which was running away. Oh, he's killed, I know +he is!" + +"You are sure of this?" + +"Hope to die if it ain't so. Poor Dick! He'll be pitched off and smashed +up like his father was smashed up. Hurry, and maybe you can catch him." + +"I believe the dunce speaks the truth," broke in Jack Rasco. + +"How long ago was this?" + +"Not more'n an hour. Hurry up if you want to save him," and with a yell +such as he had uttered before, Pumpkin disappeared. + +Pawnee Brown and Rasco wasted no more time. Whipping up their steeds, +they set off on a rapid gallop in the direction the runaway horse had +pursued. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE CAVALRYMEN. + + +Let us rejoin Dick Arbuckle at the time that the incensed cavalryman, +Tucker, was about to attack the hapless lad with his heavy Sabra. + +Had the cruel blow fallen as intended it is beyond dispute that Dick +would have been severely injured. + +"Don't!" cried the boy, and then closed his eyes at the terrible thought +of such dire punishment so close at hand. + +But just at that instant an interruption came from out of the darkness +of the brush. + +"Hello, there! What are you up to?" + +Tucker started, and the Sabra was turned aside to bury itself in the +exposed roots of a tree. + +"If it ain't Pawnee Brown!" muttered another cavalryman, Ross by name. + +"Pawnee Brown!" burst from Dick's lips, joyfully, and, rising, he +attempted to rush toward his friend. + +"Not so fast, boy!" howled Tucker, and caught the youth by the collar. + +"What's the meaning of this? What are you doing to that boy?" asked +Pawnee Brown as he rode closer, with Rasco beside him. + +"He's a horse thief, and we are going to take him to our camp," answered +Tucker, somewhat uneasily, for he had seen Pawnee Brown before and knew +he had a man of strong character with whom to deal. + +"A horse thief!" ejaculated Jack Rasco. "Say, sod'ger, yer crazy! Thet +boy a thief! Wall, by gum!" + +"That boy is no thief," put in Pawnee Brown. "He belongs to our camp, +and is as square as they make them--I'll vouch for it." + +"I ain't taking the word of any boomer," muttered Tucker sourly. "That +kid--hold on! Don't shoot!" + +And he dropped back in terror, for the great scout had drawn his pistol +like a flash. + +"You'll take my word or take something else," came the stiff response. +"Be quick, now, and say which you choose." + +"I didn't mean any harm, Pawnee. Maybe you don't know it, but the boy is +a thief just the same. We just caught him riding my horse--this bay. My +comrades can prove it." + +"It's true," said Ross. + +"True as gospel," added Skimmy, the third cavalryman. "We caught him +less than half an hour ago." + +Without answering to this, Pawnee Brown turned to the youth. + +"Tell me your yarn, Dick. I know there is some mistake here." + +"There is not much to tell, Major. When the lariat broke up at the +Devil's Chimney and I couldn't make you reply to my calls I ran off to +get help and a rope. I intended to ride your mare back to camp, but when +I got to where the mare had been tethered I found her gone and this bay +loafing around in her place. I got on the bay, but, instead of riding to +camp, the animal ran away with me and brought me here. These fellows +were mighty rough on me, and that man was going to split my head open +when you came along in the nick of time." + +"That's a neat fairy tale," sneered Tucker. "This horse was stolen four +hours ago. More than likely the boy couldn't manage him and lost his way +and the horse tried to get back to where he belonged." + +"That doesn't connect with what I know," answered Pawnee Brown, quietly. +"My mare was tethered where he went to look for her. I might as well +accuse you of riding down there, taking Bonnie Bird and leaving this nag +in her place." + +"Do you mean to insinuate we are horse thieves?" cried Ross hotly. + +"I'm giving you as good as you send, that's all. Dick, have you any idea +where Bonnie Bird is?" + +"Not the slightest, sir." + +The great scout heaved a sigh. The little racing mare was the very apple +of his eye. + +"I'll not give up the hunt until I have found her." He turned again to +the cavalrymen. "If the finest little black mare, with a white blaze, +that you ever saw strays into your camp remember she belongs to me," he +went on. "I want her returned at once, and if anybody attempts to keep +her there will be a hotter time than this Territory has seen for many a +day. Dick, hop up behind me," and he turned to his horse. + +"That boy is to remain here," blustered Tucker, growing red in the face. + +"Hardly, my bantam. Hop up, Dick, and we'll strike back for camp before +the sun comes up and see if the others who are on the search have seen +anything of your father. I saw nothing of him at the bottom of the +Devil's Chimney." + +"I'm not going to have a lazy, good-for-nothing boomer lay it over +me----" began Tucker, when once more the sight of Pawnee Brown's pistol +silenced him. + +No more was said as the scout, Dick and Rasco rode away down the trail +by which they had come. But, once out of sight, Tucker raised his fist +and shook it savagely. + +"I'll get square with you some day, Pawnee Brown, mark my words!" he +muttered between his set teeth. + +"We'll all get square," said Ross. "I hate the sight of that man." + +"I understand the boomers have made him their leader," broke in Skimmy. +"If they have, he'll try to break through to Oklahoma as sure as guns +are guns." + +"And he'll get shot, too," answered Tucker dryly. "The lieutenant is +having all of the boomers' movements watched." + +"Pawnee Brown will do his level best to give us the slip, see if he +don't," remarked Skimmy. "Four thousand boomers wouldn't make him their +leader for nothing." + +Thus, talking among themselves, the three cavalrymen mounted their +horses and rode back to their various picket stations along the boundary +line of the Indian Territory. + +They were a detachment of the Seventh United States Cavalry, and the +lieutenant referred to by Tucker was in command. + +For over a month they had been watching the boomers assembling in +Kansas. Other portions of the United States troops were watching the +would-be Oklahoma settlers in Arkansas and Texas. + +There was every prospect of a lively time ahead, and it was not far off. + +Reaching his station, Tucker drew from his pocket a briar-root pipe, +filled and lit it and began to puff away meditatively. + +His face had been ugly before, but now as he began to meditate it grew +blacker than ever. + +"Hang me, if everything ain't going wrong," he muttered. "I won't stand +it. I'll make a kick, and when I do----" He paused as a shadow among the +trees caught his eye. "Who goes there?" he called out and drew his +pistol. + +"A friend. Tucker, is that you?" + +"Vorlange!" cried the cavalryman, and the next moment the newcomer and +the military man were face to face. + +"It's about time you showed up," growled Tucker, after a brief pause, +during which the newcomer looked at him anxiously. "Say, Vorlange, when +do you intend to settle up with me. Give it to me straight, now." + +"That's why I left the trail to hunt you up, Tucker--I knew you were +anxious about that five hundred dollars." + +"Why shouldn't I be? It took me a long time to save it--a good sight +longer than it did for you to gamble it away." + +"Tucker, I didn't gamble that away--I'll swear it. I used it in +business." + +"Business? What business have you got outside of your position as a land +office spy?" + +"A good business, if you only knew it. I've been following up a little +deal that started in the East--in New York. Out there I had to hire a +fellow I could trust to work for me, and that took most of the money. +But the whole thing is coming my way now, and I want to talk things over +with you. How would you like to have a thousand back in return for the +five hundred you loaned me?" + +"What sort of a game are you working on me now?" + +"A square deal, Tucker. I've been keeping my eye on you, and I reckon +you are the fellow to do what I want done." + +"And what do you want done?" + +Vorlange stepped closer. + +"The boomers are going to try to cross into Oklahoma either to-morrow or +day after. There will be a fight, I am certain of it, and somebody will +be shot and killed. When you fire I want you to pick out your man--two +men--or, rather, a man and a boy, if you can do it. I may be on hand to +take part myself, but there is a possibility that I may be ordered +elsewhere." + +"And you are willing to pay me five hundred extra for picking out my +target, Vorlange?" + +"You've struck it." + +"Who is the man?" + +"Can I trust you?" + +"Yes." + +"Pawnee Brown." + +At the mention of the great scout's name Tucker started back. + +"Why--why do you want him knocked over?" + +"He is my enemy. I have hated him from my boyhood!" cried Louis +Vorlange. "And there are other reasons--he stands in the way of my +pushing the scheme I mentioned." + +"Pawnee Brown was here but a short while ago. He insulted and abused +me," growled Tucker. "I'll put a bullet through him quick enough if I +get the chance--that is, in a skirmish. I don't want to run any risk of +being strung up for--you know." + +"The shooting will be O. K., Tucker, and I'll help if I'm not ordered +away. Do it and the five hundred extra are yours, I'll give you my +word." + +"What about that boy you mentioned?" + +"His name is Dick Arbuckle. He is----" + +"Dick Arbuckle? I know him. He stole my horse. I captured him and Pawnee +Brown came to his rescue and made me, Ross and Skimmy give him up," and +Tucker gave the particulars in his own version of the affair. + +"Then you bear the lad no love?" + +"Love?" The cavalryman grated his teeth. "I was wishing I could get a +shot at him." + +"Then keep that wish in mind, Tucker, when the time for action arrives." + +"If it's worth five hundred to you to have Pawnee Brown knocked over it +ought to be worth more to have both of 'em laid low," suggested Tucker, +who was naturally a grasping fellow. + +"Five hundred in cold cash is a good deal in these times," was the slow +answer. "But I'll tell you what I'll do. If, after a fight, you can +bring me absolute proof that Pawnee Brown and Dick Arbuckle are dead +I'll give you an even twelve hundred dollars, the five hundred I +borrowed and seven hundred extra. There's my hand on it. What do you +say?" + +"Will you promise to give me the money as soon as you have the proofs?" + +"I will," and Louis Vorlange raised his right hand as though to make +good such a blasphemous promise. + +"All right, then; I take you up," answered Tucker. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +DICK'S HUNT. + + +"Don't you take it so hard, my lad; I feel certain that your father will +turn up sooner or later." + +It was Pawnee Brown who spoke. He addressed Dick, who sat on a horse +belonging to Jack Rasco. The pair had been scouring the plains and the +woods for three hours in search of Dick's father. + +"Poor father! If only I knew what had become of him!" sighed the lad. + +In his anxiety he had forgotten all about his adventures among the +cavalrymen who had sought to detain him as a horse thief. + +"It's a mystery, thet's what it is," burst in Jack Rasco. + +"It looks loike the hivens hed opened an' swalleyed him up," was Mike +Delaney's comment. "Be jabbers, we all know th' hivens was wide open +enough last noight. Me turn-out is afther standin' in two foot o' wather, +an' Rosy raisin' the mischief because she can't go out. 'Moike,' sez +she, 'Moike Delaney, git a boat or Oi'll be drowned,' an' niver a boat +in sight. Th' ould woman will have to shtay in the wagon till the wather +runs off of itself." + +"I wonder if it is possible my poor father wandered into town," mused +Dick. "Perhaps he did that and was locked up by the police. He is--well, +you know he gets strange spells," and the youth's face flushed. + +"Run into town, lad, and make a search," answered the boomer. "If I and +Rasco get the chance we'll follow. We shan't strike camp for several +hours yet." + +Dick thought this good advice and was soon on his way. The rain had +stopped entirely and the sun was just peeping up over the distant plains +when he entered Arkansas City and began his hunt. + +A visit to the police station speedily revealed the fact that nothing +was known there concerning his missing parent. Here Dick left a +description of his father, and was promised that if anything was +discovered of the man word would be sent to him immediately. + +Having ridden around to the depot, hotels and other public places, Dick +tied up his steed and began a hunt through the various streets, looking +into the doors of the stores and saloons as he passed. + +His footsteps soon brought him down to the vicinity of the river front. +Here, situated along several blocks, were a number of eating and +drinking houses, patronized principally by river men, gamblers and +similar persons. + +Having satisfied himself, with a sigh of relief, that his father was not +in any of the saloons, the youth came to a halt in front of a +restaurant. He had not eaten anything since the evening before, and his +night of adventures had made him decidedly hungry. + +"I'll get a cup of coffee and some rolls to brace me up," he thought, +and entered the establishment. His order was soon given, and he took a +seat at a side table, close to a thin board partition. + +His order served, he was disposing of the last of it, when the sound of +voices on the other side of the partition attracted his attention. + +"Leave me alone, Juan Donomez!" came in the voice of a girl. "You have +no right to touch me." + +"You are too pretty to be left alone," came in the slick tones of a +Mexican vaquero. "Come, now, senorita, give me just one kiss." + +"I will not, and you must leave me alone," went on the girl, and her +trembling voice showed plainly that she was much frightened. "Where is +the man who sent for me?" + +"He is not here yet." + +"I do not believe he sent for me at all. It was a trick of yours to get +me here. Let me go." + +"Not yet, senorita; you can go after a while. But first you must give me +a kiss. Then I will explain why I had you come." + +As the last words were uttered Dick heard a scurry of feet, then came a +faint scream, cut short by the Mexican. The boy waited to hear no more. + +"The contemptible greaser!" he muttered and leaped up. Throwing down the +amount of his check on the cashier's desk he hurried from the +restaurant. As he had supposed there was a hallway next door, where the +talking he had overheard was taking place. + +"Oh, save me!" cried the girl, and one glance at her told Dick that she +was not over sixteen and as beautiful as any maiden he had ever seen. +She was attired in true western style and wore on her mass of shining +curls a big, soft riding hat. + +"Let that young lady alone," cried the youth to the Mexican, who glared +at him savagely. "I overheard your talk, and if she wants to leave she +shall do it." + +"Oh, thank you for coming to my aid," burst out the girl gratefully. +"This bad man----" + +"Say no more, Nellie Winthrop," interrupted the Mexican. "Go to the +rear. I will attend to this cub who dares to interfere with my +business." + +And he shoved the girl behind him. His roughness made Dick's blood boil +over, and, rushing forward, he put out his foot, gave a push, and Juan +Donomez measured his length upon the floor. + +During the encounter Nellie Winthrop had escaped to the front end of the +hallway, and here Dick now joined her. + +"We might as well go," said the youth. + +"Yes, yes; let us get out as quickly as we can," answered the girl +trembling. "He may attempt to attack you." + +"I ought to hand him over to the authorities, but I won't," said Dick. +"Come," and he opened the door and followed her to the street. + +"I shall never forget you for your kindness," the girl burst out as soon +as they had left the vicinity of the spot where the trouble had +occurred. "You are very brave, Mr.----" + +"I'm only Dick Arbuckle, Miss----" + +"Nellie Winthrop is my name. I just reached Arkansas City yesterday. I +am from Peoria, and am looking for my uncle, who is somewhere among the +Oklahoma boomers." + +"Indeed! I'm one of the boomers myself--at least, I've been with them a +good part of the time. Perhaps I know your uncle. What is his name?" + +"John Rasco, but I believe the men all call him Jack Rasco." + +"Why, is it possible! I know Jack Rasco well--in fact, my father and I +have been stopping with him ever since we came on from New York. As soon +as the rush into Oklahoma was over my father was going to get your uncle +to locate a certain mine claim in the West for him--a claim that belongs +to us, but which can't be located very easily, it seems." + +"And where is my uncle now?" demanded Nellie Winthrop. + +"At the boomers' camp, I suppose. You see," went on Dick, his face +falling, "there is something wrong afoot." And in a few words he told of +his father's disappearance and of the search being made to find him. + +"I sincerely trust he is safe," said Nellie when he had concluded. "I +presume you want to resume your search. Do not let me detain you. If you +are among the boomers we will certainly meet again," and she held out +her hand. + +"Do you feel safe enough to find the camp alone?" he asked. "Perhaps I +had better take you there. It is about a mile in that direction," and he +indicated the locality with a wave of his hand. + +"I feel safe enough in the open air," she smiled. "It was only when that +Mexican had me cornered in a dark hallway that I felt alarmed. I was +born and brought up on the plains, and I've been to Peoria only to get +educated, as they say. I've a horse at the livery stable, and I can ride +the distance." + +"May I ask how you fell in with that greaser?" + +"I think he overheard me asking for my uncle at the hotel, and after +that he sent a note saying my uncle was at the place where you found me. +I saw him first on the train, where he tried his best to get some +information from me about some horses. But I told him little," concluded +the girl. + +Five minutes later they parted at the livery stable, where Nellie had +left her horse, and Dick went on his way to continue his search for his +lost parent. The girl had thanked him again for what he had done and had +squeezed his hand so warmly that his heart thumped pretty hard, while +his face was flushed more than ever before. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +OUT ON THE RIVER. + + +For over half an hour longer Dick tramped the streets of the city +looking for some trace of his father. + +Presently he found himself down by the docks along the muddy river. The +stream was much swollen, and the few boats tied up were bumping freely +against the shore as the current swung them in. + +"I wonder if father could have come down here?" he mused. "He had a +great fondness for the water when he got those strange spells." + +Slowly and with eyes wide open he moved down the river shore, ready to +seize upon any evidence which might present itself. + +Suddenly he uttered a cry and leaped down into a rowboat lying before, +him. + +"Father's hat! I'd know it among a thousand!" + +Dick was right. There on the stern seat of the craft rested the +head-covering Mortimer Arbuckle had worn ever since he had left New +York. + +The tears stood in the youth's eyes as he picked up the hat and +inspected it. One side of the brim was covered with dirt, and it was +still soaked from the rain. + +"Poor father! Is it possible he fell overboard?" + +Dick said "fell overboard," but he thought something else. He knew as +well as anybody that his father did strange things while under the +influence of the melancholy spells which at times haunted him. + +He looked up and down the stream. Nothing was in sight but the boats and +here and there a mass of driftwood. + +He sat down on the seat and covered his face with his hands. + +"Say, boy, wot yer doin' in my boat?" + +It was a burly fellow standing upon the shore who asked the question. + +"Excuse me; I am looking for my father, who is missing. I just found his +hat on the seat here. Did you see anything of him?" + +"Missing, eh--an' thet's his headgear? Say, boy, thet's no laughin' +matter," and the burly fellow looked at the youth kindly. + +"I know it. I am afraid he tumbled overboard. He had times when he +wasn't feeling quite right in his head." + +The burly individual whistled softly to himself. "Then I reckon Sary was +right, arter all," he half mused. + +"Sary? Who do you mean?" + +"Sary's my wife. She woke me up about five o'clock this mornin'. We live +up in the shanty yonder. Sary said she heard somebody moanin' an' +yellin' down here. I said she wuz dreamin', but I allow now ez I might +hev been mistook, eh?" + +"You didn't come out to investigate?" + +"No; it war too stormy. I listened, but there wuz no more of the noise +arter Sary waked me up. If yer father fell overboard I'm mighty sorry +fer yer. If he did go over his body must be a long way down stream by +this time." + +"Poor father!" It was all Dick could say. He and his parent had been +alone in the wide world, and now to think that his only relative was +gone was almost beyond endurance. + +"Take the boat and go down if yer want to," went on the burly +individual. "Ye can leave the craft at Woolley's mill. I'd go along, +only the old woman's took sick an' I've got to hustle fer a doctor." + +"I will take a look around in the boat," answered Dick, and, having +procured the oars, he set off. The current was so strong it was not +necessary to use the blades, and he had all he could do to keep the +craft from spinning around and dashing itself against the shore or the +other boats which lay along both banks. + +On and on the rowboat sped, until about a quarter of a mile had been +covered. Nothing unusual had yet been noted, yet the boy kept his eyes +strained for some sign of his father, praying inwardly that all might +still be well with the only one who was left to him. + +"If father is dead, what shall I do?" he thought with a shiver. "He had +all of our money with him, all of those precious papers, everything. I +would be left a pauper, and, worse than that, without a single relative +in the wide world. Oh, pray Heaven he is spared to me!" + +"Look out there, youngster!" + +It was a wild cry, coming from a bend in the stream. Dick had been +gazing across the river. Now he turned to behold his craft rushing +swiftly toward the trunk of a half-submerged tree which the storm had +torn away from the shore. + +The river was almost a torrent at this place. + +He grasped the oars, intending to turn the boat from its mad course. But +the action came too late. Crash! The craft struck a sharp branch of the +tree with fearful force, staving in the bow completely, and the next +instant the boy was hurled headlong into the boiling and foaming +current. + +[Illustration: "The next instant the boy was hurled headlong into +the boiling and foaming current"] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +EXPOSING A SWINDLER. + + +It was less than an hour after separating from Dick Arbuckle that Pawnee +Brown found his way to Arkansas City. + +He was accompanied by Jack Rasco and Cal Clemmer, and the great scout's +object was not alone to aid Dick in the search for Mortimer Arbuckle, +but also to help Cal Clemmer get back some money out of which the cowboy +boomer claimed he had been swindled. + +Clemmer had played cards with a certain sharp known as Pete Stillwater, +and lost two hundred and fifty dollars. At first he had imagined he had +lost it fairly enough, but after thoughts, coupled with what he heard on +the sly the next day, made him certain that Stillwater had cheated him. + +He had brought his case to Pawnee Brown, and the leader of the boomers +at once concluded that the gambler had not acted fairly. He had met +Stillwater at Wichita, where the gambler's reputation was far from +savory. + +"You were a fool to bet at cards, Cal," he said flatly. "But that is no +reason why Stillwater should cheat you. I'll do what I can, but you must +promise to leave playing for high stakes alone in the future." + +"Don't yer fear, Pawnee," was Clemmer's ready reply. "A scorched Injun +keeps hez distance from the blaze, don't he? Wall, I'm the scorched +Injun in this air case. Git back my money fer me an' I won't play +nothin' higher then penny-ante ez long ez I live." + +The gambling resort at which Stillwater was holding forth was soon +reached, and the three entered, to find the place comfortably crowded by +boomers, men-about-town, cowboys and gamblers, all anxious to add to +their wealth without working. As Pawnee Brown surveyed the assemblage +his lip curled with a sarcasm which was by no means displaced. + +"Poor fools!" he thought; "they expect to win, and nine-tenths of them +are bound in the end to be fleeced out of all they possess. Why men who +have brains will throw away good money in this fashion is more than I +can understand." + +"Thar's Stillwater," whispered Cal Clemmer. "Hang hez hide, I'd like ter +wring hez neck fer him." + +"Better wring his money bag first," smiled Pawnee Brown. + +Without hesitation he called Stillwater outside and explained the +situation. + +"You can say what you please, Stillwater," he said. "I am certain you +have been cheating, for I know your past record. You must restore that +money and do it right away." + +A stormy war of words followed, but Pawnee Brown was firm and at last +Stillwater gave up about a hundred dollars--all he had with him. + +He went off vowing vengeance and when at a safe distance turned and drew +a pistol from his pocket. + +"He's going to shoot ye!" cried one of the boomers, but Stillwater was +afraid to fire. As Pawnee Brown started after him on a run the gambler +fled toward the river. + +"Let us go after him!" cried one of the others, and away they went. Soon +they came in sight of the river and saw Stillwater in a small craft, +sculling his way to the opposite shore. Presently