diff options
Diffstat (limited to '28331.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 28331.txt | 6476 |
1 files changed, 6476 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/28331.txt b/28331.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1551602 --- /dev/null +++ b/28331.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6476 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Ranchers, by Edward S. Ellis + +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 Young Ranchers + or Fighting the Sioux + +Author: Edward S. Ellis + +Release Date: March 15, 2009 [EBook #28331] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG RANCHERS *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + + + + + + + + + THE YOUNG RANCHERS + + OR _FIGHTING THE SIOUX_ + + "FOREST AND PRAIRIE SERIES," No. 3. + + BY EDWARD S. ELLIS + + AUTHOR OF "BOY PIONEER SERIES," "DEERFOOT SERIES," + "WILDWOOD SERIES," ETC. + + +PHILADELPHIA +HENRY T. COATES & CO. + +COPYRIGHT, 1895, +BY PORTER & COATES. + + + + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF THE FAITHFUL MESSENGER.] + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +I. DANGER AHEAD + +II. THE VOICELESS FRIEND + +III. COMPANIONS IN PERIL + +IV. TIM BROPHY'S DISCOVERY + +V. LEAVING THE RANCH + +VI. "TIMOTHY BROPHY, ESQ., AT YOUR SERVICE" + +VII. STIRRING TIMES + +VIII. STARCUS + +IX. ON THE BANK OF A STREAM + +X. BENT ARM AND HIS BAND + +XI. AT BAY + +XII. FACING WESTWARD + +XIII. IN THE FRINGE OF THE WOODS + +XIV. TURNED BACK + +XV. MISSING + +XVI. A THIEF OF THE NIGHT + +XVII. THROUGH THE WOOD + +XVIII. NIGHT AND MORNING + +XIX. A STARTLING SURPRISE + +XX. A RUN FOR LIFE + +XXI. AWAY WE GO! + +XXII. ON FOOT + +XXIII. DOWN! + +XXIV. THE FRIEND IN NEED + +XXV. THE PRAIRIE DUEL + +XXVI. ON THE GROUND + +XXVII. A GOOD SAMARITAN + +XXVIII. THE LONE HORSEMAN + +XXIX. A BREAK FOR FREEDOM + +XXX. COMRADES AGAIN + +XXXI. THE LAST HOPE + +XXXII. AWAY! AWAY! + +XXXIII. BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + +THE DEATH OF THE FAITHFUL MESSENGER. + +A HOT PURSUIT. + +TIM'S FORTUNATE SHOT. + +THE DEATH OF THE INDIAN. + + + + +THE YOUNG RANCHERS; + +OR, + +FIGHTING THE SIOUX. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +DANGER AHEAD. + + +There was snow in the air. Warren Starr had felt it ever since meridian, +though not a flake had fallen, and the storm might be delayed for hours +yet to come. There was no mistaking the dull leaden sky, the chill in +the atmosphere, and that dark, increasing gloom which overspreads the +heavens at such times. + +Young Warren was a fine specimen of the young hunter, though he had not +yet passed his nineteenth year. His home was in South Dakota, and he was +now on his return from Fort Meade, at the eastern foot of the Black +Hills, and had fully twenty miles to travel, though the sun was low in +the horizon, as he well knew, even if it was veiled by the snow vapor. + +His father's ranch lay to the north of the Big Cheyenne, and the son was +familiar with every foot of the ground, having traversed it many a time, +not only on his visits to the fort, but in the numerous hunting +excursions of which he was so fond. He could have made the journey by +night, when no moon was in the sky, had there been need of doing so, but +he decided that it was better to give his pony the rest he required, and +to push on at an early hour the next morning. He had eaten nothing since +the noon halt, and his youth and vigor gave him a powerful appetite, but +he had learned long before that one of the first requisites of the +hunter is to learn to endure cold, heat, hunger, and hardship +unmurmuringly. + +But the youth was in so uneasy a mental state that he rode slowly for +nearly an hour, debating with himself whether to draw rein or push on. +The rumors of trouble among the Sioux were confirmed by his visit to +Fort Meade. A spirit of unrest had prevailed for a long time, caused by +the machinations of that marplot, Sitting Bull, the harangues of +medicine men who proclaimed the coming Messiah, the ghost dances, the +eagerness of the young bucks to take the warpath, and the universal +belief that the last opportunity for the red men to turn back the +advance of the Caucasian race was to be made soon or never. + +The fact that our Government had its military posts scattered through +the disaffected country, that the Indian reservations were comparatively +well governed, that the officers were men whose valor and skill had been +proven times without number, and that these authorities were keeping +close watch on the growing disaffection produced a quieting effect in +many quarters, though the best informed men foresaw the impending storm. +That which troubled Warren Starr on his lonely ride northward was the +fact that on that ranch, twenty miles away, dwelt his father, mother, +and little sister, known by the pet name of Dot. His father had two +assistants in the care of the ranch, Jared Plummer, a man in middle +life, and Tim Brophy, a lusty young Irishman, about the same age as +Warren. But the ranch was not fitted to withstand an attack from any of +the bands through