a bend in the stream +hid him from view. + +"Hullo!" sang out Pawnee Brown. "Here comes another rowboat, and--yes, +there is Dick Arbuckle in it. What can he be doing on the river?" + +"The boat is makin' fer thet half-sunk tree!" interrupted Cal Clemmer. +"He'll strike ef he don't look out! Heavens!" + +"Look out there, youngster!" yelled Pawnee Brown, and those were the +words which attracted Dick's attention, as mentioned in the former +chapter. + +It was useless to say more. Standing upon the bank, Pawnee Brown and the +cowboy boomer saw the craft strike and go to pieces and saw Dick thrown +out into the madly rushing current. + +As the boy sped along his head came into painful contact with the +furthest of the tree branches, and he was partially stunned. His eyes +closed and he struck out wildly and ineffectually. + +"He'll be drowned!" gasped Clemmer. "It would take a strong swimmer to +gain the bank with the water runnin' ez it is to-day." + +"I don't believe he could catch a rope," answered Pawnee Brown, starting +off down the river bank. "Cal, hunt one up somewhere; I'm going in after +him!" + +"But the risk----" + +"Never mind the risk. Get the rope if you can," and away went the scout +again. + +"Help!" came faintly from Dick. He was dazed and weak, and could hardly +see in what direction the shore really was. + +"Keep up, boy, and we'll save you!" shouted Pawnee Brown encouragingly. + +Reaching a spot twenty or thirty feet below where Dick was drifting, he +threw off his hat and coat and leaped into the stream. + +Down he went over his head, to come up a second later and strike out +powerfully for the youth. The cold water chilled him, but to this he +paid no attention. He had taken a fancy to Dick, and was resolved to +save the boy at any cost. + +Nearer and nearer he came. It was a tough struggle, for in the bend of +the swollen stream the water boiled and foamed upon all sides. He was +yet ten feet away from Dick, when he saw the youth sink beneath the +surface. + +"Gone!" he thought, and made a leap and a dive. His outstretched hand +came in contact with Dick's left arm, and he dragged his burden upward. + +"Keep cool, Dick," he said when he could speak. "Can't you swim?" + +"Yes, but not extra well," panted the half-drowned lad. "I struck my +head upon something." + +"Then lay hold of my shoulder and I'll keep you up. Steady, now, or the +current will send us around like two tops." + +No more was said, as both felt they must save their breath. With Dick +clinging loosely, so as not to hinder his swimming, Pawnee Brown struck +out for the shore. + +It was perilous work, for other trees and obstructions were upon every +hand, and more than once both were torn and scratched as they sped by in +what was little short of a whirlpool. + +"Catch the rope!" suddenly came from Clemmer, and a noose whizzed in the +air and fell close beside the pair. Both Pawnee Brown and Dick did as +requested, and the cowboy boomer began to haul in with all the strength +at his command. It was hard work, but Clemmer was equal to it, and +presently those in the water came close enough to gain a footing, and +then the peril was over. + +Dick's story was soon told, to which the great scout added that of his +own. + +"I shall not attempt to follow up Stillwater," Pawnee Brown concluded. +"It is high time I got back to camp, for let me tell you, privately, we +move westward to-day. You may continue the hunt for your father or come +with me, just as you choose. It is possible you may find some trace of +him around here, but it is doubtful to me, after such a storm. It's hard +lines, boy, but cheer up; things may not be as bad as you imagine," and +he laid a dripping but affectionate arm upon Dick's shoulder. + +"I will stay here for a while, at least," answered Dick. "But--but I am +without a cent, and----" + +"How much do you want, Dick?" and Pawnee Brown's pocketbook came out +without delay. + +"If you will lend me ten dollars----" + +"Here are twenty. When you want more let me know. Now, goodbye, and good +luck to you." + +And the next minute Pawnee Brown and Clemmer were gone. Dick watched +them out of sight and a warm feeling went over his heart. + +"The major is as generous as he is brave," he murmured. "He is one scout +of a thousand. No wonder all the boomers asked him to lead them in this +expedition." + +Ten minutes later Dick was drying himself at the fire in a house near +by. Hearing his tale of misfortune, the man who took him in insisted +upon treating him to some hot coffee, which did a good bit toward making +him feel once more like himself. + +"It may be a wild-goose chase, but I can't give it up," he muttered as +he continued his search by walking along the river bank. "Poor father, +where can he be?" + +The outskirts of the city had been left behind and he was making his way +through a tangle of brush and over shelving rocks. A bend was passed and +he gave a wild cry. + +And small wonder. There on the river bank lay the motionless form of his +parent, dripping yet with the water of the river. The eyes were closed +as if in death. With a moan Dick threw himself forward and caught one of +the cold hands within his own. Then he placed his ear to his parent's +heart. + +"Too late! He is gone!" he wailed. "Poor, poor father, dead after all! +Oh, if only I had died with you!" and he sank back utterly overcome. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +MIKE AND THE MULES. + + +"We move in an hour!" + +This was the word which was whispered about the boomers' camp shortly +after Pawnee Brown's arrival. + +The great scout had found it out of the question to attempt to enter the +Indian Territory in a direct route from Arkansas City. The government +troops were watching the trail, and the soldiers were backed up by the +cattle kings' helpers, who would do all in their power to harass the +pioneers and make them turn back. + +Many a man would have gone ahead with a rush, but Pawnee Brown knew +better than to do this. If he was brave, he was also cautious. + +"A rush now would mean people killed, horses shot down or poisoned, +wagons ditched, harnesses cut up and a thousand and one other +disasters," he said. "We must beat the cattle kings at their own game. +We will move westward to Honnewell either this afternoon or tonight. +Get ready to go on whenever the signal is passed." + +"But vot goot vill it do to vait by Honnvell?" questioned Carl +Humpendinck, a German boomer. + +"We'll not wait very long there," answered Pawnee Brown. + +So the word went around that the boomers would move in an hour. This was +not actually true, but it was necessary to spread some report of this +kind in order to make the slow ones hustle. If left to themselves these +few would not have gotten ready in two days. + +"It's a move we are afther makin' at last, is it?" burst out Rosy +Delaney when Mike brought the news. "Sure, an' Oi'm ready, Moike +Delaney, but how are ye to git this wagon out av thet bog hole, Oi +dunno." + +"Oi'll borry a horse," answered Mike. "It's Jack Rasco will lind me the +same." + +Mike ran around to where Jack Rasco was in earnest conversation with a +stranger who had just come in from town. The stranger had brought a +letter from Nellie Winthrop, posted two days before, and saying when she +would arrive. The letter caused Rasco not a little worry, as so far the +girl had failed to appear. + +"I haven't any horse to spare just now, Mike," he said; "but hold on, +you can have Billy, the mule, if you wish." + +There was a little twinkle in his eyes as he spoke, but Mike didn't see +the twinkle and readily accepted the mule and led him over to where his +own turn-out stood. + +"Moike Delaney, phot kind av a horse do yez call that?" demanded Rosy. + +"It's a mule, ye ignoramus," he answered. "An' a good puller, I'll bet +me whiskers. Just wait till Oi hitch him beside the tame." + +Billy was soon hitched up as Mike desired, and the Irishman proceeded to +urge him forward with his short whip. + +It was then the fun began. Billy did not appreciate being called upon to +do extra work. Instead of pulling, he simply turned around, tangling up +and breaking the harness, and began to kick up the black prairie dirt +with both hind hoofs. + +"Oh, the villain!" spluttered Rosy Delaney, who received the first +installment of dirt full in her eyes and mouth. "Moike Delaney, ye made +him do that a-purpose!" and she shook her fist at her husband. "Ye +bould, bad mon!" + +"Oi did not," he ejaculated. "Git back there, ye baste!" he added, and +tried to hit Billy with his whip. The knowing mule dodged and, turning +swiftly, planted a hoof in Mike's stomach so slickly that the Irishman +went heels over head into a nearby puddle. + +A shout arose from those standing near. + +"Score one round for the mule!" + +"Mike, thet summersault war good enough fer a show. Better jine the +circus!" + +"Oi'll show the mule!" yelled Mike, and rushed in again. But once more +Billy turned and got out of the way, and this time he caught the seat of +Mike's trousers between his teeth and lifted the frightened man six feet +from the ground. + +"Don't! Let me down! Somebody save me!" yelled the terrorized son of +Erin. "Rosy! Clemmer! Rasco! Hit him! Shoot him! Make him let go av me! +Oi'll be kilt entoirely!" + +Outsiders were too much amused to help Mike, but Rosy came to the rescue +with a woman's best weapon--a rolling-pin, one she occasionally used in +making pies for the family when in camp. Whizz! came the rolling-pin +through the air, hitting Billy on the ear. The mule gave a short snort, +broke what remained of the harness and scampered off to make a complete +circuit of the camp and then fall into his regular place near Jack +Rasco's turn-out. + +"Want him some more?" asked Jack, who had seen the fun, and was +compelled to laugh, in spite of his worry. + +"Want him some more, is it?" growled Mike. "Not fer a thousand dollars, +Rasco! Yez kin kape the mule, an' be hanged to yez!" and he stalked off +to borrow a horse that was warranted to be gentle under the most trying +of circumstances. + +In the meantime Pawnee Brown was completing his arrangements for moving +to Honnewell and then to enter the promised land by way of Bitter Creek +and the Secaspie River. Scouts sent out to watch had reported that the +cavalry were watching every movement closely, but Pawnee Brown did not +dream that Louis Vorlange had overheard what was said at a meeting in +the woods, or that this scoundrel had hired Tucker, the cavalryman, to +shoot down both himself and Dick Arbuckle. + +Presently Jack Rasco found his way to the scout's side. + +"Pawnee, if you can spare a little time I would like your advice," he +said, and mentioned the letter from Nellie Winthrop. "It's mighty +strange the gal don't turn up, ain't it?" + +"Perhaps so; but she may have been detained," answered the scout. + +At this Rasco shook his head. The bearer of the letter had seen Nellie's +name on the hotel register. Something was wrong, he felt sure of it. The +letter had contained Nellie's photograph, and he showed it to Pawnee +Brown as he asked for permission to leave his work of assisting the +boomers to be prepared for a moving in order to pay Arkansas City +another visit. + +"Go on, Jack. You're my right-hand man, but I'll manage somehow without +you," answered the great scout. "A pretty niece for any man to have," +and he handed back the photograph, after a somewhat close inspection. +Two minutes later found Jack Rasco on his way, to encounter adventures +of which he had never imagined. + +"A note for you, Pawnee." It was one of the scouts sent out that morning +who spoke as he rode up. Pawnee Brown read the communication with +interest. + + "Come up to the ravine back of Honnewell as soon + as possible," ran the note. "I think the cavalry are + up to some new dodge, or else the cattle men are going + to play us foul. Urgent. DAN GILBERT." + + +"I must away, boys!" cried Pawnee Brown, tearing up the note. "Be ready +to move, but don't stir until you hear from me," and, giving a few more +instructions, he borrowed a fresh horse from Carl Humpendinck and set +off on a gallop of twelve miles across the country. + +As he covered mile after mile, through woods and over stretches of broad +prairie, he could not help but think of his racing mare, Bonnie Bird. +How she would have enjoyed this outing, and how she would have covered +this ground with her twinkling feet. + +"I must find her and find the rascal who stole her!" he muttered. "I +wouldn't take twenty thousand dollars for Bonnie," and he meant what he +said. The little mare and the great scout were almost inseparable. + +The afternoon sun was sinking low when Pawnee Brown struck the outskirts +of Honnewell (spelled by some writers, Honeywell). Not caring to be seen +in that town by the government agents, who might inform the cavalry that +the boomers were moving in that direction, the scout took to a side +trail, leading directly for the ravine mentioned in the letter. + +Soon he was picking his way down a path covered with brush and loose +stones. Upon either side were woods, and so thick no sunlight +penetrated, making the spot gloomy and forbidding. + +"Now, I suppose I'll have no picnic in finding Dan," he mused. "I'll +give the signal." + +The shrill cry of a night bird rang out upon the air, and Pawnee Brown +listened attentively for a reply. None came, and he repeated the cry, +with the same result. + +"I'll have to push on a bit further," he thought, and was just about to +urge forward his horse when a crashing on the opposite side of the +ravine caught his ear. Instinctively he withdrew to the shelter of some +brush to learn who the newcomer might be. + +He was not kept long in waiting. The sounds came closer and closer, and +presently a tall Indian came into view, astride a horse, and carrying an +odd-looking burden in his arms. + +"Yellow Elk!" almost burst from Pawnee Brown's lips. The Indian he +mentioned was a well-known chief, a warrior noted for his many crimes, +and a redskin whom the government agent had tried in vain to subdue. + +The scout crouched back still further and drew his pistol, for he felt +that Yellow Elk was on no lawful errand, and a meeting would most likely +mean a fight. Then he made a discovery of still greater importance--to +him. + +"Bonnie Bird, as sure as shooting! So Yellow Elk is the horse thief. The +rascal! I've a good mind to shoot him down where he sits!" He handled +his pistol nervously. "What is that he is carrying, wrapped up in his +blanket? Ha!" + +A murmur of amazement could not now be suppressed. In shifting his +burden from one shoulder to the other the Indian had allowed the +blanket to fall partly back, and there was now revealed to Pawnee Brown +the head and shoulders of a beautiful, but unconscious white girl. Nor +was that all. The girl was--Nellie Winthrop! + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +MR. ARBUCKLE'S STORY. + + +"Father! father! speak to me! Tell me that you are not dead!" + +Over and over again did poor Dick repeat these words as he sat by the +side of that wet and motionless form on the muddy river bank. The boy's +heart seemed to be breaking. + +But suddenly there came a change. He saw one of his father's arms +quiver. Then came a faint twitching of an eyelid. + +"He is alive!" gasped Dick. The joy of the discovery nearly paralyzed +him. "Father! father!" + +No answer came back, indeed, it was not to be expected. Kneeling over +his parent, Dick set to work to resuscitate the almost drowned man. + +Fortunately the youth had, during his school days in New York, heard a +lecture on what was best to do in just such a case, so he did not labor +in ignorance. His treatment was as skillful as memory and his love for +his parent could make it, and in less than half an hour he had the +satisfaction of seeing his father give a gasp and open his eyes. + +"Father, don't you know me?" + +"Dick!" came the almost inaudible reply. "Where--where am I?" + +"You are safe, father. You fell into the river and came near to +drowning." + +"Is that so? I did not know there was a river near here." + +Mr. Arbuckle was silent for several minutes, during which Dick continued +his work and made him as comfortable as possible by wrapping his parent +in his own dry coat. + +"Where is that rascal?" + +"What rascal, father?" + +"The man with the red mask--the fellow who struck me down?" + +"I do not know. So you were struck down? Where?" + +"Just outside of the boomers' camp. Somebody brought me word that Pawnee +Brown wanted to see me privately. I went, and a rascal rushed on me and +demanded my private papers. I resisted and he struck me down. I know no +more than that," and Mr. Arbuckle gave another gasp. His eyes were open, +but in them was that uncertain look which Dick had seen before, and +which the lad so much dreaded. + +"Why, you were struck down last night, father, and several miles from +here. You must have come down to the river at a spot above here. Don't +you remember that?" + +Mortimer Arbuckle tried to think, then shook his head sadly. + +"It's all a blur, Dick. You know my head is not as strong as it might +be." + +"Yes, yes; and you must not try to think too far. So he got your private +papers?" + +"Yes." + +"The ones referring to that silver mine in Colorado?" + +"Yes, and all of the others." + +At this Dick could not help but groan. The papers were gone--those +precious documents by which he and his father had hoped some day to +become rich. + +The history of the deeds to the silver mine was a curious one. Two years +before Mortimer Arbuckle had paid a visit to Creede, Colorado, on +business connected with a mining company then forming under the laws of +the State of New York. + +While in Creede the man had materially assisted an old miner named +Burch, who was falling into the hands of a set of swindlers headed by a +rascal called Captain Mull. + +Mortimer Arbuckle had never met Captain Mull, but he had saved Burch's +claim for him, for which the old miner was extremely grateful. + +Over a year later Burch had died and left with another old miner the +deeds to a new mine of great promise, deeds which had not yet been +recorded. + +The old miner had forwarded these papers, along with others of +importance concerning the exact location of the claim, to Mortimer +Arbuckle, and the gentleman had then begun preparations to go to the +West and see if the claim was really as valuable as old Burch had +imagined. + +Dick was just out of school, and would not think of remaining behind, so +it was arranged that father and son should go together. + +A spell of sickness had detained the father several months. Before this, +however, he had hired Jack Rasco to go to Creede with him and assist in +locating the new claim. + +As Mortimer Arbuckle failed to come West, Jack Rasco returned to the +companionship of Pawnee Brown, for, as already stated, he considered +himself the great boomer's right-hand man. + +At last Mortimer Arbuckle had come on with Dick, to find Rasco had given +his word to Pawnee Brown to stick with the boomers until the desired +entrance into Oklahoma was effected. + +"Yer will hev ter wait, Mr. Arbuckle," Jack had said. "I'm sorry, but I +hev given my word ter Pawnee an' I wouldn't break it fer a cool million, +thet's me." + +"Let us go with the boomers!" Dick had returned enthusiastically. "It +will be lots of fun, father, and it will give you a chance to get back +your health before you tie yourself down to those silver mine schemes." + +And rather against his wishes Mortimer Arbuckle had consented. Dick saw +his father was in no mental condition to locate claims, form a new +mining company, and do other labor of this sort, and trusted that the +days to be spent with the boomers would make him much stronger in both +body and mind. + +"Do you think the robber thought of the deeds when he robbed you?" went +on Dick, after a pause. + +"I--I--don't know, Dick. It runs in my mind he spoke of the deeds, but I +can't remember for certain." + +"He took your money?" + +"Every cent." Mortimer Arbuckle gave a groan. "We are now out here +penniless, my son." + +"No we are not, father. I asked Pawnee Brown for the loan of ten dollars +and he gave me twenty, and said I could have more if I needed it." + +"A good man--as generous as he is brave," murmured Mortimer Arbuckle. +"Would the world had more of such fellows." + +"Pawnee Brown and Jack Rasco are the best fellows in the world!" +answered the youth. "But, come, let me carry you to yonder house, where +you can get dry and also get something to eat." + +He assisted his parent to his feet, then lifted the man to his back and +started off. A backwoodsman saw him coming, and ran to meet him. Soon +Mortimer Arbuckle was in the house and lying tucked in on a warm couch. + +A relapse followed, coming almost immediately after father and son had +exchanged stories and detail. In alarm Dick sent off the backwoodsman +for a doctor. The medical man was half an hour in coming. After a +thorough examination he looked grave. + +"The man must be kept absolutely quiet," he said. "If you have been +talking to him it has done him more harm than good. You had better go +away and leave him among strangers." + +In a further conversation Dick learned that the backwoodsman, Peter Day, +and his wife were ready to take charge of the invalid for fair pay, and +could be trusted to do their best, and it was arranged to leave Mr. +Arbuckle at the house, while Dick returned to camp, hunted up Pawnee +Brown and Jack Rasco and tried to get on the track of the man of the red +mask. + +"And if I ever get hold of him I'll--I'll--mash him," said Dick, and the +look on his youthful but stern face told that he meant just what he +said. The western idea of shooting had not yet entered his mind, but woe +to Louis Vorlange if his villainy was once unmasked. + +"Do not worry about me, father," said Dick taking his departure. "I will +take care of myself, and I am sure that either Pawnee Brown, Jack Rasco +or myself can get on the track of the rascal who robbed and struck you +down." + +"Be cautious, Dick," murmured the sick man. "Be cautious--for you are +all the world to me!" and he kissed his son affectionately. + +"Who could have attacked father?" he murmured, half aloud. "It was a +dastardly thing to do. I must find out, even if I have to remain in the +city. But who knows but what it was one of the boomers? Perhaps the man +saw father had money and only asked about his papers to put him off the +track. As a rule, the boomers are as honest as men can be, but there are +several hang-dog faces among them." + +Dick had covered a distance of half a mile and was within sight of the +spot where he had been rescued by Pawnee Brown from a watery grave, when +a murmur of voices broke upon his ear, coming from a thicket down by the +river bank. The murmur grew louder and he paused to listen. + +Suddenly two pistol shots rang out, followed by a cry of pain and rage. +There was a brief silence, then came the words which made Dick's heart +almost stop beating: + +"Now I'll fix you for helping to run me out of town, Jack Rasco! I never +forget my enemies!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A STRANGE LETTER. + + +To return to Pawnee Brown at the time when he made the double discovery +that Yellow Elk, the rascally Indian, was riding his stolen mare, Bonnie +Bird, and had as his fair captive Nellie Winthrop, Jack Rasco's niece. + +For the moment the great scout was nearly dum founded by the revelation. +He had not met Yellow Elk for several months, and had imagined that the +Indian chief was safe within the territorial reservation allotted to him +and his tribe. + +As Yellow Elk shifted his fair burden, Nellie Winthrop's eyes opened and +she started up in alarm. + +"Oh, you beast! Let me go!" she screamed faintly. She was about to say +more, but Yellow Elk clapped a dirty hand over her mouth and silenced +her. + +"No speak more," he muttered in his broken English. "White girl speak +too much." + +"But--but where are you taking me? This is not the boomers' camp." + +"We come to camp soon--girl in too much hurry," rejoined the wily +redskin. + +"I was told the camp was but a short distance out of town." + +"Camp he move. Pawnee Brown not safe near big town," went on Yellow Elk. + +"You're a good one for fairy tales," was the boomer's silent comment. He +had withdrawn to the shelter of the thick brush and sat his steed like a +statue, while his pistol was ready for use, with his forefinger upon the +trigger. + +"But--but--what happened to me?" went on Nellie, struggling to sit up, +while Yellow Elk held her back. + +"White girl lose breath and shut eyes," was the answer, meaning that +Nellie had fainted. "No more fight--Yellow Elk no hurt her." + +"I will go no further with you--I do not believe your story!" cried +Nellie. "Let me down." + +At these words the face of the Indian chief grew dark, and he muttered +several words in his own language which Nellie did not understand, but +which Pawnee Brown made out to be that the White Bird was too sweet to +be lost so easily, he must take her to his cave in the mountains. + +"Will you?" murmured Pawnee Brown. "Well, maybe, but not if I know it." + +The mentioning of a cave in the mountains made Pawnee Brown curious. Did +Yellow Elk have such a hiding place? Where was it located, and was the +Indian chief its only user? + +"Perhaps some more of these reds have broken loose," he thought. "I +would like to investigate. Who knows but what the cavalrymen are after +them and not the boomers, as Dan Gilbert imagined." + +A brief consideration of the subject and his mind was made up. So long +as the Indian did not offer positive harm to Nellie Winthrop he would +not expose himself, but follow on behind, in hope of locating the cave +and learning more of Yellow Elk's intended movements. + +"Let me go, I say!" cried Nellie, but the Indian chief merely shook his +head. + +"White girl be no fool. Indian friend; no hurt one hair of her head. +Soon we be in camp and she will see what a friend Yellow Elk has been." + +At this Nellie shook her head. That painted and dirty face was far too +repulsive to be trusted. But there was no help for it; the Indian held +her as in a vise, and she was forced to submit. + +Moving along the trail, Indian and horse passed within a dozen feet of +where Pawnee Brown sat, still as silent as a block of marble. It was a +trying moment. What if the horse he rode should make a noise, or if his +own Bonnie Bird should instinctively discover him and give the alarm? + +"Poor Bonnie Bird, to have to carry a dirty redskin," thought the +boomer. The ears of the beautiful mare went up as she drew close, and +she appeared to hesitate. But Yellow Elk urged her along by several +punches in the ribs, and in a moment more the danger of discovery just +then was past. + +On went the tall Indian along the ravine, peering cautiously ahead, with +one hand around Nellie's waist and the other holding the reins and his +pistol. He knew he was on a dangerous mission, and he stood ready, if +unmasked, to sell his worthless life dearly. + +Pawnee Brown followed at a distance of a hundred feet, taking care to +pick his way so that his horse's hoofs should strike only the dirt and +soft moss, and that the brush growing among the tall trees should screen +him as much as possible. + +Presently he saw the Indian halt and stare long and hard at a tall pine +growing in front of a large flat rock. + +"Wonder if he has missed his way?" mused the scout, but a moment later +Yellow Elk proceeded onward, faster than ever. + +Coming up to the pine, Pawnee Brown saw instantly what had attracted the +redskin's attention. There was a blaze on the tree six inches square, +and on the blaze was written in charcoal: + + 10 f. E. D. G. + +"Hullo, a message from Dan," he cried, half aloud. He had read the +strange marking without difficulty. It ran as follows: + +"Ten feet east. DAN GILBERT." + +Pacing off the ten feet in the direction indicated, Pawnee Brown located +a flat rock. Raising this, he uncovered a small, circular hole, in the +centre of which lay a leaf torn from a note book, on which was written: + +"I write this to notify Pawnee Brown or any of my other friends that I +have gone up the ravine on the trail of half a dozen cavalry scouts who +are up here, not only to watch for boomers, but also to try and locate +several Indians who have left the reservation without permission. I will +be back soon. + DAN GILBERT." + +The boomer read the note with interest. Then he hastily scribbled off +the answer: + +"Have read the note that was left. Am following Yellow Elk, who stole my +mare and has Jack Rasco's niece a captive. Yellow Elk is bound for some +cave in the mountains. PAWNEE BROWN." + +The answer finished, the boomer placed it in the hole, let back the flat +rock and wrote on the blaze of the tree, under Dan Gilbert's initials: + + P. B. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +YELLOW ELK. + + +The writing of the answer to Gilbert's communication had taken several +minutes, and now Yellow Elk was entirely out of sight. But Pawnee Brown +was certain of the trail the Indian had taken, and by a little faster +riding soon brought the rascal again into view. + +Yellow Elk was now descending into a valley bound on the north by a +rolling hill and on the south by a cliff varying from twenty to forty +feet in height. Even at a distance Pawnee Brown could see that the +Indian was having considerable trouble with Nellie Winthrop, who felt +now assured that her first suspicions were correct and that Yellow Elk +had taken her far from the boomers' camp. + +"I will not go with you!" cried the girl, and did her best to break from +the warrior's grasp. But Yellow Elk's hold was a good one, and she only +succeeded in tearing her dress. + +"We be dare in few minutes now," replied the redskin. "Den all be +right--you wait and see." + +"I won't go with you--let me down!" screamed Nellie, but he silenced her +by a fierce gesture which made the boomer's blood boil. It was only by +the exercise of all his will power that the great scout kept himself +from shooting down Yellow Elk on the spot. + +The end of the long cliff was almost reached when the Indian chief +reined up the mare and sprang to the ground, still holding Nellie tight. +As he held the girl by the wrist with one hand he led Bonnie Bird +forward with the other. In a few seconds, girl, mare and Indian had +disappeared from view in the midst of a thick fringe of bushes. + +They had scarcely vanished when Pawnee Brown was on the ground and had +tethered his horse in a little grove of pines a hundred feet away. This +done, he stole forward to what he felt must be the mouth of the cave +Yellow Elk had mentioned. + +The great scout knew he was on delicate and dangerous ground. There was +no telling how many Indians beside Yellow Elk there might be in the +vicinity, who had left the reservation without permission; it was likely +all who were there would be in war paint ready to kill him on sight. + +"The reds who train with Yellow Elk are not to be trusted," he muttered. +"Yellow Elk wouldn't like anything better than to scalp me just for a +taste of his old blood-thirsty days. Making a 'good Indian' out of such +a fellow is all nonsense--it simply can't be done." + +Pawnee Brown had dropped down in the long grass and was now wiggling +along like a snake through the bushes and between the rocks. Soon the +entrance to the cave was gained, hidden by more bushes. He hesitated, +looked to see that his pistol was all right, shoved the bushes aside and +slipped within. + +It was so dark inside that for a moment he could distinguish nothing. +But his ears were on the alert and he heard the footsteps of Yellow Elk +resounding at a distance of fully fifty yards. He could hear nothing of +Nellie, and rightfully concluded that the Indian had been compelled to +pick her up and carry her. + +An instant later he stumbled close to his mare. Bonnie Bird recognized +him with a snort of joy. + +"Sh-sh!" he said softly, and the gentle animal understood and made no +further sound. But she gladly rubbed her soft nose up and down his neck +to signify her pleasure. + +"Good Bonnie Bird," he whispered. "I'll be with you soon again," and +went on after Yellow Elk. + +The Indian had now come to a halt and was striking a match. Soon some +dry brush was set on fire and the redskin heaped upon it some stout tree +branches, for the air in the cave was chilly. + +"Now me and white girl have long talk," said Yellow Elk, as he motioned +Nellie to a seat. + +"Where is the boomers' camp?" she faltered, hardly knowing how to answer +him. + +"Camp ten miles from here," came the short reply. "You here all alone +with Yellow Elk." + +At this the frightened girl gave a scream of terror. + +"You base wretch!" she sobbed. "Take me back at once." + +"No take back--Yellow Elk no fool. White girl stay here--make Yellow Elk +good squaw, maybe," and he grinned into her pretty face. + +But now an interruption came which all but stunned Yellow Elk. Leaping +from his hiding place, Pawnee Brown pounced upon the redskin, caught him +by the throat and hurled him backward and almost into the midst of the +fire! + +"You miserable dog!" came from the scout's lips. + +"Oh, sir, save me from that Indian!" came from Nellie, as she quickly +turned to the man she felt sure would assist her. + +"I will, Miss Winthrop, don't fear," answered Pawnee Brown. "So, Yellow +Elk, we meet again. I reckon you remember the man who kicked you all +around the agency two years ago because you tried to steal his new pair +of boots?" + +"Ugh!" grunted Yellow Elk. He had just managed to scramble out of the +fire, and was beating out the flames which had caught on a fringe of his +garments. "Pawnee Brown." + +He muttered a fierce imprecation in his native tongue. Then, before +Pawnee Brown could stop him his pistol flashed in the fire-light. He took +aim at the scout's head and fired. + +But though the action of the Indian chief was quick, the movement of the +boomer was quicker. + +Many times had he been under fire, and he had learned to drop when +occasion required as rapidly as it could be done. + +With the pressure upon the pistol trigger he went down like a flash and +the bullet intended for his head merely grazed the top of his hat and +flattened itself upon the cave wall opposite. + +"Bah!" hissed Yellow Elk, when he saw how he had missed. He attempted to +take him once more, but now Pawnee Brown hurled himself on the redskin, +turning the barrel of the weapon aside, and both went to the stone +flooring with a crash. Nellie Winthrop let out a shriek of terror. + +"Do not let him shoot you! Make him throw the pistol away!" she cried, +as she wrung her hands. She would have liked to assist Pawnee Brown, but +could not see how it could just then be done. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +NELLIE'S FLIGHT. + + +Over and over on the stone flooring rolled the boomer and his red enemy, +now close to the fire and again off to one side, where there was a +slight hollow still wet from the recent storm. + +Pawnee Brown had Yellow Elk by the throat and across the back, while the +Indian held his antagonist by the shoulder with one hand, while trying +to beat his brains out with the pistol that was in the other. + +Once Yellow Elk succeeded in getting in a glancing blow, which drew +blood, but did no great harm. But now Pawnee Brown's grip was +tightening. The redskin was choking. His eyes bulged from their sockets +and his tongue hung out several inches. + +"Ugh!" gasped the Indian chief. In vain he tried to shake off that grip. +It was like that of a bulldog and could not be loosened. He struck out +wildly, but the pistol butt only landed upon Pawnee Brown's shoulder, a +shoulder that was as tough as iron and could stand any amount of +pounding. + +Suddenly the tactics of the Indian changed. Knowing that he was in +immediate danger of death by choking, and feeling how unlikely it was +that he could throw off his assailant, he let fall his pistol and caught +the boomer around the body. Then he began to roll toward the fire, which +was now blazing up more brightly than ever. + +The scout saw the redskin's intention instantly, but before he could +stop it both he and his enemy were close to the flames. + +"Me die you die too!" hissed Yellow Elk, and gave another roll, which +took both himself and Pawnee Brown into the very edge of the blaze. + +"Take care! You will be burnt up!" cried Nellie Winthrop, and gave a +scream. Rushing forward, she caught Pawnee Brown by the arm and +attempted to draw him back. + +But of this there was no need, for the great scout had already changed +his tactics, feeling convinced that to choke Yellow Elk was now +impossible. His hand left the redskin's throat, to double up and sail +forth into a crushing blow, which took the Indian chief beneath the eyes +and made him see more stars than were ever beheld in the blue canopy of +heaven. As Yellow Elk fell back Pawnee Brown did likewise, but in a +different direction. + +The Indian was now in the midst of the flames and the cry he let out was +truly blood-curdling. Excited as he was, Pawnee Brown did not let the +intonation of that cry escape him. Understanding the Indian language +well, he knew it was more than a cry of terror or pain, it was a call +for help! Other Indians must be somewhere in the vicinity. + +"You had better run for it!" he said, turning to Nellie. "Mount my +horse--the mare the Indian had--and ride down the ravine." + +"Run?" she faltered. + +"Yes, and hurry. Hark! As I thought! Other Indians are coming!" + +The boomer was right. The footsteps sounded from the opposite end of the +cave, which had two entrances, similar to each other. + +By this time Yellow Elk had rolled out of the fire and was dancing +around like a madman, trying to beat out the flames which had +communicated to his clothing. + +As Nellie ran off, Pawnee Brown drew his pistol, resolved to not only +defend himself but cover the girl's retreat as well. + +Little did he dream of the fresh perils which awaited Nellie. What those +perils were the immediate chapters which follow will relate. + +As Yellow Elk danced around, Pawnee Brown leveled his revolver at him. + +Crack! went the weapon and the Indian chief fell back with a wound +through his shoulder. The flickering of the fire-light had saved him +from death. + +A cry that was little less than a war whoop now sounded out, and with +this four other Indians appeared, two whom Pawnee Brown had before seen +in Yellow Elk's company and two who were utter strangers to him. + +"Capture the white dog!" howled Yellow Elk, in his native tongue. "Shoot +the dog down!" + +"Pawnee Brown!" grunted one of the newcomers, and up went several +pistols. The scout fired at the same time, and one of the strange +Indians threw up his hands and fell lifeless. But the bullet this Indian +had sent on its mission struck the boomer across the forehead and sent +the scout to the flooring of the cave senseless. + +When Pawnee Brown came to a clear mind again he found himself aching in +every portion of his body, for in their usual custom the Indians on +finding him helpless had each taken their turn at kicking him to suit +their pleasure, Yellow Elk especially delighting in this cruel +performance. + +The scout was bound tightly with a lariat which started from his feet +and was wound and crossed up to his very neck, making body, legs and +arms as stiff as those of an Egyptian mummy. He lay on the cave flooring +not a dozen feet from the fire, which Yellow Elk was in the act of +replenishing. + +As he opened his eyes one of the other Indians, Spotted Nose by name, +stopped in front of him. The scout instantly closed his eyes again, but +it was too late. + +"You all right," cried Spotted Nose, and gave him a sharp kick in the +side. + +"Well I won't be if you keep on kicking me," replied the boomer, as +cheerfully as he could, although it must be admitted he was much +disturbed. He glanced around and was relieved to see that Nellie was +nowhere in sight. + +Yellow Elk now came up and also kicked the prostrate scout. + +"You heap dirty dog!" he exclaimed, his face full of bitter hatred. "You +shoot me--you die for dat." + +"I suppose I will--if you have the saying of that, Yellow Elk. But +perhaps you won't dare to kill me." + +"Why not Indian dare? Indian dare anything," growled Yellow Elk. + +"My friends are not far off--they will soon come here, and if you harm +me it will go hard with you." + +At this all of the Indians laughed. + +"No white man around here--we on guard all time," said Spotted Nose. + +"On guard, eh? And yet you didn't see me come in, Dirty Nose?" + +"Spotted Nose did see Pawnee Brown," was the answer; but this was a +falsehood. An Indian hates to admit that he has been in any manner +outwitted by a white man. + +"You tell a good story, Dirty Nose." Pawnee Brown turned to Yellow Elk. +"Yellow, how did you run across that girl?" + +"Yellow Elk no tell his secrets," came the answer. "Pawnee Brown fool to +ask. Pawnee Brown think him heap sly, like fox, but him sly only like +cow!" This produced another laugh, for the Indians from the Indian +Territory are not as stolid as were their forefathers, and thoroughly +enjoy their own rude manner of joking. + +Presently Yellow Elk turned to his companions and spoke to them in an +undertone. A moment later he sped away, but whether in pursuit of Nellie +Winthrop or not, Pawnee Brown could not tell. + +The Indian chief was gone fully an hour, and came back looking unusually +grave. + +Pawnee Brown had tried in vain to get Spotted Nose and the other Indian +to talk--to tell him why they had left the reservation. Not one would +speak further than to tell him to keep quiet. + +On returning, Yellow Elk at once set to work to rig up an upright pole +from the floor to the ceiling of the cave, using a heavy tree branch for +the purpose. The upright was placed close to where the smoke from the +fire found a vent through several large cracks in the ceiling, and the +boomer watched these proceedings with much alarm. + +The Indians were erecting a fire-stake, such as they had used in the +wild west when some victim was to be roasted alive! + +"Heavens! can that be meant for me?" was the question he asked himself. + +The stake planted and fastened firmly, Yellow Elk heaped some fresh, dry +brush around its bottom and then came up to Pawnee Brown. + +"Pawnee Brown see the fire-stake?" he asked, his savage eyes gleaming +like two stars. + +"I do, Yellow. Who is it for?" + +"Why does Pawnee Brown ask? Does he not deserve death?" + +"I suppose I do--according to your notion." + +"Pawnee Brown shall burn--he shall burn slowly," went on Yellow Elk, +meaning that he would make the great scout's torture last as long as +possible. + +"Your training on the reservation hasn't civilized you much, Yellow, if +that's the way you feel about it." + +"I hate white man--all of them," grumbled the Indian chief. "They take +all my land away and put me in a little yard to live. I would kill all +white man if could," and he grated his teeth. + +A moment later Yellow Elk nodded to the other Indians and all leaped +forward and bound Pawnee Brown fast to the fire-stake. This done the +redskins heaped the brush around the scout's feet. + +"Now the dirty white dog can die!" hissed Yellow Elk, as he advanced +with a torch. "He can pray, but the white man's Great Father cannot save +him! He must burn until his bones are as charcoal!" + +And so speaking Yellow Elk thrust the torch into the dry brush and set +it on fire! + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +DICK TO THE RESCUE. + + +"That man is going to shoot Jack Rasco!" + +Such was the thought which rushed into Dick Arbuckle's mind as he heard +the fatal words spoken in the woods near the river bank. + +He could not see either of the men, but he felt tolerably certain in his +mind that Rasco's assailant was Stillwater, the gambler, who had been +run out of Arkansas City by Pawnee Brown, Rasco, Clemmer and a dozen +others. + +"Would you kill me?" came in Rasco's voice. The boomer was concerned and +was doing his best to gain time, in the hope that something would turn +up to his advantage. + +"Kill you?" sneered Stillwater. "Do you think I'm going to put up with +the way I've been treated? Not much! I had a fine thing in Arkansas +City--something worth a thousand a week to me, and you and your friends +spoiled it all. I'm going to settle with you, and after that I shall +hunt up Pawnee Brown and the rest and settle with them, also." + +"You'll have your hands full a-settlin' with Pawnee." + +"Bah! I am not afraid of him. He had me foul over to the Golden Pick, +but I'll be careful when next we meet. But I'll not waste time with you +here, Rasco. I've got you alone and 'dead men tell no tales.'" + +"Alone?" Jack Rasco began to smile. "You're mistaken. Look behind you." + +Stillwater started, but did not look back. + +"That's an old dodge, Rasco, but you can't work it off on me. I have you +alone and I'm going to end the business right here." + +"Not yet!" cried a youthful voice behind Stillwater, and crash! down +came a heavy stick, hitting the gambler squarely upon the head and +sending him with a thud to the earth. + +As Stillwater went down, Rasco leaped forward and came down upon him. +But this movement was useless. The rascal was more than three-quarters +knocked out and lay for several minutes helpless. + +"I owe you one fer that, Dick Arbuckle!" cried Rasco, gratefully. "Yer +came in the nick o' time!" Now the peril was over the boomer dropped +back into his own peculiar manner of speech. + +"I am glad I happened this way," returned Dick, as he drew a long +breath. "Gosh! what a lot of excitement we are passing through out here! +More than I experienced in all my life in New York." + +"The West is the place fer stirrin' times, lad." Jack Rasco turned to +his prostrate foe. "Wall, Stillwater, do yer think it war a trick now, +tellin' yer ter look behind yer?" + +The rascal answered with a groan. + +"My head is split in two!" he cried. "Who struck me? What, that boy? +I'll remember you, youngster, and some day----" He did not finish. + +"I ain't done with yer yet, Stillwater," said Rasco. "You war goin' ter +shoot me. I reckon turn about is fair play, ain't it?" + +"Would you--you shoot me--now?" faltered the card sharp. At the bottom +of his heart he was a coward. + +"Why not?" + +"I wasn't going to do it, Rasco--I was only--only scaring you." + +"Thet's a whopper--made outer the hull cloth, Stillwater. Yer war going +ter shoot me--an' I'm a-goin' ter be jess as accommodatin'," and on the +sly Rasco winked at Dick who was much relieved to think the boomer did +not really intend to carry out his blood-thirsty design. + +The face of Stillwater grew as white as a sheet and he trembled from +head to foot. + +"Don't! don't you do it! Let me off, and I'll give you all the money I +have with me." + +"It won't do, Stillwater." + +"It's nearly a thousand dollars. Take every cent of it and let me go!" + +The gambler fairly grovelled at Jack Rasco's feet. His horror of dying +was something fearful to contemplate. + +"I'll give yer one chance, Stillwater," said Rasco, in deep disgust, and +at once the rascal's face took on a look of hope. "Yer ain't fit ter +die, an' thet's why I say it. Promise ter let me an' my friends alone in +the future." + +"I promise." + +"Promise ter give up cheatin' at cards. If yer don't, some day it will +be the death of yer." + +"I'll never cheat again." + +"All right, I'll take yer at yer word. Now come on down to the river." + +"What for?" + +"You hev got ter swim across to the other side whar yer belong. Decent +folks ain't a-goin' ter have yer over here." + +Again Stillwater was much disturbed. But Jack Rasco was firm, and soon +the trio were down by the water's edge. Still pale, the gambler plunged +into the river and struck out for the opposite shore. It was a hard +battle against that current, but presently Rasco and Dick saw him wade +out at the other side. He shook his fist at them savagely, then +disappeared like a flash into the woods. + +"He'll not keep any of his promises," said Dick. + +"Keep 'em? Yer didn't expect it o' thet viper, lad? No, he's an enemy to +the death. But whar did yer come from, and have yer found out anything +about yer poor father?" + +Dick's story was soon told, to which Rasco listened with much interest. + +"I don't believe a boomer would rob yer father," said he, reflectively. +"Like as not it war somebody who followed yer from New York--some man as +knew the value of them air minin' deeds." + +"Well, I'll go back to camp and make a search, anyway, Rasco. But what +brought you here?" + +"I'm lookin' fer my niece, Nellie Winthrop." + +And Rasco told of the letter received and of how Nellie was missing and +no trace of her could be found anywhere. Dick was almost as much +disturbed as Rasco, for he still carried in his mind a picture of the +beautiful girl he had saved from Juan Donomez's insults. + +"Can the Mexican have waylaid her?" he asked. + +"Perhaps," said the man of the plains. "But I've hunted the city high +and low." + +A short while after the two found themselves in the town once more. +Nellie had put up at the Commercial Hotel, and to this hostelry they +made their way and entered the office. + +"No news of the young lady," said the clerk in charge, who had been +interviewed before. "I am quite certain she started for the boomers' +camp on horseback." + +Rasco heaved a sigh. + +"Might as well go back," he said to Dick, then as he saw the boy start +he continued: "What's up? Do yer see anything of her?" + +"No, Rasco. But look at that man, the fellow sitting down by the corner +table in the reading room, he with the brown hat." + +"I see him. What of him?" + +"He's from New York--a fellow who used to come sneaking around father's +office, trying to gather information about mining shares." + +"Gee shoo, Dick! Yer don't mean it!" Jack Rasco was all attention +instantly. "Maybe he's the rascal as knocked yer dad over?" + +"Perhaps. If I--There is a man joining him." + +"I've seen thet chap afore. 'Pears ter me he works fer the government." + +"Do you know his name?" + +"No. Wot's the other fellow's handle?" + +"Dike Powell. He is known as a Wall street sharper. I wish I could hear +what the two have to say to each other. Yet I don't want Dike Powell to +see me." + +"It's easy enough, lad. Thar's a window close to the table, an' it's +open. We'll walk out on the veranda, and get under the opening. Come." + +In a second more they were outside. Tiptoeing their way across the +veranda, which was deserted, they soon found themselves close to the +open window mentioned. + +"And so that is settled," they heard the man from New York remark. "I am +glad to hear it, Vorlange." + +Vorlange! Dick started and so did Jack Rasco. The boy was trying to +think where he had heard it before. Ah, he had it now. Many and many a +time had he heard his parent murmur that name in his sleep, and the name +was coupled with many other things, dreadful to remember. Surely there +was some awful mystery here. What made his father mutter that name in +his dreams, and why at such time was he talking of murder and hanging, +and sobbing that he was innocent? A cold chill crept down the boy's +backbone. Was the heart of that secret to be laid bare at last? + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION. + + +"Yes, it's settled, Powell; and as soon as we are done here with the +boomers, I'll get to work and find out what the claim is worth." + +"How about being shadowed in the affair?" + +"I'm not afraid--I'm laying my plans too well," answered Louis Vorlange. +"I would go ahead at once, but to throw up my position under the +government just now might excite suspicions." + +"Have you the papers with you?" + +"No; I left them at the cavalry camp. They are too valuable to carry in +one's coat pocket." + +"Supposing the camp moves?" + +"I have my belongings secreted in a nearby cave where they are as safe +as in a deposit vault of a bank." + +"Well, Vorlange, what am I to do now I am out here?" + +"Remain in Arkansas City for the present and take it easy." + +"You promised me a hundred dollars on my arrival." + +"And there it is." + +There was the rustle of bank notes. + +"New money, eh?" was Dike Powell's comment. "Been printing some out +here?" + +"Not much. I know better than to go into the counterfeiting business." + +Dick clutched Rasco's arm. The youth's face was full of concern. + +"My father's money was in new bills," he whispered into his companion's +ear. Rasco nodded, but quickly motioned for silence. + +"I reckon this is drinks on me," said Powell, arising. "Come down to the +bar before you go back to the cavalry camp." + +"I'm in a hurry, Powell, but I'll take one glass," concluded Louis +Vorlange, and the two men hurried from the reading-room. + +"He is the man--I feel certain of it!" burst from Dick's lips, when he +felt safe to speak. "Rasco, there is some mystery here. My father----" +He stopped short and bit his lip. + +"I know wot's in yer mind, Dick. I've heard yer father go on in his +sleep, and war talkin' ter Pawnee Brown about it. An' Pawnee knows this +air Vorlange. The two air enemies from school days. Pawnee said +Vorlange wasn't squar nohow!" + +"He is evidently in the employ of the government." + +"Yes; a land-office spy, now workin' ag'in the boomers fer the cavalry +as intends ter keep us out of Oklahoma." + +"It will be hard to bring such a man to justice, without some direct +evidence against him, Rasco." + +"Don't yer try ter do it--yet, lad. Take my advice an' watch him. An' +afore yer come down on him yer hed better question yer father about +Vorlange." + +At this Dick winced. + +"Rasco, my father's manner is against him--I know that. But I'm certain +he never committed a crime in his life." + +"I believes yer, Dick. Yer father's a gentleman, every inch o' him; I +seed thet the fust I clapped eyes on him. But knowin' the truth is one +thing an' provin' it is another, especially in the wild west. This air +Vorlange may hev yer father in a mighty tight hole, and if you show him +up as the thief who stole the deeds an' the money, he may turn on yer +dad and squeeze him mightily, see?" + +"I see. But what shall I do just now?" + +"Follow Vorlange and spy on to him all yer can. It ain't no ust ter +hurry matters, with your father flat on his back. Powell will remain +here and Vorlange will be with the cavalry, so yer will know whar ter +clap eyes on ter both of 'em if it's necessary." + +A moment's reflection convinced Dick that this was sound advice, and he +said he would follow it, mentally resolved not to accuse Vorlange of +anything until he had gotten his parent to confess to the true state of +affairs. + +By this time the boy and the man of the plains had left the veranda and +walked around to where Rasco had left his horse. A moment later they saw +Louis Vorlange hurry from the barroom of the hotel, leap upon his own +animal, and strike out of town in a westerly direction. + +"If I had a horse I'd follow him," began Dick, when Rasco motioned the +youth to hop up behind. Soon they were riding after Vorlange, but not +close enough to allow the spy to imagine that he was being followed. + +"If you go after him you'll get no chance to hunt up your niece," began +Dick, when the city was left behind. + +"That's true, lad." Jack Rasco's face grew troubled. "I don't know +wot's best ter do. It ain't fair ter let yer follow Vorlange alone; an' +with only one hoss----hullo, wot does this mean? Carl Humpendinck, an' +wavin' his hand to us like he war crazy." + +Rasco had discovered the German boomer sweeping up a side trail. +Humpendinck had made out Rasco but a second before and now shouted for +the man of the plains to halt. + +"What is it, Dutchy?" called out Rasco, when they were within speaking +distance. + +"Vot ist it? Donner und blitzen, Rasco, it vos der vorst news vot efer +you heard!" burst from Carl Humpendinck's lips. "I chust here him apout +quarter of an hour ago, und I ride der horse's legs off ter told yer." + +"But what is it--out with it?" + +"It's apout dot girl you vos lookin' for. Rosy Delaney, dot Irish vomans +vot haf such a long tongue got, she tole me der sthory. Gott im himmel! +it vos dreadful!" + +"But tell me what it is, Dutchy!" exploded Rasco. "Wot is dreadful?" + +"Der sthory she tole--I can's most believe him." + +"See here, out with the whole thing, or I'll swat yer one on the +cocoanut, Humpendinck!" roared Rasco. "Yer as long-winded ez a mule +thet's gone blind." + +"Gracious, Rasco, you vouldn't hit me, afther I ride me dree miles und +more ter tole you?" wailed the German, reproachfully. "I dink me you vos +mine pest friend, next to Pawnee Prown, ain't it?" + +"There'll be a dead Dutchman here in another minute if yer don't open up +clear down ter the bottom!" howled Rasco, who had never before suffered +such exasperation. + +"Tell us the exact trouble," put in Dick, calmly. He saw that exciting +Humpendinck still more would do no good. + +"Der Indian haf carried dot girl avay!" exploded Humpendinck. + +"Carried the girl away!" ejaculated Dick. + +"My Nellie?" yelled Rasco. + +"Dot's it, Rasco. Ain't it awful! Dot Irish vomans seen dot Indian mit +dot girl in his arms, flying der trail ofer like a biece of baber pefore +a cyclone alretty!" + +"Humpendinck, are you telling the truth?" + +"I vos tole you vot dot Irish vomans tole me. Mike Delaney und dree +udder mans vos lookin' for you." + +On the instant Louis Vorlange was forgotten, not only by Rasco, ut +also by Dick. It made both shudder to think that Nellie had been carried +off by a redskin. They turned into the trail from which Humpendinck had +emerged, and were soon on their way to the camp. + +Here Rosy Delaney was found very much disturbed. She came up to Rasco +wringing her hands. + +"To think o' the red rascal a-takin' thet young leddy off!" she cried. +"I know her by thet photygraph! Och, the villain! An' it moight have +been Rosy Delaney, bad cess to him!" + +"Show me the exact trail he followed," said Rasco, and this the Irish +woman did willingly. Soon Rasco was tearing over the prairie, followed +by Humpendinck, Delaney, Clemmer and by Dick, who borrowed a horse from +another boomer. + +The trail left by Yellow Elk was easily followed to the vicinity of +Honnewell, but here it led away to the southwest and was swallowed up +among the bushes and rocks leading down into the ravine previously +mentioned. + +"Oi reckon thot's the trail," said Delaney, after an examination. + +"And I vos dink dot ist der trail," put in Humpendinck. + +"An' I calkerlate this is the trail," added Cal Clemmer. + +Each pointed in a different direction, while Rasco and Dick were of the +opinion that none of them were right and that the trail led up the +ravine, just as it really did. + +An interruption now occurred. There was a stir in the bushes above their +heads, and an elderly scout peered down upon them, rifle in hand. + +"Hullo, Jack Rasco, wot's the best word? Whar is Pawnee Brown?" + +"Dan Gilbert!" cried Rasco. "Come down, Pawnee ought to be somewhere +about here." + +In a moment more Dan Gilbert, a heavy-set, pleasant-looking +frontiersman, stood among them. A hasty consultation immediately +followed. Dan Gilbert was on his way back to where he had left the blaze +on the tree, and it was decided that Rasco and Dick should accompany +him, while Clemmer, Delaney and Humpendinck went to reconnoitre in the +opposite direction. A double pistol shot from either party was to bring +the other to its aid. + +In less than five minutes the first party was on its way to the blazed +tree. Dan Gilbert feeling certain that if Pawnee Brown had passed that +way he must have seen the sign and left word of his own. + +"If Pawnee was down here you can bet he spotted that Injun if he came +within a hundred yards of him," said Gilbert. "He can smell a red like +a cat can smell a rat." + +The tree reached, the frontiersman threw back the flat rock and brought +forth the message left by the great scout. He read it aloud. + +"Following Yellow Elk!" cried Jack Rasco. "I know the rascal! And it was +he as stole my gal! Jess wait till I git my hand on his windpipe, thet's +all! Whar's thet cave, Gilbert?" + +"I don't know, but it must be somewhere up the ravine. Come on." + +And away went the trio, on the hunt for Yellow Elk, Pawnee Brown and +poor Nellie Winthrop. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +ATTACKED BY A WILDCAT. + + +"You fiend!" + +This was all Pawnee Brown could say, as with a face full of bitter +hatred Yellow Elk advanced and applied the torch to the dry brush which +encircled his feet. + +In vain the great scout endeavored to wrench himself free from the +fire-stake. Yellow Elk and his followers had done their work well and he +was held as in a vise. + +"Pawnee Brown shall burn slowly," said the Indian chief, hoping to make +the scout show the white feather. "Yellow Elk will watch that the fire +does not mount to his body too quickly." + +"If you want to kill me why don't you put a bullet through my heart and +have done with it," said the boomer as coolly as he could. The fire was +now burning around his feet and ankles and the pain was increasing with +every second of time. + +"White man shall learn what it is to suffer," said Spotted Nose. "He +killed my friend, the Little Mule." + +"Your friend tried to take my life." + +"Bah! say no more but burn! burn!" hissed Yellow Elk. + +And with a stick he shoved the flaming brush closer in around the +scout's legs. + +It was a fearful moment--a moment in which Pawnee Brown's life hung by a +single thread. The flames were leaping up all around him. He closed his +eyes and half murmured a prayer for divine aid. + +Crack! bang! crack! Two pistol shots and the report of a rifle echoed +throughout the cave, and as Pawnee Brown opened his eyes in astonishment +Spotted Nose threw up his arms and fell forward in the flames at his +feet, dead! The Indian who had been with Spotted Nose also went down, +mortally wounded, while Yellow Elk was hit in the left arm. + +"Down with the reds!" came in the ringing voice of Jack Rasco, and he +appeared from out of a cloud of smoke, closely followed by Dan Gilbert +and Dick. "Pawnee! Am I in time? I hope ter Heaven I am!" + +"Jack!" cried the great scout. A slash of Rasco's hunting knife and he +was free. "Good for you!" and then Pawnee Brown had his hands full for +several minutes beating out the flames which had ignited his boot soles +and the bottoms of his trousers. + +"We plugged the three of 'em," said Gilbert. "I knocked thet one," and +he pointed to the Indian who was breathing his last. + +"I hit the Indian with the yellow plume," put in Dick, and he could not +help but shudder. + +"That was Yellow Elk," said Rasco. "But whar is he now?" + +All the white men turned quickly, looking up and down the cave. It was +useless. Yellow Elk had disappeared. + +"He must not escape!" cried Pawnee Brown. "I have an account to settle +with him for starting that fire." + +"But whar is Nellie?" asked Rasco, impatiently, looking around with a +falling face. + +"She ran away when the other Indians came to Yellow Elk's assistance," +answered Pawnee Brown, and in a few hurried words he told his story. + +"Then she can't be far off." + +"Let us hunt for her at once," cried Dick, and his enthusiasm made the +men laugh, at which the boy blushed furiously. + +"Never mind, Dick, yer don't think no more of her nor I do," said Rasco. +"Which way, Pawnee?" + +"This way, boys." The scout turned to the Indian who had been wounded. +"Dead as a door nail. Pity it wasn't Yellow Elk." + +"So say I," answered Rasco. "But we'll git him yet, mark my words!" + +With all possible speed they ran out of the cave and to the spot where +they had left their horses. Here a disagreeable surprise awaited them. +Every animal was gone, including the one Pawnee Brown had ridden. + +"More of Yellow Elk's work!" muttered the boomer. "I'll tell you, men, +that red is a corker, and as a dead Indian he couldn't be beat." + +"I declar' this most stumps me!" growled Dan Gilbert. "Here's the trail +plain enough, but it's all out of the question ter follow on shank's own +mare." + +"Let us hunt up Clemmer and the others," suggested Jack Rasco. + +"We must be cautious--the cavalry may be somewhere in the vicinity," +added Pawnee Brown. "How the redskins escaped them is a mystery to me." + +"They are evidently as sly as their forefathers," said Dick. "But, +really, something ought to be done. If we--hullo, there's a horse down +in yonder clearing!" + +"Bonnie Bird!" shouted Pawnee Brown, in great delight. It was indeed the +beautiful mare. A second cry and the steed came bounding up to her +master. + +"Now I can follow even if the others can't," said the scout. "Rasco, +it's a pity you haven't a mount. It is no more than right that you +should follow up your niece. If you insist upon it I'll let you have +Bonnie Bird. I wonder if Nellie or the redskin had her?" + +"I won't take yer horse, Pawnee--it's askin' too much," answered Rasco. +"Supposin' we both mount her? If Bonnie Bird got away from Yellow Elk +it's more'n likely one of the other hosses got away, too." + +"That's so. Well, get up, Jack, and let us lose no time." + +Soon both men were mounted. A few words all around followed, and it was +agreed that Dick and Gilbert should try to hunt up Clemmer and the +others, and then away went Pawnee Brown and Rasco upon Yellow Elk's +trail. + +Suddenly Jack Rasco uttered a cry. + +"See, Pawnee, here's whar another of the hosses got away. Hang me if I +don't think it war my hoss, too!" + +"Yes, and here is where the horse dropped into a walk," he answered. "I +don't believe he can be far off." + +Without delay Rasco slid to the ground. + +"I'll follow him up afoot," he declared. "I'm fresh and can run it +putty good. You go ahead with the regular trail." + +The trail left by Yellow Elk ran down along the edge of the stream for a +distance of perhaps a hundred yards, then it came out on a series of +flat rocks and was lost to view. + +Pawnee Brown came to a halt. Had Yellow Elk crossed the stream, or +doubled on the trail and gone back? + +Dismounting, he got down upon his hands and knees and examined the last +hoof-prints with extreme care. + +The examination lasted for fully ten minutes. No white man could follow +a trail better than this leader of the boomers, yet for the time being +he was baffled. + +Yellow Elk had led the horses into the water, but the trail did not +extend across the stream. + +"He's an artful dodger!" mused Pawnee Brown, when of a sudden he became +silent. + +A faint scratching, as of tree bark, had come to his ears. The noise was +but a short distance away. + +"Some animal," he thought. "No human being would make such a sound as +that." + +Another ten seconds of painful silence followed. The scratching sound +had just been resumed when Bonnie Bird wheeled about as if on a pivot. + +"Ha!" + +The exclamation came from between Pawnee Brown's set teeth. There, from +between the branches of a tree just in front of him, glared a pair of +yellowish-green eyes. + +The blazing optics belonged to a monstrous wildcat! + +As quick as a flash Pawnee Brown raised his pistol and pulled the +trigger. + +Crack! The wildcat was hit in the side. The shot was a glancing one and +did but little damage. + +Whirr! down came the body straight for the boomer, landing half upon his +shoulder and half upon Bonnie Bird's mane. + +The little mare was thoroughly frightened, and giving a snort and a +plunge she threw both rider and wildcat to the ground. + +As Pawnee Brown went down he tried to push the monstrous cat from him, +but the beast had its claws fastened in the scout's clothing and could +not be shook off. + +Crack! Again Pawnee Brown fired. The flash was almost directly in the +wildcat's face, and shot in the left forepaw the beast uttered a fearful +howl of pain and dropped back. + +But only for an instant. The pain only increased its anger, and with +gleaming teeth it crouched down and made another spring, right for the +boomer's throat. + +Crack! crack! twice again the pistol rang out. But the big cat was now +wary and both shots failed to take effect. + +The pistol being now empty, Pawnee Brown hurled it at the enraged beast, +striking it in the nose and eliciting another scream of rage. + +Then, as the wildcat came on for a final attack, the scout pulled out +his hunting knife. + +As the wildcat came down the hand holding the hunting knife was raised, +with the blade of the knife pointing upward. + +A lightning-like swing and a thrust, and for one brief instant the +wildcat was poised in the air, upon the very blade of the long knife. + +The blow had been a true one, the knife point reaching the beast's +heart, and when the animal fell it rolled down among the leaves, dead. + +"By thunder! but that was something I hadn't bargained for!" murmured +the great scout, as he surveyed the carcass. "That's about the biggest +wildcat I ever saw. It's a good thing I didn't meet him in the dark." + +Wiping off his hunting knife, he restored it to his belt. Then he picked +up his pistol and started to reload it, at the same time whistling for +Bonnie Bird, who, he felt sure, must be close by. + +As Pawnee Brown stood reloading the pistol and whistling for his mare he +did not notice a shadow behind him. Slowly but surely someone was +drawing closer to him. It was Yellow Elk. + +The Indian chief was on foot. In his left hand he carried a cocked +revolver, in his right an old-time tomahawk, from which he had refused +to be parted when placed on the Indian reservation. + +The redskin's face was full of the most bitter animosity it is possible +to imagine. The glare of wickedness in his eyes fairly put the look that +had lived in the wildcat's optics to shame. His snags of yellow teeth +were firmly set. + +He was resolved to kill his enemy there and then. Pawnee Brown should +not again escape him. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THE MEETING IN THE WOODS. + + +After leaving Pawnee Brown, Jack Rasco followed the trail of his horse +through a small grove of trees and along the upper bank of the very +stream upon which the great scout encountered Yellow Elk. + +"Blamed ef he didn't go further nor I expected," muttered Rasco to +himself as he trudged along. But the hoof-prints were now growing +fresher and fresher, telling that the animal could not be far off. + +The woods passed, he began ascending a small hill. At the top of this +was a level patch, thickly overgrown with short brush. + +He had just entered the brush when he heard a strange sound. He listened +intently. + +"Thet's a hoss in pain," he said to himself. "Too bad if the critter hez +had a tumble an' broke a leg! If that's---- By gum!" + +Jack had stumbled upon a large opening directly in the midst of the +brush. Before he could turn back the very soil beneath his feet gave +way, and over and over he rolled down an incline of forty-five degrees, +to bring up at last at the edge of a pool of black water and mud. + +Fortunately he was not hurt, although the roll had dazed him and cut +short his wind. As soon as he could he leaped to his feet and gazed +around him. + +The horse he had heard lay half in and half out of the mud. Its leg was +caught between two rocks, and it was trying frantically to free itself. +It was his own beast, and at once recognized him. + +"Whoa there!" cried Rasco, and did all he could to soothe the animal. +The horse appeared to understand that assistance was at hand, and became +quiet, while Rasco quickly released the locked leg and the beast +floundered up to a safe footing. + +"Well, we're in a pocket, 'pears ter me," reflected the man of the +plains as he gazed about him. On three sides the walls of the hole were +very nearly perpendicular, on the fourth the slant was as previously +stated, but here the soil was spongy and treacherous. + +"Hang me ef I'm a-goin' ter stay here all day," muttered Rasco, after a +view of the situation. "Come, boy, it's up thet slope or nuthin'," and +he leaped on the horse's back and urged him forward on a run. + +Twice did the horse try to ascend to the plain above and fail. Then +Rasco urged him forward a third time. This time the beast balked and +away went the man of the plains over his head. + +Fortunately Rasco landed in a tolerably soft spot, otherwise his neck +would surely have been broken. As it was, his head struck the root of a +fallen tree, which had once stood upon the edge of the hole, and he +rolled back near the pool all but senseless. + +It was a quarter of an hour later before he felt like stirring again. + +"Hang the hoss!" he murmured half aloud, yet, all told, he did not blame +the animal so much for balking. "Couldn't do it, eh, boy?" he said, and +the beast shook his mane knowingly. + +"Git along alone, then!" went on Rasco, and struck the horse on the +flank. + +Away went the steed, and this time the top of the hole was gained +without much difficulty. + +"Now you're out, how am I ter make it?" + +It was easy to ask this question, but not so easy to answer it. Rasco +tried to run up the spongy incline and sank to his knees. + +"Ain't no use; I'll try a new game," he growled. + +Fortunately, Rasco was in the habit of carrying, in cowboy fashion, a +lariat suspended from his belt. This he now unwound and with a dexterous +throw caught the outer loop over a sturdy bush growing over one of the +perpendicular sides of the opening. + +Testing the lariat, to make certain it was firm, he began to ascend hand +over hand. This was no light task, yet it was speedily accomplished, and +with a sigh of relief he found himself safe once more. + +But in the meantime the horse had trotted off, alarmed by a black snake +in the long grass. Rasco saw this snake a minute later, but the reptile +slunk out of sight before he could get a chance to dispatch it. + +The trail of the horse led again back to the ravine, but not in the +direction of the cave. Bound to secure the animal before rejoining +Pawnee Brown, Rasco loped along in pursuit. + +He was in the ravine, and had just caught sight of his steed once more, +when he heard several pistol shots coming from a distance. These were +the shots fired by Pawnee Brown at the wildcat. He listened intently, +but no more shots followed, and being below the level of the surrounding +country, he was unable to locate the discharge of firearms. + +"Something is wrong somewhar," he mused. "Can thet be Pawnee shootin', +or is it Dick an' the others?" + +He secured the horse and began to ascend out of the ravine, when a +murmur of voices broke upon his ears. One of the voices sounded familiar +and he soon recognized it as that of Louis Vorlange. + +Instantly dismounting, he tied his animal fast to a tree that the +creature might not wander away again, and worked his way noiselessly +through the brush. The voices came from a nearby clearing, and +approaching, Rasco saw on horseback Louis Vorlange and half a dozen +cavalrymen, among them Tucker, Ross and Skimmy, the trio who had sought +to detain Dick as a horse thief. + +"I feel certain they will come this way," one of the strange troopers +was saying. "I saw at least two boomer spies along yonder ravine." + +"They will come to Honnewell," answered Vorlange. "It may be that +instead of making a rush they will try to sneak in during the night, one +at a time." + +"We'll be ready for 'em," muttered Tucker. "I know my meat," he added, +significantly, to Vorlange, meaning that he had not forgotten the reward +offered if, in a battle he should lay Pawnee Brown and Dick low. At the +words Vorlange nodded. + +"When will the reinforcements be up this way?" asked Ross. + +"I have already sent word to headquarters," answered Vorlange. "The +lieutenant is sure to respond without delay." + +"Do you reckon the boomers know we are on hand to stop them?" questioned +Skimmy. + +"They know nothing," answered Vorlange. "If Pawnee Brown leads his men +in this direction they will fall directly into a trap--if the lieutenant +does as I have advised, and I think he will." + +"I hope the boomers start to fight and give us a chance to wipe 'em +out," muttered Ross. + +"There will be a fight started, don't you fear," answered Vorlange. + +The spy meant what he said. Too cowardly to meet Pawnee Brown face to +face, he wanted to make sure that the great scout should be killed. + +This would happen if a battle came off, for he felt sure Tucker would do +exactly as he promised. + +Vorlange had determined to be on hand. Secreted in a tree or elsewhere +he could fire a dozen shots or so into the air, and this would arouse +both cavalrymen and boomers to think that actual hostilities had already +started, and then neither side would longer hold off. + +"When will the boomers move?" was one of the cavalryman's questions. + +"They are waiting for Pawnee Brown," said the spy. + +"Where is he?" + +"Somewhere about the country." + +"Can he be up here?" + +Vorlange started. + +"I--I think not. + +"He's a slick one, Vorlange; remember that." + +"I know it, but some men are slicker. Wait until this boom is busted and +you'll never hear of Pawnee Brown again." + +So the talk ran on. Rasco listened with much interest, forgetting the +fact that he had promised to follow Pawnee Brown as soon as the +stray-away horse was secured. + +What he had heard surprised him greatly. + +Many of the plans of the boomers, made in such secrecy, were known to +the government authorities. The plan to move westward to Honnewell was +known, and a passage through to Oklahoma from that direction was, +consequently, out of the question. + +"The boys must know of this," thought Rasco. "I must tell Clemmer and +Gilbert before I try to hunt up Pawnee again, or go after Nellie. If +there was a fight as Vorlange seems to think, there might be a hundred +or more killed." + +Having overheard all that he deemed necessary, the man of the plains +started to retreat. + +He had taken but a few steps when he found himself cut off from his +horse. + +Three additional cavalrymen were approaching from the thicket. + +"Here's a horse tied up!" cried one. "Boys, whose animal is this?" + +The call instantly attracted the attention of Vorlange and his +companions. They turned toward the speaker, and now there remained +nothing for Rasco to do but to run for it, and this he did at the top of +his speed. + +As long as he could he kept out of sight behind the bushes. But soon +Tucker caught sight of him. + +"Halt, or I'll fire!" came the command. + +Tucker spoke first, and several others followed. As Rasco was now in +plain view, and as each of the enemy had a firearm of some sort aimed at +him, it would have been foolishness to have thus courted death, and the +man of the plains halted. + +"It is Jack Rasco!" cried Vorlange. "Boys, this is Pawnee Brown's +right-hand man!" + +"I know him!" growled Tucker. "Rasco, you're in a box now and don't you +forget it. You've been spying on us." + +"Make him a prisoner," said another of the cavalrymen, an under +officer. "If he is a spy we'll have to take him back to the fort and +turn him over to the captain." + +A minute later Jack Rasco found himself a close prisoner. It was +destined to be some time ere he again obtained his liberty. Thus were +his chances of helping Pawnee Brown cut off. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS. + + +Let us return to Pawnee Brown, who, totally unconscious of the fact that +Yellow Elk was creeping up behind him, stood beside the body of the dead +wildcat, re-loading the empty revolver. + +One of the chambers of the firearm had been loaded, when something about +the pistol caused the great scout to examine it more closely. As he was +doing this Yellow Elk advanced to within three feet of him and raised +the tomahawk for the fatal blow. + +At this terrible moment it must surely have been Providence which +interfered in the boomer's behalf, for, totally unconscious of his +peril, he would have done absolutely nothing to save himself. He bent +over the pistol more closely. + +"That trigger seems to catch," he thought, and threw the weapon up and +fired it over his shoulder, just to test it. + +The bullet did not pass within a yard of Yellow Elk, but the movement +came so unexpectedly that the Indian chief was taken completely off his +guard and dropped back as though actually shot. His cry of astonishment +and fear lasted longer than did the pistol report, and Pawnee Brown +swung around to confront him. + +"Yellow Elk!" came from his lips, when whizz! the tomahawk left the +redskin's hand and came swirling through the air directly for his head. +He dropped like lightning, and the keen blade sank deeply into the tree +behind him. + +"Wough!" grunted the Indian when he saw how he had missed his mark. Then +he leveled the pistol in his left hand at Pawnee Brown's head. + +The great scout felt his position was still a trying one. His own +shooter, though still in hand, was empty. He pointed it and started to +back away to the tree behind him. + +"Stop, or I kill!" commanded Yellow Elk, but instead of complying, the +scout took a flying leap to a safe shelter. Seeing this, Yellow Elk also +lost no time in getting behind cover. + +With the pistol loaded once more the boomer felt safer. He listened +intently for some movement upon the part of his enemy, but none came. +The Indian is a great hand at playing a waiting game and Yellow Elk was +no exception to this rule. + +"Well, if you can wait, so can I," thought Pawnee Brown and settled +down with eyes and ears on the alert. He thought of Nellie Winthrop and +of Rasco, and wondered what had become of uncle and niece. He did not +want to wait, feeling it was important to get back to the boomers' camp, +but there was no help for it, and he remained where he was. + +Fifteen minutes went by and no sound broke the stillness saving that of +the water in the brook as it flowed down over a series of rocks. Then +came the faint crack of a single dry twig over upon his left. He turned +around and blazed away in that direction. + +A fierce but suppressed exclamation in the Indian tongue followed, +showing that Yellow Elk had been hit. How serious the Indian chief was +injured there was no telling. It might be only a flesh wound, it might +have been fatal and Yellow Elk might have died without further sound, +and then again it might be only a ruse. Again Pawnee Brown paused to +listen. + +Thus another quarter of an hour was wasted. It must be confessed that +the great scout's nerves were strung to the topmost tension. At any +moment a shot might come which would end his life. It was ten times more +trying than to stand up in line of battle, for the enemy could not be +seen. + +Again came the crack of a twig, but very faint, showing that the sound +came from a distance. There followed a faint splash, some distance up +the stream. Yellow Elk was retreating. + +"I reckon I hit him pretty bad," mused Pawnee Brown. "But I'll go +slow--it may be only a trick," and away he crawled as silently as a +snail along the brook's bank. + +Inside of the next half hour he had covered a territory of many yards on +both sides of the brook. In one spot he had seen several drops of blood +and the finger marks of a bloody hand. Yellow Elk, however, had +completely disappeared. + +"He is gone, and so is the trail," muttered the great scout at last. He +spoke the truth. Further following of the Indian chief was just then out +of the question. + +"There is one thing to be thankful for," he mused. "I don't believe he +captured Nellie Winthrop again after he left the cave. I wonder what has +become of that girl?" + +Bonnie Bird had wandered down the brook for a drink and instantly +returned at her master's call. With something of a sigh at not having +finished matters with Yellow Elk the boomer leaped once again into the +saddle and turned back in the direction from whence he had come. + +It was now growing dark, and the great scout felt that he must ere long +return to the boomers' camp and give the order necessary to start the +long wagon train on its way westward to Honnewell. Little did he dream +of what the government spy and the cavalrymen had discovered and how +Jack Rasco had been taken prisoner. + +"Pawnee!" + +It was a cry from a patch of woods to the northward, and straining his +eyes he saw Cal Clemmer waving his sombrero toward him. Scout and cowboy +boomer were soon together. + +"Well, whar's Rasco and the gal?" were Clemmer's first words. + +"Both gone--I don't know where, Cal. Where are the other boys?" + +"Started back toward Honnewell; thet is, all but Dick Arbuckle. He's +over ter yonder spring gittin' a drink o' water." + +"I am sorry I failed to find the girl," said Pawnee Brown. "She must +have wandered off in the woods and got lost. I am quite certain the +Indians did not spot her again." + +"And Jack?" + +"Went off after his horse." + +"Wot do yer advise us ter do--stay here?" + +"I am afraid staying here will do no good, Cal. I must get back to camp +and start the wagons up. I know they won't move a step unless I am +personally there to give directions. The old boomers are all afraid of +being fooled by some trick of the soldiers." + +"Thet's so. Wall, if yer want me ter stay here I'll stay--otherwise I'll +go back," concluded Clemmer. + +Dick now came up, as anxious as Clemmer had been to know the news. His +face grew very sober when he heard that Nellie had not been found. + +"I wish I knew more of this territory--I'd go after her myself," he +said, earnestly. "I hope you won't abandon the search?" + +"Oh, no, lad; that is not my style. But I must get back to the camp +first and start the train along. I'll be on this ground again by +midnight." + +"Then why can't I stay here? I am not afraid." + +"Alone?" ejaculated Clemmer. + +"Yes--if you want to join Pawnee." + +"By gosh, but that boy's nervy fer a city chap!" cried the cowboy +boomer, in admiration. + +"Well, you know there's a girl in this, Cal," rejoined Pawnee Brown, +dryly. "And I reckon she's a girl well worth going through fire and +water for." + +At this Dick blushed. + +"I want to find out about Rasco, too," he hastened to say. "You know I +was going through with him, and he was going to do some business for my +father, later on." + +The matter was talked over for several minutes, and it was at last +decided that Dick should secrete himself in a thicket and stand watch +there or close by until he heard from Pawnee Brown again. + +"Be on your guard, boy, for enemies may be thick here," were the +boomer's last words of caution. "Don't uncover to anybody until you are +positive it is a friend." + +"And here's a bite for yer," added Clemmer, handing out some rations he +carried in a haversack. "You'll get mighty hungry ere the sun comes up +again." + +In a minute more the two horsemen were galloping away. Dick watched them +until they were lost to view, then dropped to a sitting position on a +flat rock in the centre of a clump of trees. + +The youth's heart beat rather strongly. He was not used to this sort of +thing. How different the prairies and woods were to the city streets and +buildings. + +"Lonesome isn't a name for it," he mused. "Puts me in mind of one vast +cemetery--a gigantic Greenwood, only there aren't any monuments. What is +that?" + +There was a flutter and a whirl, and Dick grasped his pistol tighter. It +was only a night-bird, starting up now that the sun was beginning to +set. + +Soon the woods and the prairies began to grow dark. The sun was lost to +view behind tall trees which cast shadows of incalculable length. It +grew colder, too, and he buttoned his light coat tightly about him. + +To pass the time he began to eat some of the food left behind by +Clemmer. It was not particularly appetizing, and in the city Dick might +have passed it by for something better. But just then it tasted "just +boss," to use Dick's own words. A bracing air and hunger are the best +sauces in the world. + +An hour had gone by, and all was dark, when Dick started up from a +reverie into which he had fallen. What was that which had reached his +ears from a distance? Was it a cry, or merely the moaning of the rising +wind? + +He listened. No, it was not the wind--it was a cry--a girl's voice--the +voice of Nellie Winthrop! + +"It is Nellie!" came from his set lips, and his face grew pale. Again +came the cry, but this time more faintly. + +From what direction had that cry for help proceeded? In vain the boy +asked himself that question. He was not used to a life in the open and +the rising wind was very deceptive. + +"I must find her!" he gasped, leaping from the rocks. "I shan't remain +here while she is in trouble." + +He had no horse the men being unable to provide him with one when they +had come together, but for this he did not care. He was resolved to aid +the girl if such a thing were possible. + +Away he went over the prairie at a rapid gait, in the direction from +whence he imagined the cry had proceeded. Two hundred yards were covered +and he came to a halt and listened. Not a sound broke the stillness, +although he fancied he heard the hoof-strokes of a horse at a great +distance. + +Then he turned in another direction, and then another. It was all to no +purpose. No trace of the girl could be found. He gave a groan. + +"It's no use; she's gone and that is all there is to it. Poor girl!" + +With a sinking heart he set off to return to the spot from whence he had +come. He advanced a dozen steps, then halted and stared about him. + +Suddenly an awful truth burst upon him. He was lost among the brush! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +NELLIE MEETS VORLANGE. + + +What had that awful cry heard by Dick meant? + +To learn the particulars, we must go back to the time when Nellie +Winthrop started to escape from the cave in the cliff. + +The heart of the poor girl almost stopped beating as she saw Pawnee +Brown face about, ready to defend both her and himself from any enemy +who might appear to help Yellow Elk. + +Urged by the great scout, she set off on a hasty run for the mouth of +the cave. + +Before the entrance was gained she heard the crack of a pistol, but +whether fired by the boomer or an Indian she could not tell. + +"Heaven spare that brave man!" was the prayer which came to her almost +bloodless lips. + +She looked around in vain for the horse spoken of by Pawnee Brown. Not +an animal was in sight. Then she remembered what the scout had said +about riding down the ravine, and she set off on foot. + +Not far from the mouth of the cave the ravine forked into two branches, +the smaller fork ending at the distance of quarter of a mile in a cul de +sac, or blind pocket. Not knowing she was making any mistake, she +entered this fork and kept on running, expecting each instant to find +Pawnee Brown coming up behind her. + +"Oh, dear, I can't be right!" + +Such was the cry which escaped her when she came to a halt, realizing +she could go no further in that direction. On both sides and in front +arose a series of rocks, more or less steep, and covered only with scrub +brush, impossible to ascend. + +She looked behind. No one was coming. All about her was as silent as a +tomb. + +"Perhaps I had better go back," she mused, but the thought of +encountering an Indian made her shiver. In her life in the open she had +had many an encounter with a wild animal, but redskins were as yet +almost new to her, and her experience with the hideous Yellow Elk had +been one she did not care to repeat. + +She had just turned to move back to the ravine proper, when a sound +among the rocks caused her to pause. She looked intently in the +direction, but could see nothing out of the ordinary. + +"Hullo, there, miss; what are you doing away out here?" + +The cry came from the rocks on her right. Turning swiftly, she saw an +evil-looking man scowling down upon her from a small opening under one +of the rocky walls of the _cul de sac_. The man was Louis Vorlange. + +Nellie did not know the fellow; indeed she had never heard of him. But +there was that in the spy's manner which was not at all reassuring as he +leaped down to where she stood. + +"I say, how did you come here?" went on Vorlange. + +"I--I just escaped from an Indian who carried me off from Arkansas +City," answered Nellie. + +"An Indian! Who was it, do you know?" + +"A fellow named Yellow Elk." + +Vorlange uttered a low whistle. + +"Where is he now?" he questioned. + +"I left him back in yonder hills, in a cave." + +Again the spy uttered a whistle, but whether of surprise or dismay +Nellie could not tell. + +"Were you alone with Yellow Elk?" + +"I was for a time. But a white man came to my aid and the two had a +fight." + +"Who was the white man?" + +Before she gave the matter a second thought, Nellie answered: + +"Mr. Pawnee Brown." + +"Ha!" Vorlange's eyes gleamed, and the girl felt certain she had made a +mistake. + +"Where is Pawnee Brown now?" + +"I left him in the cave with the Indian. I expected him to follow me." + +"I see. And what may your name be?" + +The man's words were fair enough, but Nellie did not like his manner at +all, so she turned upon him coldly. + +"And what is your name, and who are you?" + +"I am not here to answer questions, miss. I am a government official, +let that be enough for you to know." + +As he spoke Louis Vorlange caught Nellie by the arm. + +"Let go of me," cried the frightened girl, and attempted to pull away, +but Vorlange held her tight. + +"You come along with me. No one, and especially Pawnee Brown, has any +right in this territory just now, and it is my business to see that all +such people are kept out. I presume you belong to that crowd of boomers, +since you say you were carried off from Arkansas City?" + +"I shall answer no more of your questions, sir. Let me go!" + +"You'll come along with me," muttered Vorlange. "I take it you know +what the boomers intend to do, and, if that is so, your information is +just what the government wants." + +So speaking he attempted to drag Nellie up the rocks to the opening +before mentioned. The girl resisted with all of her strength, and +Vorlange received a box on the left ear which made that member of his +body hum for a long time after. + +"You little wretch!" he cried, as he caught her up in his arms. "I will +get square with you for that." + +"You are no gentleman! Let me go!" replied Nellie. Then she attempted to +scream, but he promptly clapped his hand over her mouth. + +In another moment, despite her utmost struggles, he was carrying her up +to the opening. This spot once reached, he took her inside and over to a +well-like hole upon one side. + +"Do you see that hole?" he said sternly. "I am going to put you in that +for the present, for safe keeping. I call it my prison cell, and no cell +could be better. It is not a cheerful place, but you will be as safe +there as in the best prison in Chicago or San Francisco. I'll be back +for you soon, and in the meantime you had better make no attempt to +escape, for at the mouth of this opening is set a gun, with a wire +attachment, which may blow you up." + +This latter statement was a false one, but Vorlange rightfully +calculated that it would have its due effect upon the frightened girl. + +Having thus intimidated Nellie, Vorlange lowered her into the opening in +the rocks, which was about six feet in diameter and at least ten feet +deep. This done, he lit a lantern and hung it so that its rays might +shine down upon his captive. + +"You won't feel so lonesome with the light," he said. "Now keep quiet +until I return. If you behave yourself you have nothing to fear. I am a +government officer and I am holding you as a prisoner only until I can +turn you over to the proper authorities." + +"It is a--a queer proceeding," faltered Nellie. She could hardly bring +herself to believe the man. + +"Out here we can't do things exactly as they are done in the big +cities," grinned Vorlange. "We are out here after the boomers just now, +and your being here with Pawnee Brown will rather go against you. But +keep quiet now until I return." + +Thus speaking, the spy quirted the opening, leaving Nellie alone. With +hasty steps Vorlange made his way along the fork of the ravine until the +opening proper was reached. Here he settled himself in a tree to watch +for Pawnee Brown's possible coming. But, as we know, the scout did not +move in that direction. + +For over two hours Nellie was left alone, a prey to the keenest mental +torture it is possible to imagine. As the day was drawing to a close +Vorlange appeared, a peculiar smile upon his face. + +He had met the cavalrymen, and Jack Rasco had been captured as +previously described. + +"Well, we are going to move now," he said to Nellie, and threw down a +rope that he might haul her up out of the hole. + +"Where to?" + +"You'll learn that later." + +As she did not wish to remain in that damp spot longer, she caught the +rope and was drawn up. Then Vorlange took her outside and sat her down +before him on his horse, first, however, tying her hands. + +It was during the ride that followed that Dick heard her cry for help +and started to her rescue, only to miss her and get lost in the brush. + +A ride of half an hour brought the pair to the edge of a heavy timber. +Through this they picked their way, until a small clearing was gained, +where was located a low log cabin, containing two rooms. The log cabin +was not inhabited, and Vorlange pushed open the door without ceremony. + +"You'll stay here over night," he said, as he ushered Nellie into the +smaller room. "You can see this has been used for a prison before, as +all of the windows are nailed up. I don't believe you'll try to escape +anyway, for, let me warn you, it won't pay. Make yourself as comfortable +as you can, and in the morning we'll come to an understanding. We've got +another prisoner besides yourself, and between the two of you I reckon +we'll find out before long just what the boomers are up to." + +And with a dark look upon his face, Louis Vorlange stalked out of the +apartment, locking the door after him, and thus leaving Nellie to her +fate. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +THE MOVING OF THE BOOMERS. + + +"Pawnee Brown at last!" + +The words came from one of the boomers, a fat but spry old chap named +Dunbar. + +"Yes, Dunbar," answered the great scout. "Were you getting anxious about +me?" + +"Well, just a trifle, Pawnee." + +"The camp must move at once. Send the word around immediately, Dunbar." + +"Whar do we move to?" + +"To Honnewell. As soon as all hands are at Honnewell I'll send out +further orders." + +In less than half an hour the immense wagon train organized by the +boomers located in Kansas was on the way. + +At the front rode Pawnee Brown, Clemmer and several others who were +personal friends of the scout. + +It was a grand sight, this moving. To this day some of the boomers say +it was the grandest sight they ever beheld. + +Every heart was full of hope. Past trials and hardships were forgotten. +The boomers were to enter the richest farming lands in the States and +there start life anew. + +The movement was made in silence and in almost utter darkness. Of +course, it was impossible to hide the news from the citizens of Arkansas +City, but the train was well on its way before the news had any chance +of spreading. + +At the time of which we write there were several trails to Honnewell +from Arkansas City. The regular road was a fair one in good weather, +but, after such a rain as had fallen, this trail was hub-deep with mud +in more than one spot. + +"Oi'll not go thot trail," was Delaney's comment. "Oi'll take the upper +road." + +"Thot's roight, Mike," put in Rosy, his wife. "It's not meself as wants +to stick fast in this black mud. Sure, and it's worse nor the bogs of +Erin!" + +"Vot's dot road you vos speakin' apout alretty?" put in Humpendinck, who +had as heavy a wagon as anyone. + +"It's a better road nor this, Humpy," replied Mike Delaney. "Folly me +an' we'll rach Honnewell afore enny of 'em, mark me wurrud." + +Thus encouraged, Humpendinck followed Delaney on the upper trail, and, +seeing the two go off, half a dozen followed. + +It was more than half an hour after before Pawnee Brown heard of their +departure. + +The great scout was much disturbed. + +"It's foolishness for them to start off on the upper trail," he +declared. "I went over it but a few days ago, and at Brown's Crossing +the road is all torn up by a freshet. Besides that, we must keep +together." + +"Yer right thar, Pawnee," answered Clemmer. "Delaney ought to know +better. But yer can't tell the Irish anything." + +"Humpendinck went with him," put in Dunbar, who had brought the news. + +"Both the Irishman and the German are smart enough in their way," +answered Pawnee Brown. "But they've made a mistake. Cal and Dunbar, you +continue at the head, and I'll ride across country and head Delaney and +his crowd back through the Allen trail. I'll probably rejoin you just +this side of Honnewell." + +With this command, Pawnee Brown left the wagon train and plunged off +through the darkness alone. + +He had been over that district many times and thought he knew about +every foot of the ground. + +But for once the great scout was mistaken, and that mistake was +destined to bring him into serious difficulty. + +About half a mile had been covered, and he was just approaching a patch +of small timber, when he noticed that Bonnie Bird began to show signs of +shyness. She did not refuse to go forward, but evidently was proceeding +against her will. + +Quick to notice a change in the beautiful mare's mood, Pawnee Brown +spoke to her. She pawed the ground and tossed her head. + +"What is it, Bonnie? Danger ahead?" + +Again the mare pawed the ground. Feeling certain something was wrong, +Pawnee Brown stood up in his stirrups and looked about him. + +All was dark and silent upon every side. Overhead the faint stars shed +but an uncertain light. + +"It's one too many for me, Bonnie," he mused. "Forward until the danger +becomes clearer." + +Thus commanded, the mare moved forward once more, but this time much +slower. Once or twice her feet seemed to stick fast, but Pawnee Brown +did not notice this. At last she came to a dead halt and would not go +another step. + +"The danger must be in the timber," thought the boomer. "Bonnie Bird +wouldn't balk for nothing. I'll dismount and reconnoitre." + +Springing to the ground, he drew his pistol and moved forward silently. +Scarcely had he taken a dozen steps than he realized the cause of his +mare's unwillingness to proceed further. + +He was in a bed of quicksand. + +Anybody who knows what a bed of quicksand is knows how dangerous it +is--dangerous to both man and beast. Just as the scout made his +discovery he sank up to his knees in the mass. + +"By Jove! I must get back out of this, and in double-quick order," he +muttered, and tried to turn, to find himself sinking up to his waist. + +Pawnee Brown was now fully alive to the grave peril of his situation. + +He tried by all the strength at his command to pull himself to the firm +ground from which he had started. + +He could not budge a foot. True, he took one step, but it was only to +sink in deeper than ever. + +Several minutes of great anxiety passed. He had sunk very nearly up to +his armpits. + +Quarter of an hour more and he would be up to his head, and then----? +Brave as he was, the great scout did not dare to think further. The idea +of a death in the treacherous quicksand was truly horrible. + +His friends would wonder what had become of him, but it was not likely +that they would ever find his body. + +And even faithful Bonnie Bird would be dumb, so far as telling the +particulars of her master's disappearance was concerned. + +The mare now stood upon the edge of the quicksands, fifteen feet off, +whining anxiously. She knew as well as though she had been a human being +that something was wrong. + +Suddenly an inspiration came to Pawnee Brown. + +"How foolish! Why didn't I think of that before?" he muttered. + +At his belt had hung a lariat, placed there when the wagon train +started, in case any of the animals should attempt to run off in the +darkness. + +The boomer could use a lariat as well as Clemmer or any of the cowboys. +More than once, riding at full speed upon his mare, he had thrown the +noose around any foot of a steer that was selected by those looking on. + +He put his hand down to his waist and felt for the lariat. It was still +there, and he brought it up and swung it over his head, to free it from +the quicksand. + +As has been stated, the belt of timber was not far away, the nearest +tree being less than fifty feet from where he remained stuck. + +Preparing the lariat, he threw the noose up and away from him. It +circled through the air and fell over the nearest branch of the tree. +Hauling it taut, Pawnee Brown tested it, to make sure it would not slip, +and then began to haul himself up, as Rasco had done at the swamp hole. + +It was slow work, and more than once he felt that the lariat would +break, so great was the strain put upon it. + +But it held, and a few minutes later Pawnee Brown found himself with +somewhat cut hands, safe in the branches of the tree. + +Winding up the lariat, he descended to the ground, and made a detour to +where Bonnie Bird remained standing, and to where he had cast his +pistol. + +The mare and weapon secured, he continued on his way, but made certain +to wander into no more quicksand spots. + +"It was too narrow an escape for comfort," was the way in which Pawnee +Brown expressed himself, when he told the story later. + +An hour after found him again among the boomers. + +Mike Delaney was just coming in by the Allen trail. The Irishman was +much crestfallen over his failure to find a better trail than that +selected by the scout, and Rosy was giving it to him with a vengeance. + +"Th' nixt toime ye go forward it will be undher Pawnee Brown's +directions, Moike Delaney!" she cried. "It's not yerself thot is as +woise as Moses in the wilderness, moind thot!" And her clenched fist +shook vigorously to emphasize her words. After that Delaney never +strayed from the proper trail again. + +All of the boomers but Jack Rasco were now on hand, and as hour after +hour went by and Rasco did not turn up, Pawnee Brown grew anxious about +the welfare of his right-hand man. + +"Looking for the girl had brought him into trouble, more than likely," +he thought, as he rode away from Honnewell, taking a due south course. +"And what can have become of her?" + +Pawnee Brown was on his way to the spot where he had left Dick. He had +decided that as soon as he had found the lad, he would return to camp, +and then the onward march of the boomers for Oklahoma should at once be +begun. + +On through the ravine where he had met Yellow Elk he dashed, Bonnie Bird +feeling fresh after a short rest and her morning meal, for the sun was +now creeping skyward. On through the brush, and he turned toward the +open prairie. + +"Halt! Throw up your hands!" + +The unexpected command came from the thicket on the edge of the prairie. +On the instant the boomer wheeled about. The sight which met his gaze +caused his heart to sink within him. There, drawn up in line, was the +full troop of cavalry sent out by the government to stop the boomers' +entrance to the much-coveted territory. + +Vorlange's spy work was responsible, and Pawnee Brown's carefully-laid +plan had fallen through. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +DICK'S DISAGREEABLE DISCOVERY. + + +"Lost!" + +Dick murmured the word over and over again, as he peered through the +brush, first in one direction and then in another. + +"I ought to have kept track of where I was going," he went on bitterly. +"Of course, away out here one place is about as good as another for +hiding, but how am I going to find the others, or, rather, how are they +going to find me, when they come back?" + +He pushed on for nearly a quarter of an hour; then, coming to a flat +rock, threw himself down for reflection. + +"Just my luck!" he muttered. "I'll have to have a string tied about my +neck like a poodle dog. What a clown I was to go it blind! But Nellie's +cry for help made me forget everything else. Poor girl! I do hope she is +safe. If that redskin--gosh! what's that?" + +The flat rock was backed up by a number of heavy bushes. From these +bushes had come a peculiar noise, half grunt, half yawn! Dick leaped to +his feet, the bushes parted and there appeared the savage face of +Yellow Elk! + +Dick knew the Indian by that plume of which he had heard so much. He +rightfully guessed that Yellow Elk had been taking a nap behind the +bushes. He had been shot in the thigh, and this, coupled with the fact +that he had had no sleep for two nights, had made him very weary. + +As the Indian chief shoved his face into view he caught sight of Dick +and uttered a slight huh! Up came the boy's weapon, but on the instant +Yellow Elk disappeared. + +For the moment Dick was too paralyzed to move. Like a flash he realized +that Yellow Elk had the better of him, for the Indian was behind +shelter, while he stood in a clearing. + +"White boy stand still!" came in guttural tones from the redskin. "Don't +dare move, or Indian shoot." + +"What do you want of me?" asked Dick. + +"White boy all alone?" + +"What business is that of yours?" + +At this Yellow Elk muttered a grunt. Then from out of the bushes Dick +saw thrust the shining barrel of a horse pistol. + +"White boy throw down little shooter," commanded the redskin. By little +shooter he meant Dick's pistol. + +There was no help for it, and the youth did as requested. + +"White boy got udder shooter?" + +"No." + +"Now say if white boy alone. Speak if want to save life." + +"Yes, I am alone, Yellow Elk." + +"Ha! you know Yellow Elk?" cried the Indian in surprise. + +"I've heard of you." + +"What white boy do here?" + +"I am lost." + +"Lost. Huh!" and a look of disgust crossed the Indian chiefs face. The +idea of a human being losing his way was something he could not +understand. During his life he had covered thousands of miles of prairie +and forest lands and had never yet lost himself. Such is the training +and instinct of a true American aboriginal. + +While speaking Yellow Elk had leaped through the brush, and now he came +up and peered into Dick's face. Instantly his eyes filled with anger. + +"I know white boy; he friend to Pawnee Brown. Indian see him at big +moving."--meaning the camp of the boomers. He had not noticed Dick in the +fight at the cave. + +"Yes, Pawnee Brown is my friend," answered Dick. "Where is he now?" he +added, to throw the Indian off the series of questions he was +propounding. + +"Pawnee Brown dead!" muttered Yellow Elk simply. "White boy come with +me." + +"With you!" ejaculated Dick, a chill creeping up to his heart. + +"Yes; come now. No wait, or Yellow Elk shoot!" and again the horse +pistol was raised. + +The tone was so ugly that Dick felt it would be useless to hang back. +Yellow Elk pointed with his arm in the direction he wished the lad to +proceed, and away they went, the Indian but a pace behind, and keeping +his pistol where it would be ready for use whenever required. + +Dick never forgot that walk in the starlight, taken at about the same +time that Pawnee Brown was floundering in the quicksand. A mile or more +was covered, over prairies, through a wood and across several small +streams, for the fertile Indian Territory abounds in water courses. +Yellow Elk stuck to him like a shadow, and the pistol was continually in +evidence. Yellow Elk had likewise appropriated Dick's weapon, the one +cast to the ground. + +Presently a clearing was gained where stood a cabin built of logs. All +about the place was deserted. Going up to the cabin the Indian opened +the door and lit a match. + +"White boy go inside and we have talk," said Yellow Elk, when there came +a noise from the woods beyond. At once Yellow Elk pushed Dick into the +cabin and bolted the door from the outside. + +"White boy keep quiet or Yellow Elk come in and kill!" he hissed, in a +low but distinct tone. "No make a sound till Indian open door again." + +The Indian's words were so terrifying that Dick stood still for several +minutes exactly where he had been thrust. All was pitch dark around him. +He listened, but not a sound reached his ears. + +"Where in the world is this adventure going to end?" was the thought +which coursed through his mind. + +He wondered what had alarmed Yellow Elk. Was it the approach of some +white friend? Fervidly he prayed it might be. + +A low, half-suppressed cough from somewhere close at hand caught his ear +and made him start. + +"Who is there?" he asked aloud. + +"Oh, Dick Arbuckle, is that you?" came in an eager voice. + +"Nellie Winthrop! Is it possible? Where are you?" + +"In the next room." + +"Can't you come out?" + +"No; I'm locked in." + +"Gosh, you don't say!" Forgetting his former fear, Dick hurried across +the cabin floor to the door of the inner apartment. Feeling around in +the dark he found a hasp and staple and pulled out the plug which +fastened the barrier. In another instant boy and girl plumped into each +other's arms in the darkness. Even in that moment of peril Dick could +not resist giving Nellie a little squeeze, which she did not resent. + +"But how came you here?" asked the youth quickly. + +"I was captured by a government spy, who wants to get from me some +secret of the boomers. He is a bad-looking man, and I was awfully afraid +of him." + +"Yellow Elk brought me here. We are prisoners together. Some noise in +the woods just took Yellow Elk off." + +"The man has been gone less than five minutes. Perhaps they are in +league with each other," suggested Nellie. + +"Perhaps, or they may be enemies. But never mind how that stands. We +must get away, Nellie, and that before Yellow Elk comes back." + +"Heaven knows, I am willing!" gasped the trembling girl. "I want no more +of Yellow Elk." + +"The window is nailed up," went on Dick, after an examination. "And the +Indian fastened that door from the outside. I wonder if I can't get out +by way of the roof?" He lit a match and gazed upward. "There is an +opening. Here goes!" + +In another instant he was climbing up beside the fireplace, to where a +scuttle led to the sloping roof. He was soon without, and Nellie heard +him drop to the ground. Then the outer door was thrown back. + +"Quick! The Indian is coming back, and there is somebody with him!" +whispered Dick, and, taking hold of Nellie's hand, he led her away as +fast as possible. Their course was from the rear of the cabin and across +a broad but shallow stream. + +"We'll go down the stream a bit before we land," said Dick, as they were +on the point of stepping out of the water. "That may serve to throw +Yellow Elk off the trail." + +"Yes, yes, but do hurry!" answered the girl. "If Yellow Elk gets hold of +me again I'll die!" The fear of getting into the clutches of the red man +was so great she trembled from head to foot and would have gone down had +not Dick's strong arm supported her. + +It was wonderful how strong the youth felt, now that he had somebody +besides himself to protect. It is said that nature fits the back to the +burden, and it must have been so in this case. For himself, he might +have feared to face Yellow Elk single-handed; defending Nellie he would, +if called upon, have faced a dozen redskins. + +On and on they went, as silently as possible. The trees overhung the +brook from both sides, making it pitch dark beneath. + +A distance of fifty yards had been covered, when they heard a loud +exclamation of rage, followed by an Indian grunt. + +"The white man and the Indian have met and both have discovered our +flight," whispered Dick. "Come, we will leave the stream and take to +yonder woods. Surely among those trees we can find some safe hiding +place." + +They turned in toward shore. As they were about to step to dry land +Nellie's foot slipped on a round stone, making a loud splash. At the +same time the girl gave a faint cry. + +"My ankle--it's twisted!" + +"Quick! let me carry you!" returned Dick, and, seeing the ankle must +pain her not a little, he picked her up in his arms and dove in among +the trees. + +They were not a moment too soon, for the ready ears of Yellow Elk had +heard the splash and the cry, and now he came bounding in the direction, +with Louis Vorlange at his heels. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +DICK HITS HIS MARK. + + +"They are coming closer, Dick! What shall we do?" + +It was Nellie Winthrop who asked the question. Boy and girl had entered +the woods a distance of fifty feet from the bank of the brook, and both +rested where several large rocks and some overhanging bushes afforded a +convenient hiding place. + +"Keep quiet, Nellie," he said in a murmur, with his lips close to her +shell-like ears. And he gripped her arm to show her that he would stand +by her no matter what danger might befall them. + +It would have been foolhardy to say more, for Yellow Elk and Louis +Vorlange were now within hearing distance, and the ears of the Indian +chief were more than ever on the alert. The government spy had lighted a +torch, which he swung low to the brook bank, while Yellow Elk made an +examination of the ground. + +"Here footmarks!" grunted the redskin, a minute later, and pointed them +out. "They go this way--cannot be far off." + +"Then after them," muttered Vorlange. "It was through your stupidity +that the girl got away. Yellow Elk, I always put you down for being +smarter than that." + +"Yellow Elk smart enough!" growled the Indian chief. + +"No, you're not. In some things you are like a block of wood," grumbled +Vorlange. The escape of Nellie had put him out a good deal. + +The manner of the government spy provoked the Indian. To be called a +block of wood is, to the red man, a direct insult. Yellow Elk +straightened up. + +"White man big fool!" he hissed. "Yellow Elk not make chase for him," +and he folded his arms. + +"You won't go after the boy and the girl?" queried Vorlange. + +"No--white man hunt for himself if he want to catch the little woman +again." + +And having thus delivered himself, Yellow Elk sat down by the brook and +refused to budge another step. + +The Indian's objections to continuing the search were more numerous than +appeared on the surface. The so-called insult, bad as it was, was merely +an excuse to hide other motives. Yellow Elk had known Vorlange for years +and as the spy was naturally a mean fellow, the redskin hated him +accordingly. + +Another reason for refusing to go ahead was that Yellow Elk knew only +too well that if Dick and Nellie were again taken, Vorlange would +consider both his own captives, and Yellow Elk would be "counted out" of +the entire proceedings. He could not go to the agency and claim any +glory, for he had run away without permission, although he had told +Vorlange he was away on a special mission connected with the soldiers. + +And deeper than all was the thought that if he did not capture Nellie +now, he might do so later on, when he had separated from the spy. Ever +since he had first seen the beautiful girl he had been covetous of +making her his squaw. Indian fashion, he felt he could compel Nellie to +choose him, even if he had to whip her into making the choice. + +"You won't go on with the search?" cried Vorlange, in a rage. + +"No," was the short answer. + +"I say you shall! See here, Yellow Elk, do you want to be shot?" + +"Yellow Elk not afraid of Vorlange--Vorlange know dat. Yellow Elk go +back to cabin to see if girl or boy leave anything behind." + +Then he got up, waded across the brook again and disappeared among the +trees surrounding the log cabin. + +Louis Vorlange muttered a good many things in a very angry tone. Then, +torch in hand, he started up the brook bank to follow the trail alone. + +Dick and Nellie listened to the quarrel with bated breath. Both hoped +that Vorlange would follow to the cabin. When he approached closer than +ever, their hearts seemed to almost stop beating. + +Feeling that a contest was at hand, Dick groped around in the darkness +for some weapon. No stick was at hand, but at his feet lay a jagged +stone weighing all of a pound. He took it up and held it in readiness. + +Closer and closer came Vorlange, turning now to the right and now to the +left, for following the trail among the rocks and brush was no easy +matter. + +"Might as well give yourselves up!" he called out. "I am bound to spot +you sooner or later." + +To this neither offered any reply, but Dick felt Nellie shiver. They +could now see the flare of the torch plainly, for Vorlange was less than +thirty feet away. + +Presently the spy uttered a low cry of pleasure. He had found several +footprints, where Dick had slipped from a rock into the dirt. Now he +came straight for them, waving the torch above his head that it might +throw its light to a greater distance. + +[Illustration: "Dick had let fly the jagged stone, taking him directly +in the forehead and keeling him over like a tenpin"] + +"So there you are!" The man caught sight of Nellie's dress. "I told you +I would catch you. It's not such an easy matter to get away from Louis +Vorlange. The next time I lock you up--oh!" + +A deep groan escaped the spy. Dick had let fly the jagged stone, taking +him directly in the forehead and keeling him over like a tenpin. The +blow left a deep cut from which the blood flowed in a stream, and +Vorlange was completely stunned. + +"Oh, Dick, have you--you--killed him?" burst from Nellie's lips, in +horror. + +"I guess not, Nellie; he's stunned, that's all. Come, let us run for it +again--before that Indian changes his mind and comes back." + +"You might take his pistol," suggested the quick-witted girl. + +"A good idea--I will. Now let me carry you again, I see you can hardly +stand on that foot." For Nellie had limped along a dozen steps in great +pain. + +"But I am so heavy, Dick----" + +"Never mind, I can carry you a little distance, at least." + +"You had better save yourself and let me go." + +"What! Nellie, do you think me so selfish? Never! Come, and we'll escape +or die in the attempt." + +And catching her up as before, he started off on as rapid a gait as the +weight of his fair burden would permit. + +A distance of a hundred yards had been covered and Dick found himself +ascending a slight hill. The climb was by no means easy, yet he kept on +manfully, knowing what capture by Yellow Elk might mean. + +"He would tomahawk me and carry Nellie off," he thought, and it would be +hard to say which he thought the worst, the tomahawking or the carrying +off of the girl for whom he entertained such a high regard. + +The top of the hill reached, they saw before them a broad stretch of +open prairie, flanked to the north and the south by the woods from which +they had just emerged. + +"I'll be thrashed if I know where we are," he said. "Have you any idea?" + +"No, Dick, I am completely bewildered." + +"I wonder if it is safe to attempt to cross this prairie? It is pretty +dark, but that redskin has mighty sharp eyes." + +"Let us go down to the edge of the woods first and rest a bit. I am sure +you are pretty well out of breath, and if I can bathe my ankle in some +cold water perhaps I'll be able to walk on it before long." + +"Don't try it, Nellie; I'll carry you," and again the youth picked her +up. + +It was not long before they reached a convenient hollow, where there was +a small pool. Here Nellie made herself comfortable and took off the shoe +which hurt her so much. Bathed, the ankle which had been twisted felt +much better. It was still, however, much swollen, and to walk far on +that foot was as yet out of the question. + +An hour went by, a quiet hour, in which only the cries of the night +birds and the occasional hoot of an owl disturbed them. They conversed +in whispers and Dick's ears were ever on the alert, for he felt certain +that Vorlange or Yellow Elk would sooner or later continue the search +for them. + +Nellie was very sleepy and at last her eyes closed and she dropped into +a slumber upon Dick's shoulder, forming such a pretty picture the youth +could do nothing but admire her. "I'll save her--I must do it!" he +murmured, and kissed her wavy tresses softly. + +It wanted still two hours to sunrise when he awakened her. She leaped up +with a start. + +"I have been asleep! Oh, Dick, why did you let me drop off?" + +"I knew how tired you must be after going through all you did. But we +must be on our way now, before it grows lighter. How is the foot?" + +"It is stiff, but much better. Which way shall we go?" + +"Let us strike across the prairie and to the north. That is bound to +bring us into Kansas sooner or later, and once there we'll be sure to +locate the boomers without much trouble." + +Both were hungry, but, as there was no food at hand, neither said a word +on that point. Getting a drink at a running brook close by, they started +off, Dick holding Nellie's hand, that she might not go down on the ankle +that was still weak. + +Only a corner of the broad prairie passed, and then they turned again +into a woods. The sun was now up and it was growing warmer. + +"I'll shoot a few birds if I can't find anything else," said Dick. "We +can't starve, and birds broiled over a fire will make a fair meal." + +"But the noise?" began Nellie. + +"I know; but, as I said, we can't starve, Nellie. We'll have to take the +risk. Here goes!" + +Dick crept forward to where half a dozen birds sat on a nearby bush. The +birds were in a flutter over something, but Dick did not notice this. +Bringing two of the birds into range for a single shot, he blazed away +with his pistol. + +The sharp crack of the firearm was still echoing through the woods when +there came a roar from behind the bushes the birds had occupied. Dick +had brought down his game and more, he had struck a bear in the +shoulder. In another moment the huge beast leaped into sight, and with +angry eyes and gleaming teeth bore straight for the astonished boy. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +THE SOLDIERS AGAIN. + + +Never was Dick Arbuckle more astonished than when the big bear leaped +out from behind the bushes and confronted himself and Nellie Winthrop. + +"Oh, Dick! a bear!" screamed the girl, and stood still, too paralyzed +with fright to move. + +As we know, Dick had just brought down several birds with his +pistol--indeed it was this very shot which had clipped the bear--and now +the weapon was empty and useless, having had but one chamber loaded. + +But as the great beast came forward, Dick knew enough not to stand +still. He retreated in double-quick order, and forced Nellie to +accompany him. Away they went through the woods with the bear in close +pursuit. + +At the start of the chase girl and boy were at least forty feet in +advance, but despite his bulk the bear made rapid progress, and slowly +but surely began to lessen the distance between himself and those he +sought to make his victims. Looking over his shoulder, Dick saw him +lumbering along, his mouth wide open and his blood-red tongue hanging +out as though ready to lick him in. + +"I--I--can't run any more," gasped Nellie. Her heart was beating as +though ready to break. "Oh, Dick, what shall we do?" + +"Here is a tree with low branches--jump for that--I will help you up!" +returned the youth, and in a few seconds they were in the tree, a scrub +oak, with the big bear underneath, eying them angrily, and speculating +upon how he could bring them down within reach of his powerful embrace +and his hungry maw. + +"He is going to climb up," came from Nellie's lips a few seconds later. +She was right. Bruin had attacked the tree trunk and now he was coming +up slowly, as though afraid of moving into some trap. + +Dick did not answer, for talking would have done no good. He was +re-loading the pistol with all possible speed. + +Crack! Dick had leaned down through the branches of the oak and taken +aim at one of those bloodshot eyes. There was a howl and a roar, and the +bear fell down with a crash that shook the forest. As to whether the +bullet had found that eye or not Dick could not tell, but certain it was +that once on the ground the bear picked himself up in short order and +started to run away. + +"You hit him!" cried Nellie. "Oh, Dick, if only he don't come back!" + +"He's not going away--very far," answered the boy. The shot had +encouraged him and his blood was up. A moment later Nellie was horrified +to behold him drop to the grass and make off after the beast. + +"That bear will kill him sure!" she ejaculated. "Oh, Dick, come back! +please do!" she screamed. + +A shot answered her, a shot which was quickly followed by another. A +minute of painful silence; then suddenly the bear staggered into view +with Dick at his heels. + +"I've nailed him!" shouted the boy, joyfully, and another shot did the +work. With a groan the bear keeled over, gave a jerk or two, and died. + +Nellie was in such a tremble she could scarcely descend from the tree. +When she did come down she found Dick hard at work cutting out a juicy +steak from the bear's flank. + +"We'll have a breakfast fit for a king now," he said, with a little +laugh, to scatter his former nervousness. "Just wait till I light a +fire. I must gather the driest available sticks, so as to make as little +smoke as possible." + +"Yes, we don't want our enemies to locate us," answered the girl, and +saw to it that every twig which went on the blaze which was kindled was +as dry as a bone. + +In less than half an hour the steak had been done to a turn, and they +sat down to eat it. It was certainly a most informal meal, without +plates or platter, and only Dick's pocket knife to cut the steak with. +Yet neither had ever enjoyed a repast more. Having finished, they +procured a drink at a flowing stream behind them, and then Dick cut off +a chunk of the bear meat, wrapped it in a bit of skin and slung it over +his shoulder. + +"We may want another meal of it before we reach civilization," he +explained, "Nothing like preparing one's self, when we have the chance." + +"It's a shame to leave such a beautiful bear skin robe behind," answered +Nellie. "But I suppose it cannot be helped. Oh, if only we were safe +once more." + +Again they set off on their weary tramp northward, and thus nearly two +miles were covered. The sun was now coming out strongly, and Dick saw +that his fair companion was beginning to grow tired. + +"We will rest a little, Nellie," he said, "I think perhaps we can afford +to take it easy now." + +"I am so fearful that Indian is following us!" answered the girl with a +shudder. "If he should find that bear, and--Oh, Dick, look!" + +Nellie leaped to her feet from the seat she had just taken, and pointed +behind her. Dick gave one look and his heart sank within him. Yellow Elk +was bearing down upon them as swiftly as his long legs would permit! + +In his hand the Indian chief carried a gun, and as Nellie arose he +caught sight of the pair and pointed the weapon at Dick's head. + +"White boy throw down pistol!" he called out, when within speaking +distance. + +"Let Yellow Elk throw down his gun," answered Dick. His pistol was up +and now he shoved Nellie behind him. + +"White boy fool--cannot shoot against Yellow Elk," growled the redskin. +He had been following their trail since sun-up and was somewhat winded. + +"Perhaps I can shoot. Did you see that bear I brought down?" rejoined +Dick. + +At this the Indian frowned. + +"Bear must have been sick--white boy no bring game down like that if +well--too powerful." + +"I brought him down and I'll bring you down if you don't stop where you +are," was the steady answer. + +"Oh, Dick, he'll shoot you," whispered Nellie. She wanted to get before +him, but he would not allow it. + +By this time Yellow Elk had arrived to within a dozen steps of them. +Now he stopped and the frown upon his ugly countenance deepened. + +"Did white boy hear what Yellow Elk said?" + +"I did." + +"Does white boy want to die?" + +"Does Yellow Elk want to die? I can shoot as straight as you." + +The words had scarcely left Dick's mouth than there came a clear click. + +The redskin had fired point-blank at the lad, but the gun had failed to +go off, the weapon being an old one the Indian had found at the fort--a +gun some soldier had discarded as useless. + +Following the click Nellie uttered a scream. Then came a crack as Dick +fired, and Yellow Elk uttered a yell of pain, having received a painful +wound in the side. + +With clubbed gun the Indian now rushed in and a hand-to-hand struggle +followed. Dick fought valiantly, but was no match for the tall redskin, +and a well-directed blow laid him senseless upon the prairie grass. "You +have killed him!" screamed Nellie. She was about to kneel at Dick's +side, when Yellow Elk hauled her back. + +"White dove come with me--boy no killed--be right by-an-by," said the +redskin. + +"I will not go with you!" she gasped. "Let me down!" for Yellow Elk had +raised her up to his broad shoulder. + +The redskin merely smiled grimly and set off on a swift walk, which +speedily took both Nellie and himself out of sight of poor Dick. + +The girl's heart was almost broken by this swift turn of affairs. She +had hoped in a few more hours to be safe among her friends, and here she +was once again the captive of the Indian she so much feared. + +On and on kept Yellow Elk until the stream was reached upon which was +located the log cabin where Nellie had been a prisoner. She wondered if +Yellow Elk was going to take her there again, but she asked no +questions. + +Presently the Indian chief came to a sudden halt and raised his head as +if to listen. Nellie listened, too, and at a distance heard the tramp of +several men. At once Yellow Elk darted behind a number of bushes. + +"White girl make noise Yellow Elk kill!" he hissed into his fair +captive's ear, and drew his hunting knife. + +The tramp of feet came closer. A detachment of foot soldiers were moving +through the woods. Soon they came within sight of the pair. + +As they came closer Nellie saw they were Government troops. A prisoner +was between them--a man. It was Jack Rasco. + +"Uncle Jack!" she moaned, when Yellow Elk clapped his hand over her +mouth and pointed the hunting knife at her throat. + +"Hush!" he commanded, but this was unnecessary, for the discovery and +her great fear had caused Nellie to swoon. She fell back, and for a long +while she knew no more. + +In the meantime Dick had slowly recovered consciousness. The blow had +been a fearful one, and long after he sat up he was unable to rise to +his feet, so shaky was he in the legs. Slowly the realization of what +had occurred came back to him. + +"Gone--poor Nellie!" he gasped, and braced himself as best he could. +Gazing around he saw that neither girl nor redskin was in sight. Without +delay he started to search for Yellow Elk's trail. + +He was loping along over the prairies when a shout from his left struck +upon his ears. As he gazed in the direction he beheld a number of +soldiers swooping down upon him. These were the men who had Jack Rasco a +prisoner, the cavalrymen having turned the man of the plains over to +them. In a moment Dick was surrounded. + +"Jack!" cried the youth, and rushed up to Rasco. "What does this mean?" + +"It means I'm a prisoner," answered Rasco, sadly. "Have you seen +anything of Nellie?" + +In a moment Dick had told his story, to which the soldiers as well as +Rasco listened closely. At once several of the guard were sent off to +hunt up the redskin, if it were possible to do so. Rasco wanted to go +along, but his request was refused. + +"You'll slip us if you get the chance," said the officer in charge. +"You'll go to the fort. And I fancy the boy will go, too, since he seems +to belong to the boomers." + +And against his earnest protestations Dick was made to accompany the +soldiers, being bound hand to hand with the man of the plains. + +An hour later the soldiers' camp was reached, and Rasco and Dick were +placed in a temporary guard house. They had been there but a short while +when a visitor entered. It was--Louis Vorlange! + +"So they have you safe, I see," began Vorlange, when Rasco sprang at him +and knocked him down. + +"Will you make my niece a prisoner," he cried, wrathfully, for Dick had +told him the story. "You dirty spy!" + +"Hold up," gasped Vorlange, his face growing white. "Rasco, don't be a +fool. I--I--made her a prisoner because I have orders to arrest anybody +found roaming around----" + +"I won't argy the p'int!" roared Rasco. "I know you, Vorlange, and so +does Dick here. You robbed and nearly murdered thet boy's father!" + +At these words Vorlange staggered back as though struck a blow. + +"Who says I--I did that?" he faltered. + +"I say so." + +"And so do I," put in Dick, boldly. "We'll have a nice story to tell +when we are brought out for examination, I'll tell you that." + +Vorlange breathed hard and glared from one to the other. Then of a +sudden he caught Dick by the arm and turned him to one side. + +"Boy, beware how you cross me," he hissed into Dick's ears. "Beware, I +say! I have known your father for years, and I have the knowledge in my +possession which can send your father to the gallows." + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +CHASED BY CAVALRY. + + +"Checkmated! By Jove, but this is too bad." + +Such were the words which issued from Pawnee Brown's lip as he swung +around and saw the cavalrymen sitting on their horses at attention. + +His disappointment was keen. In speaking of it afterwards he said: + +"I never felt so bad in my life. I had promised to take the boomers +through and I felt that I had disappointed nearly four thousand people +who were looking to me with utmost confidence." + +But disappointment was not the worst of it. Hardly had the command to +halt been issued than the captain of the troops advanced toward the +scout. + +"Pawnee Brown!" he ejaculated, in surprise, and a smile of satisfaction +crossed his face. "This is a great pleasure." + +"Is it?" answered the great scout, coldly. + +"It is indeed. Do you intend to throw up your hands?" + +For the scout's hands had not yet been lifted skyward. + +"This looks as if you meant to arrest me, captain." + +"Why shouldn't I? You are at the head of the Kansas boomers, are you +not?" + +"I have that honor, yes." + +"It's a question to me if it is an honor. You are transgressing the laws +of the United States when you try to get into Oklahoma for homestead +purposes." + +"Say rather that we transgress the laws of the cattle kings, captain. +Under the U. S. Homestead Law we have a perfect right to this land, if +we can get in and stake our claims, and you know it." + +"I know nothing of the sort. This talk about the cattle kings is all +nonsense!" roared the cavalry officer. He knew Pawnee Brown was more +than half right, but felt he must obey the orders he had received from +his superiors. "I'll have to take you to the fort." + +"All right, take me--if you can, captain," came the quick answer. "Don't +you dare fire on me, for you know I am a crack shot and I promise I'll +fire on you in return and lay you low!" + +Thus speaking, the boomer wheeled about and sent Bonnie Bird off like a +shot along the trail he had come. + +The movement was so quick that for the moment the cavalry officer was +paralyzed and knew not what to do. He raised his long pistol, but +Pawnee Brown's stern threat rang in his ears and he hesitated about +using the weapon, having no desire to be laid low. + +"After him, men!" he roared, upon recovering his wits. "We must capture +him!" + +"Shall we fire, cap'n?" came from several, and a number of shining +pistol barrels were leveled toward the great scout. + +"N--no, capture him alive," came the hesitating reply; and away went the +calvary men at a breakneck speed in pursuit. + +Looking back over his shoulder, Pawnee saw them coming. To lessen the +chances of being shot, he bent low over his faithful mare's neck. + +"On, Bonnie, on!" he cried softly, and the beautiful animal seemed to +understand that it was a race for life and death. + +"Crack!" It was the report of a pistol close at hand. Looking among the +trees, Pawnee Brown saw an arm wearing the colors of a cavalryman +disappearing among the foliage of a nearby tree. He aimed his own weapon +and pulled the trigger. A yell of pain followed. + +The marksman had been Tucker, the fellow hired to take the great scout's +life. Tucker had been on picket duty for the cavalry troop, but had +failed to note Pawnee Brown's first movement in that direction. Seeing +the scout coming, he had instantly thought of the promised reward and +taken aim. The bullet had struck Pawnee Brown's shoulder, merely, +however, scraping the skin. On the return fire Tucker was hit in the +side and nearly broke his neck in a tumble backward into a hole behind +him. + +The chase was not of long duration. Although they had good steeds, not +one of the cavalryman's horses could gain upon the scout's sturdy racing +mare, and soon they dropped further and further behind. Seeing this, +Pawnee Brown turned to the eastward, out of the ravine, and in three +minutes had his pursuers entirely off the trail. + +His face grew thoughtful as he allowed Bonnie Bird to drop into a walk. +The cavalry had followed the wagon train westward--they were bound to +keep the boomers in sight. What was to be done? Should he advise another +movement during the night to come and then a forward dash? + +"We might make it," he mused. "But if we did not there would be a +fearful fight and possibly slaughter. I wish I knew just how matters +were going at Washington." + +Pawnee Brown had friends at the Capital, men who were doing their best +to defeat the cattle kings by having a bill passed in Congress opening +Oklahoma to settlement--a bill that would smooth the present difficulty +for all concerned. He felt that the bill was not needed, yet it would be +better to have such a law than to have some of the boomers killed before +their rights could be established. + +"I'll send a messenger off to the nearest telegraph station and +telegraph for the news," he went on. "A day's delay may mean many lives +saved. It shall never be said that Pawnee Brown rushed in, heedless of +the danger to those who trusted in him." + +It was not long before the scout reached the boomers' camp. Here he +found several waiting for him. + +"I want to see Pawnee Brown." It was Dan Gilbert, who was making his way +through the crowd to the great scout's side. Gilbert held a message from +Arkansas City. It was to the effect that Pawnee Brown should telegraph +to Washington at once and wait until noon at Arkansas City for a reply. + +Five minutes later Pawnee Brown was on the trail over which the wagon +train had journeyed the night before. He had told Gilbert, Clemmer and +the others of the nearness of the Government cavalrymen and had advised +a halt until further orders from himself. Clemmer had promised to wait, +although ready "ter swoop down on 'em, b' gosh, an' take wot belongs +ter us," as he expressed himself. + +The ride back to Arkansas City was an uneventful one, and arriving +there, Pawnee Brown lost no time in visiting the telegraph office. + +"A message for you," said the operator, and handed it over. + +It was from Washington and stated: "The Oklahoma bill is now before the +Lower House; wait for more news." + +"I'm glad we've woke up those politicians at Washington," murmured the +scout, and then wrote out a telegram in reply. + +There was now nothing to do but to wait, and impatient as he was to +rejoin the boomers, Pawnee Brown had to content himself until another +message should reach him. To make the time pass more quickly the great +scout went around to a number of places buying supplies that were much +needed. + +An hour later he found himself on the outskirts of the city, whence he +had come to look up several wagons, to replace some that had broken +down. He was galloping along on horseback when the sight of two men +quarreling near the open doorway of a deserted barn caught his eye, and +impelled by something which was more than curiosity, he turned in from +the road to see how the quarrel might end. As he came closer he saw +that one of the men was Mortimer Arbuckle! + +"Hullo, what can this mean?" he cried, softly. "I thought Dick's father +was still in bed from the effects of that dastardly night's work. Who +can that stranger be?" + +Dismounting, he tied Bonnie Bird to a tree and came forward, but in line +with the barn, that he might not be seen. Soon he was within easy +hearing distance of all that was being said. + +"I want to know what brought you out here, Dike Powell?" he heard Mr. +Arbuckle say in excited tones. "Did you follow me?" + +"No, I did not, Arbuckle," came in reply. "What makes you think I did?" + +"I was knocked down and robbed but a few nights ago, and my most +valuable papers, as well as my money, were taken from me." + +"Do you mean to insinuate that I am a thief?" cried Dike Powell. + +"You are none too good for it. I have not forgotten how you used to +sneak around my office in New York after information concerning my +Western mining claims." + +"You're getting mighty sharp, Arbuckle." + +"I hope I am. I used to feel queer in my head at times, but--but--I +think I am growing better of that." + +As he spoke Mortimer Arbuckle drew his white hand across his forehead. + +The attack and the adventure on the river had been fearful, but it +really looked as if they were going to prove of benefit to him. His eyes +were brighter than they had been for many a day. Pawnee Brown noticed, +too, that his manner of talking was more direct than he usually +employed. + +"I hope for the boy's sake his mind is clearing," he thought. + +"I think you are growing more queer--to accuse me," said Dike Powell. "I +never harmed you." + +"I know better. While I was on my back I thought it all over. Dike +Powell, you are a villain, and if ever I get the chance I'll turn you +over to the police. You have followed me to the West, and for no good +purpose. I will unmask you." + +"Will you? Not much!" + +Thus speaking, Dike Powell leaped forward. He was a powerful man, and +catching Mortimer Arbuckle by the throat, he would have borne the +semi-invalid to the floor had not Pawnee Brown interfered. + +There was a rush and a crack, as the scout's fist met Dike Powell's ear, +and over the man rolled, to bring up against the side of the barn with a +crash. + +"Who--who hit me?" spluttered the rascal, as, half dazed, he staggered +to his feet. "If I--Pawnee Brown!" + +"Dike Powell!" ejaculated the scout, as he saw the fellow full in the +face for the first time. "Where have you been these long years?" + +"Oh, Pawnee, how glad I am that you came in," panted Mortimer Arbuckle, +sinking down upon an old feed box. "The villain was--was----" + +"I saw it all, Arbuckle; rest yourself. I will take care of this +forger." + +"Forger!" came simultaneously from Mortimer Arbuckle and from his +assailant, but in different tones of voice. "Do you then know Dike +Powell?" + +"Yes, I know him as Powell Dike, a forger, who fled from Peoria a dozen +years ago. And what do you know of him?" + +"I know him as a Wall street sneak--a man who was forever hanging +around, trying to get information out of which he might make a few +dollars. I have accused him of following me to the West. I am inclined +to think he robbed me----" + +"I did not," ejaculated Powell Dike, for such really was his name. + +"I believe you," replied Pawnee Brown. He had spoken to Dick and Rasco +of this man. "But you know who did rob Mortimer Arbuckle," he went on, +significantly. + +"I--I--do not," answered Powell Dike, but his lips trembled. + +"You lie, Dike. Now tell the truth." + +Pawnee Brown saw the manner of man he had to deal with and tapped his +pistol. Instantly Powell Dike fell upon his knees. + +"Don't--don't shoot me!" he whined. "I'll tell all--everything. I am not +dead positive, but--but I guess Louis Vorlange robbed Arbuckle." + +Pawnee Brown looked at Mortimer Arbuckle to see what effect this +declaration might have upon Dick's father. He saw the ex-stock broker +start forward in amazement. Then he faltered, threw up his hands, and +fell forward in a dead faint! + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +GOOD NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. + + +"Fainted, by Jove!" + +So spoke Pawnee Brown as he sprang forward to Mortimer Arbuckle's aid. + +The man was as pale as the driven snow, and for the instant the great +scout thought his very heart had stopped beating. + +He raised Mortimer Arbuckle up and opened his collar and took off his +tie, that he might get some air. + +"Wot's the row here?" + +It was the voice of Peter Day, the backwoodsman who had agreed to take +care of Arbuckle during his illness. He had followed the man out of the +house to see that no harm might befall him. + +"He has fainted," answered Pawnee Brown. "Fetch some water, and hold +that--hang it, he's gone!" + +Pawnee Brown rushed to the barn door. Far away he saw Powell Dike +running as though the old Nick was after him. A second later the rascal +disappeared from view. The boomer never saw or heard of him again. + +Between the great scout and Pawnee Brown, Mortimer Arbuckle was once +again taken to Day's home and made comfortable. + +"He insisted on taking a walk to-day," explained the backwoodsman. "I +told him he couldn't stand it. I reckon he's as bad now as he ever was." + +"Take good care of him, Day, and beware of any men who may be prowling +about," answered Pawnee Brown. "There is something wrong in the air, but +I'm satisfied that if we help this poor fellow we'll be on the right +side of the brush." + +Mortimer Arbuckle was now coming around, but when he spoke he was quite +out of his mind. The doctor was hastily sent for, and he administered a +potion which speedily put the sufferer to sleep. + +"It's an odd case," said the medical man. "The fellow is suffering more +mentally than physically. He must have something awful on his mind." + +"He is the victim of some plot--I am certain of it," was the scout's +firm answer. + +Not long after this, Pawnee Brown was returning to Arkansas City, +certain that Mortimer Arbuckle would now be well cared for and closely +watched until he and Dick could return to the sufferer. + +"As soon as this booming business is over I must try to clear things for +that old gent," murmured the boomer to himself as he rode up to the +telegraph office. "I'd do a good deal for him and that noble son of +his." + +Another telegram had just come in, by way of Wichita, which ran as +follows: + +"The Lower House of Congress has passed the Oklahoma bill. Pawnee Brown +has woke the politicians up at last. Stand ready to enter Oklahoma if an +attempt is made to throw the bill aside in the Senate, but don't be +rash, as it may not be long before everything comes our way--in fact, it +looks as if everything would come very soon." + +At this telegram the great scout was inclined to throw up his hat and +give a cheer. His work in Kansas was having an effect. No longer could +the cattle kings stand up against the rights of the people. He handed +the message to a number of his friends standing near. + +"Hurrah fer Pawnee Brown!" shouted one man, and standing on a soap box +read the telegram aloud. + +"Score one fer the boomers!" + +"An' a big one fer Pawnee." + +"Don't hurry now, Pawnee, you've got 'em whar the hair ez good an' +long!" + +"It would seem so, men," answered the great scout. "No, I'll be careful +now--since the tide has turned. In less than sixty days I'll wager all I +am worth we'll march into Oklahoma without the first sign of trouble." + +It did not take the news long to travel to the boomers' camp, and great +was the rejoicing upon every side. + +"Dot's der pest ding I vos hear for a month," said Humpendinck. "Pawnee +ought to haf a medal alreatty." + +"It's a stattoo we will put up fer him in Oklahomy," said Delaney. "A +stattoo wid Pawnee a-ridin' loike mad to the new lands, wid the +Homestead act in wan hand an' a bundle o' sthakes in th' other, an' +under the stattoo we'll put the wurruds, 'Pawnee Brown, the St. Patrick +av Oklahomy!'" + +"Ach! go on mit yer St. Patrick!" howled Humpendinck. "He vos noddings +but a snake killer." + +"Oh, mon!" burst in Rosy Delaney. "A snake killer, Moike, do ye moind +thot? Swat the Dootchman wan, quick!" + +And Mike "swatted" with an end of a fence rail he was chopping up for +firewood. But Humpendinck dodged, and Rosy caught the blow, and there +followed a lively row between her and Mike, in the midst of which the +German boomer sneaked away. + +"Dot Irishmans vos so fiery as der hair mit his head," he muttered to +himself. "I dink I vos keep out of sight bis he vos cool off, and +den--Mine gracious, Bumpkin, var did you come from? I dinks you vos left +behind py Arkansas City." + +For there had suddenly appeared before Humpendinck the form of the +dunce, hatless and with his black hair tumbled over his face in all +directions. + +"Ha, ha! where have I been?" cried Pumpkin. "Where haven't I been you +had better ask. I've been everywhere--among the soldiers and the boomers +and the Indians." He stopped short. "Where is Pawnee Brown?" + +"Ofer py Clemmer's vagon. But he ton't vont ter pother mit you now." + +"He will bother with me," and so speaking Pumpkin ran off, to reach the +great scout's side and pluck him by the coat sleeve. + +"At your service, sir," he said, bowing low, for with all of his +peculiarities Pumpkin had a great respect for Pawnee Brown. + +"What is it, lad?" + +"I have to report, sir, that your pard is captured--Jack Rasco; he had a +fearful fight and the soldiers have him. Ha! ha! they will shoot +Jack--if you let 'em, but I know you won't--will you now?" + +"You are certain Jack is captured?" + +"Dead sure--saw him with my own eyes. Ha! ha! they tried to catch +Pumpkin, but they might as well try to catch a ghost. Ha! ha! but I give +'em a fine run." + +It took a good deal of talking to get a straight story from the +half-witted youth, but at last Pawnee Brown was in full possession of +the facts. Pumpkin had seen Rasco on the march just before Dick was +taken. + +Immediately after this the boomer held a short consultation with +Clemmer. + +"I feel it my duty to help Rasco to escape, if it can be done," he said. +"Besides, it is high time for me to return to Dick Arbuckle and to find +out, if possible, what has become of Jack's niece." + +"Shall I go along?" questioned Clemmer, "I wouldn't like anything +better." + +"All right, come on," answered the great scout. + +He had scarcely spoken when a loud cry rang out, coming from the lower +end of the camp. + +"Buckley's bull has broken loose! Look out for yourself, the beast has +gone mad!" + +"Buckley's bull!" muttered Pawnee Brown. "I ordered him to slaughter +that vicious beast. Why, he's as fierce as those the Mexicans use in +their bull fights!" + +"He's a terror," answered Clemmer. "If he--By gum, here he comes, +Pawnee!" + +As he spoke Clemmer turned to one side and started to run. Looking +forward the great scout saw the bull bearing down upon him. The eyes of +the creature were bloodshot and the foam was dripping from the corners +of his mouth, showing that he was clearly beyond control. + +The bull, which was of extra large size, had Clemmer in view, and made +after the cowboy, who happened to be unarmed. Away went man and beast in +something of a circle, to fetch up near Pawnee Brown less than a minute +later. As they came close, Clemmer fell and went sprawling almost at the +scout's feet. + +"Save me!" he panted. "Save me, Pawnee!" + +Pawnee Brown did not answer. Leaping over the cowboy's prostrate form, +he pulled out his pistol and his hunting knife and stood ready to +receive the bull, who came tearing along, with lowered horns, ready to +charge the scout to the death. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +THE BOOMER AND THE BULL. + + +For the moment it looked as if Pawnee Brown meant to let the mad bull +gore him to pieces. + +On and on came the beast until less than two yards separated him and the +great scout. + +Crack! came the report of the boomer's pistol, and the bull fell back a +pace, clipped between the horns. A lucky swerve downward had saved him +from a bullet wound through the eye. + +There was no time for another shot. With a bellow the bull leaped the +intervening space and landed almost on top of Pawnee Brown! + +A yell went up from those who saw the movement. + +"Pawnee is done fur. The bull will rip him inside out." + +"Buckley ought to have killed that bull long ago--that's the second time +he's gone on a rampage." + +"Somebody shoot him and save Pawnee!" + +The last was a well meant cry, but a shot could not be thought of, for +man and beast were too close together. + +But Pawnee Brown was not yet defeated. He still held his trusty hunting +knife, and he was not terrorized as some of the onlookers imagined. + +A few words will explain the cause. In his day the scout had visited +Mexico more than once, and while there had participated in more than one +bull fight, on one occasion defeating a celebrated Mexican fighter and +gaining a handsome prize. + +As the mad bull charged, the scout leaped like lightning to one side, +and drove the hunting knife up to the hilt into the beast's throat. + +There was a spurt of blood, a bellow of pain, and the bull staggered +back several steps. + +He was badly wounded, but by no means out of the fight, as his glaring +eyes still showed. He shook his head vigorously, then charged again. + +Once more the knife went up and came down, this time just below the +beast's ear. A fearful bellow came after the stroke. Before the bull +could retire, the knife was withdrawn and plunged in a third and last +time. This third stroke wound up the encounter, for limping to one side +the bull fell forward upon his knees, gave a kick or two with his hind +legs, and rolled over on the prairie grass, dead. + +"Hurrah! Pawnee has killed him." + +"Talk about yer bull fighters! They ain't in it with Pawnee!" + +"Yer saved my life," exclaimed Clemmer, who had risen. "I shan't forget +yer, Pawnee," and he held out his broad hand for a shake. + +The bull dead, Pawnee Brown called Buckley up and gave him a lecture for +not having killed the vicious beast long ago. + +"You have no business to bring such a bull into camp in the first place, +Buckley," he said. "Be more careful in the future, or you'll have to get +out, bag and baggage. That bull might have killed half a dozen people +had he charged the crowd." + +A short while after this the great scout and Clemmer set off from +Honnewell along the ravine in search of Dick, Rasco and Nellie Winthrop. +The cheering news from Washington had set Pawnee Brown at rest so far as +his duty to the boomers was concerned, and he felt quite free to pursue +his own affairs and those of his immediate friends. + +"If possible I would like to meet Louis Vorlange and have a talk with +him," he said to Clemmer, after having related what had occurred near +Peter Day's home. "I think that spy can clear up much of this mystery +concerning Mortimer Arbuckle, if he will." + +"It ain't likely he'll open his trap," answered Clemmer. "By doin' thet +he'd only be gettin' himself in hot water." + +"We'll make him speak," was Pawnee Brown's grim response. + +An hour of hard riding brought them to the spot where Dick had been +left. Not a single trace of the lad could be found. Both men looked +blank. + +"Bet he's wandered off and got lost," said Clemmer, and Pawnee Brown +nodded. + +"We'll strike off eastward, Cal, and see if we can't find some trace of +him. It is no use of going westward. If he had gone that way, he would +have reached the ravine and come up into Kansas." + +Once again they set off. An hour was spent here and there, when suddenly +Clemmer uttered a cry. + +"Been a struggle hyer, Pawnee. See them footprints?" + +"Three people," answered the scout, making an inspection. "A boy, a girl +or a woman, and an Indian. Can they have been Dick, Nellie Winthrop and +Yellow Elk? Hang me if it doesn't look like it." + +"Hyer's where the trail leads off," said Clemmer. "And that's the boy's. +Can't see nuthin' o' the gal's." + +"That means the Indian carried her off," ejaculated Pawnee Brown. "Let +us follow his trail without delay." + +"But the boy's?" + +"You follow that, and I'll follow the redskin. If he had the girl I want +to know it." + +A few words more and they separated. Pawnee Brown was on his mettle and +followed Yellow Elk's trail with all the keenness of an Indian himself. +In half an hour he had reached the brook. Here he came to a series of +rocks and was forced to come to a halt. + +But not for long. Fording the water-course, he began a search which +speedily revealed the trail again, leading to a small river a quarter of +a mile further on. + +He followed the river for less than fifty feet, when a number of voices +broke upon his ears. + +"I'm sure I saw the redskin on the river, and he had a girl with him, +Ross." + +"You must have been dreaming, Tucker. No redskins up here." + +"All right, I know what I am talking about." + +"I think I saw something, too," said a third voice, that of Skimmy, the +calvary man. + +The three calvary men were out on a scouting expedition, to learn if the +boomers were in the vicinity of the river. + +Tucker especially was on the lookout for Pawnee Brown, determined to +bring the great scout down and thus win the reward Louis Vorlange had +promised. + +The scout listened to the talk of the cavalrymen for fully ten minutes +with great interest. + +He had just started to move on, satisfied that it would be of no benefit +to remain longer, when Tucker turned and walked his horse directly +toward the spot where he was concealed. + +"A boomer behind the brush!" shouted the cavalryman. "Come, boys, and +take him!" + +Immediately there was a rush, and Pawnee Brown was surrounded. He had +his pistol out and in return came the weapons of the trio. + +"Well, gentlemen, you seem to want to make me your prisoner," said the +scout, coolly. + +"Thet's wot," cried Ross. "Eh, Tucker?" + +To make Pawnee Brown a prisoner would be of no personal benefit to him. + +"You seem to bear me a grudge," said the boomer, eying him sharply. + +Tucker could not stand that gaze and his eyes dropped. + +"Yes, you're a prisoner," said Ross. "Let's bind him up, Skimmy." + +"Take that!" + +Pawnee Brown leaped forward and hurled both Ross and Skimmy to the +ground. Ere they could rise he had turned upon Tucker. The tall calvary +man had his pistol cocked, and now he blazed away almost in Pawnee +Brown's face, and then both went down, with the scout on top. + +The flash of the pistol had scorched the boomer's skin, but the bullet +sung over his head, missing him by less than an inch. As he came down +upon Tucker he hit the cavalryman a terrific blow in the jaw, breaking +that member and knocking out several teeth. + +"On him!" yelled Skimmy, and tried to rise. But now Pawnee Brown was +again up, and flung Skimmy on top of Ross. In a moment more he was +running along the river bank. + +He was almost out of sight, when there came two shots, from Ross and +Skimmy. Neither hit him, however, and he continued on his way, while the +two cavalrymen turned back to pick up Tucker, who lay in a heap, +groaning and twisting from intense pain. The tall cavalryman could not, +of course, talk, and his wound was so serious that there was nothing to +do but to carry him to his horse, support him in the saddle and ride +back to the fort for medical assistance. It was a clean knock-out, and +one that Tucker had good cause to remember to the day of his death. + +It was some time ere Pawnee Brown struck the trail of Yellow Elk again, +but having once spotted it he pursued his course with increased vigor. +The trail led along the river to where there was almost a lake. This had +just been reached, when he heard a scream. Instantly he recognized +Nellie Winthrop's voice. + +"Thank heaven I came as soon as I did," he murmured, and dashed forward +to the spot from whence the sound had proceeded. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +THE LAST OF YELLOW ELK. + + +When Nellie Winthrop recovered sufficiently to realize what was going on +around her, she found herself upon Yellow Elk's back, with her hands +tied together at the wrists behind her. + +Away went the redskin until the vicinity where the encounter with Dick +had occurred was left far behind. + +The brook crossed, the Indian chief set off for the river. Not once did +he stop or speak until a pond was gained. + +Beyond the pond was a shelter of trees, growing in a circle which was +about fifteen feet in diameter. Against the trees the brush had been +piled, forming a rude hut. + +Taking Nellie inside of this shelter, Yellow Elk deposited her on the +ground. Of the cord which bound her hands there were several feet left, +and this end he wound around a tree and tied fast. + +"Now white girl no run away," he grinned. "Stay here now until Yellow +Elk ready to let her go." + +To this she made no answer, for what would be the use of talking to +such a fierce creature? She looked at his hideously painted face and +shivered. + +Yellow Elk now went off, to be gone a long while. When he came back he +found her so tired she could scarcely stand beside the tree. She had +tried to free herself from her bonds but failed, and a tiny stream of +blood was running from one of her tender wrists. + +"Yellow Elk got horse now," said the redskin. "We ride now--go many +miles." + +"Where to?" she faltered. + +"Never mind where--white girl come on." + +Yellow Elk's manner was so fierce she was frightened more than ever. The +Indian had stolen a horse and he had also stolen a lot of "fire-water," +and this drink was beginning to make him ugly. He drew out his hunting +knife. + +"White girl got to become Yellow Elk's squaw!" he cried, brandishing the +knife before her face. "No marry Yellow Elk me cut out her heart wid +dis!" + +At this Nellie gave a shriek and it was this which was borne to the ears +of Pawnee Brown. + +"Crying do white girl no good," growled the redskin. "Come with me." + +"I will not go another foot," and Nellie began to struggle. The Indian +chief upbraided her roundly in his own language and ended by raising his +knife over her once more. + +"Help!" cried Nellie, and a moment later Pawnee Brown burst into view. A +glance showed him the true situation, and without hesitation he fired at +Yellow Elk. + +His bullet clipped across the redskin's chest. By this time Yellow Elk +had his own pistol out, and standing erect he aimed straight for the +boomer's heart. + +Nellie screamed, and knowing nothing else to do, gave the Indian a +vigorous shove in the side, which destroyed the aim and made the bullet +fly wide of the mark. + +In a second more the two men were at it in a hand-to-hand encounter each +trying his best to get at the other with his hunting knife, being too +close together to use a pistol. As Pawnee Brown afterward said: + +"It was Yellow Elk's life or mine, and I made up my mind that it should +not be mine--I considered myself worth a good deal more than that +worthless redskin." + +A cut and a slash upon each side, and the two broke. Yellow Elk had had +enough of the fight, and now ran for it in sudden fear. He did not take +to the river shore, but skirted the pond and began to ascend a slight +hill, beyond which was another fork of the ravine which has figured so +largely in our story. + +"Let him go! he may kill you!" called out Nellie, when she saw Pawnee +Brown start in pursuit. But the scout paid no attention to her. His +blood was up and he was determined to either exterminate Yellow Elk or +bring him to terms. + +[Illustration: "In a second more the two men were in a hand-to-hand +encounter"] + +The top of the hill was reached. Yellow Elk paused, not knowing exactly +how to proceed. Looking back, he saw Pawnee Brown preparing to fire upon +him. A pause, and he attempted to leap down to a ledge below him. His +foot caught in the roots of a bush and over he went into a deep hollow +headlong. There was a sickening thud, a grunt, and all became quiet. + +Yellow Elk had paid the death penalty at last. + +When Pawnee Brown managed to climb down to the Indian's side, to make +certain the wily redskin was not shamming, he found Yellow Elk stone +dead, his neck having been completely broken by his fall. He lay on his +back, his right hand still clutching his bloody hunting knife. + +"Gone now," murmured the great scout. His face softened for an instant. +"Hang it all, why must even a redskin be so all-fired bad? If he had +wanted to, Yellow Elk might have made a man of himself. I can't stop to +bury him, and yet----Hullo, what are those papers sticking out of his +pocket?" + +The boomer had caught sight of a large packet which had been concealed +in Yellow Elk's bosom. He took up the packet and looked it over. It +consisted of half a dozen legal-looking documents and twice that number +of letters, some addressed to Mortimer Arbuckle and some addressed to +Louis Vorlange. + +He read over the letters and documents with interest. Those of Dick's +father related to the mine in Colorado and were evidently those stolen +by Louis Vorlange upon the night of the opening of this tale. The +letters belonging to the government spy were epistles addressed to +Vorlange from a former friend and partner in various shady transactions. +Of these we will hear more later. + +"Yellow Elk must have robbed Vorlange of these," mused the great scout, +as he rammed the packet in his pocket. In this he was right. Vorlange +had dropped the packet by accident and the Indian had failed to restore +it, there having been, as the reader knows, no love lost between the two +rascals. + +Having placed the dead body among the bushes in a little hollow, Pawnee +Brown climbed out of the ravine again and rejoined Nellie, who was +growing impatient regarding his welfare. The story of what had happened +to Yellow Elk was soon told, the scout softening out the ghastly +details. Then, to change the subject, he asked her if she knew her uncle +was a prisoner of the soldiers. + +"Yes," she replied. "Oh, sir, what will they do with him?" + +"I don't believe they can do much, Nellie," he answered. "According to +the news from Washington, everything is to be smoothed out, and of +course the government will have no case against any of us." + +"Can I get to my uncle from here? Where is he?" + +"About five miles from here. Yes, we can get to him if we want to." +Pawnee Brown mused for a moment. "I'll risk it," he said, half aloud. +"They can't arrest me for coming to expose a criminal, and I have the +facts right here in my pocket." + +A moment later he was riding the horse Yellow Elk had stolen, while +Nellie was seated upon Bonnie Bird. In this manner they struck out for +the agency, called by the soldiers a fort. + +About three miles had been covered, when suddenly there came a shout +from a thicket to one side of them. + +"The cavalry!" gasped Nellie. "What shall we do?" + +"Take it coolly, Nellie. I have a winning card this trip," smiled the +great scout. + +A few seconds later half a dozen fine looking men rode forward, a +well-known official of the Indian Territory at their head. + +"Pawnee Brown!" ejaculated the official, on recognizing the scout. "It +would seem we had made quite a capture. What are you doing with Sergeant +Morris' horse?" + +"Is this the animal?" + +"It is. + +"I found him in the possession of a runaway Indian, Yellow Elk. If he +is your property you are welcome to him," and Pawnee Brown leaped to the +ground. + +"Humph! That is all right, but what are you doing here? Don't you know +you are on forbidden ground?" + +The scout's coolness was a great surprise to the official. + +"I would be--under ordinary circumstances, sir. But just now I am on a +mission to the agency: a mission I am convinced you will not attempt to +hinder." + +"What is it?" + +"I wish to expose a great criminal, a man who is now in the active +service of the United States, although he ought to be in prison or on +the gallows." + +The official was much surprised. + +"I would like to know some of the particulars, Pawnee." + +"Are you bound for the agency?" + +"Yes." + +"Then we will go together, and you can see what takes place. It will +probably be well worth your while." + +"This is no trick--I know you are itching to get into Oklahoma." + +"I will give you my word of honor, sir. I have received word from +Washington, and I feel certain that ere long this whole matter will be +settled to our mutual satisfaction. In the meantime, booming can wait," +and Pawnee Brown smiled in a quiet way. + +A few words more followed, and Nellie was introduced. Then the whole +party set off on a gallop for the agency, where was to be enacted the +last scene in this little drama of the southwest. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +CLEARING UP A MYSTERY--CONCLUSION. + + +As Vorlange uttered his dire threat into Dick's ear, the boy turned pale +and staggered against the wall of his prison. + +"Wot's that yer sayin'?" demanded Jack Rasco, who plainly saw the +changed look upon his companion's features. + +"It is none of your business, Rasco," muttered the spy. "I told the boy; +that's enough." + +Dick breathed hard. Part of that mystery of the past was out at last. +His father was accused of murder--Vorlange held the evidence against +him. Like a flash came back to him several things he had almost +forgotten. He remembered how on more than one occasion his father had +sent money to the West after a letter had come which had upset him +greatly. That must have been hush money, to keep this rascal quiet. + +"I--I--do not believe you!" he cried in a faint tone. "My father is as +upright as any gentleman in the land." + +"Is he?" sneered Vorlange. "All right, if you think so, just drive me to +the wall and see." + +"Where was this crime committed?" + +"In Creede, Colorado--at the time the camp was started." + +"Who was killed?" + +"A miner named Rickwell. He was once a partner of a man named Burch, of +whom you have no doubt heard ere this." + +"Yes, Burch left us the property you know all about, since you stole the +deeds to it. Louis Vorlange, you are playing a deep part but you cannot +make me swallow your statements about my father." + +"Do you want me to expose him?" + +"We'll see about that later. Rasco and I will certainly try to show you +up for what you really are." + +"Very well," blustered Vorlange. "Your father is a murderer, and he +shall swing for it--unless you keep your mouth shut. I----" + +Footsteps outside of the prison interrupted Louis Vorlange. An instant +later Pawnee Brown and half a dozen others stepped inside of the +apartment. + +"Pawnee Brown!" cried Dick and Rasco together. + +"Are you a prisoner, too?" continued the boy. + +"Hardly," smiled the great scout. Then he noticed Vorlange. "Just the +men we are after." + +"Me?" ejaculated the spy. + +"Yes, you." + +"What do you want of me, Pawnee Brown? I want nothing to do with such as +you--a thieving, low-down boomer--who--oh!" + +Vorlange ended with a yell, for Pawnee Brown had caught him by the ear +and almost jerked him off his feet. + +"Let up! Let up! Oh!" + +"Now keep quiet Vorlange," said the scout sternly. "You can thank your +stars that I didn't put a bullet through you for letting your tongue run +so loosely." + +"Thet's so, b'gosh," was Rasco's comment. "But say, Pawnee, he's a +reg'lar snake in the grass." + +"I know it." Pawnee Brown looked at Dick. "Has he been threatening you, +lad?" + +"Yes; threatened me and my father, too." + +"Have no fear of him, Dick. Louis Vorlange, you have about reached the +end of your rope." + +"What do you mean?" and the spy's lips quivered as he spoke. + +"I mean that I am here to expose you." Pawnee Brown turned to the others +who had come in. "Gentlemen, let me introduce to you Louis Vorlange, +alias Captain Mull, once of Creede, Colorado." + +"Captain Mull!" exclaimed several. "Do you mean the Captain Mull that +was wanted for several shady doings, Pawnee?" + +"The same Captain Mull, gentlemen." + +"It is a--a lie!" screamed Louis Vorlange, but his looks belied him. + +"It is the truth, gentlemen, he is the man who once sported under the +name of Captain Mull. But that is not all." + +"What else, Pawnee?" + +"Some years ago a man by the name of Andrew Rickwell was murdered in the +Last Chance hotel at Creede. At that time Creede was but a small place +and Captain Mull ran the hotel. Who murdered Rickwell was not +discovered. But he had occupied a room with another man, a mining agent +from New York named Mortimer Arbuckle, the father of this lad here, and +some thought Arbuckle had done the foul deed, and he had to run away to +escape the fury of a mob. The horror of this occurrence unbalanced the +man's mind and to this day he sometimes thinks he may be guilty. But he +is innocent." + +"He is guilty!" shrieked Louis Vorlange. "I saw him do the deed!" + +"I see you acknowledge you were in Creede at that time," answered Pawnee +Bill, and Vorlange staggered back over the bad break he had made. "As I +said, Mortimer Arbuckle is innocent. There is the murderer, and here are +the documents to prove it--and to prove more--that Vorlange is a thief, +that he assaulted Mortimer Arbuckle in the dark and left him for dead, +and that he is now acting against the best interests of the United +States government." + +As Pawnee Brown ended he pointed at Vorlange, and held aloft the packet +he had taken from Yellow Elk. + +"My father's documents!" cried Dick. + +"The letters!" shrieked Louis Vorlange. Then he made a sudden leap to +secure them, but Pawnee Brown was too quick for him. The scout turned to +the captain of cavalry standing near. + +"You had better arrest him before he tries to escape." + +"They shall not arrest me!" came from Louis Vorlange's set lips. "Clear +the way!" + +Like a flash his pistol came up and he fired into the crowd, which +parted in surprise and let him pass. But not more than ten steps were +covered when Pawnee Brown caught him by the arm and threw him headlong +to the ground. At the same time the prison sentry fired, and Vorlange +was mortally wounded in the side. + +"I'll not forget you!" he cried to Pawnee Brown. "But for you I would +have lived in clover the balance of my life!" Then he fell into a faint +from which he recovered presently, to linger for several days in +terrible anguish, dying at last in convulsions. + +With the death of Vorlange we bring our story to a close. By what was +said during the man's last hours on earth, Mortimer Arbuckle was +entirely cleared of the cloud which had hung over his honorable name. +Soon after this his right mind came back to him and to-day he is as well +and happy as it is possible to imagine. + +Whatever became of Stillwater and Juan Donomez is not known. + +With the truce declared by the actions of the authorities at Washington +and the word given by Pawnee Brown that no attempt should be made to +enter Oklahoma for the present, it was not deemed advisable to hold +either Dick or Rasco longer, and the two were given their freedom, to +journey at once to Honnewell, in company with the great scout and Nellie +Winthrop. + +From Honnewell, Dick rode post haste to carry the glad news to his +father. A scene followed which no pen can describe, a scene so sacred to +the two it must be left entirely to the imagination of the reader. Never +was a man more proud of his son than was Mortimer Arbuckle of Dick, or +more grateful than was the mine-owner to Pawnee Brown for his courageous +and marvelous work in clearing up the mystery. + +"He is a man among men," he said. "God bless him!" + +Nellie Winthrop was overjoyed to be with her uncle once again, and took +good care that nothing should separate them. As for Jack, he guarded her +with a care which could not be exceeded. + +"Ef they carry her off again it will be over my dead body, b'gosh," he +murmured more than once. + +And yet Nellie was carried off four years later. But this time the +carrying off was done by Dick Arbuckle, and both Nellie and Jack were +perfectly willing. The wedding was a grand one, for the Colorado claims +had panned out big for the Arbuckles, and the best man at the affair was +Pawnee Brown. + +In due course of time the bill concerning Oklahoma was passed by the +United States Senate and signed by the President. This was followed by a +grand rush of the boomers to get the best of the land granted to them. +The advance was led by Pawnee Brown, who, riding his ever faithful +Bonnie Bird, covered twenty miles in the short space of sixty-five +minutes and located his town site at the mouth of Big Turkey Creek. This +town site, along with his other Oklahoma possessions, made the great +scout a rich man. He never grows weary of telling about this great rush +into Oklahoma. "It was grand, awe-inspiring," he says. "I would go a +thousand miles to see it again--those hundreds of wagons, thousands of +horsemen and heads of cattle, all going southward, over hills, through +forests, crossing brooks and rivers--all bound for the land which has +since made them so prosperous and happy." + +And here let us take leave of Dick Arbuckle, Pawnee Brown, and all their +friends, wishing them well. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Boy Land Boomer, by Ralph Bonehill + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE BOY LAND BOOMER *** + +***** This file should be named 20618.txt or 20618.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/6/1/20618/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Marcia and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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