the country. Those turbulent bucks were the very ones +to assail his home with the fury of a cyclone, and if they did, Heaven +help the loved ones there, even though the three men were well provided +with arms and ammunition. + +The commandant of Fort Meade suggested to Warren that he urge his people +to come into the fort without delay. Such a suggestion, coming from the +officer, meant a good deal. + +That which caused the youth to decide to wait until morning was the +fatigue of his animal, and the more important fact that it was best not +only to arrive at the ranch in the daytime, but to ride through several +miles of the surrounding country when the chance to use his eyes was at +the best. If hostiles were in the section, he might pass within a +hundred yards of them in the darkness without discovering it, but it was +impossible to do so when the sun was in the sky. + +He was now riding across an open plain directly toward a small branch of +the Big Cheyenne, beyond which lay his home. He could already detect the +fringe of timber that lined both sides of the winding stream, while to +the right rose a rocky ridge several hundred feet in height, and a mile +or two distant appeared a similar range on the left. + +The well-marked trail which the lad was following passed between these +elevations; that on the right first presenting itself and diverging so +far to the east, just before the other ridge was reached, that it may be +said it disappeared, leaving the other to succeed it. + +Despite the long ride and the fatigue of himself as well as his animal, +young Starr was on the alert. He was in a dangerous country, and a +little negligence on his part was liable to prove fatal. + +"If there is a lot of Sioux watching this trail for parties going either +way, this is the spot," he reflected, grasping his Winchester, lying +across his saddle, a little more firmly. "I have met them here more than +once, and, though they claimed to be friendly, I was always uneasy, for +it is hard for an Indian to resist the temptation to hurt a white man +when it looks safe to do so." + +Nothing could have exceeded the caution of the youth. The trail showed +so plainly that his pony kept to it without any guidance on his part, +and the reins lay loose on his neck. Every minute or two the rider +glanced furtively behind him to make sure no treacherous enemy was +stealing upon him unawares; and then, after a hasty look to the right +and left, he scanned the rocky ridge on his right, peering forward the +next moment at the one farther off on his left. + +He was searching for that which he did not want to find--signs of red +men. He knew a good deal of their system of telegraphy, and half +suspected that some keen-eyed Sioux was crouching behind the rocks of +the ridge, awaiting the moment to signal his approach to his confederate +farther away. + +It might have seemed possible to some to flank the danger by turning far +to the right or left, but that would have involved a long detour and +delay in arriving home. At the same time, if any warriors were on the +watch, they could easily checkmate him by accommodating their movements +to his, and continually heading him off, whichever direction he took. He +had considered all these contingencies, and felt no hesitation in +pressing straight forward, despite the apparent peril involved in doing +so. + +Suddenly Jack pricked his ears and raised his head, emitting at the same +time a slight whiff through his nostrils. + +No words could have said more plainly: "Beware, master! I have +discovered something." + +The rider's natural supposition was that the danger, whatever it might +be, was on the crest of the ridge he was approaching; but, when he +shaded his eyes and peered forward, he was unable to detect anything at +all. Enough light remained in the sky for him to use his excellent eyes +to the best advantage, but nothing rewarded the scrutiny. + +Jack continued advancing, though his gait was now a slow walk, as if he +expected his master to halt altogether; but the latter acted like the +skilful railway engineer, who, seeing the danger signal ahead, continues +creeping slowly toward it, ready to check his train on the instant it +becomes necessary to do so. He allowed the pony to step tardily forward, +while he strove to locate the point whence peril threatened. + +"What the mischief do you see, Jack?" he asked, in a half-impatient +tone; "if I didn't know you never joked, I would believe you were trying +some trick on me to get me to camp for the night." + +Once the horseman fancied he caught the faint outlines of a thin column +of smoke climbing into the sky from the crest of the ridge, but closer +study convinced him that he was wrong. If such a signal were kindled, it +must be clear enough to be recognized from the farther elevation, which +was more distant than the horseman. + +"I shall observe the vapor as soon as they," he thought, "for my eyes +are as sharp--helloa! that beats the mischief!" + +At last Warren Starr learned what it was that had alarmed his pony. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE VOICELESS FRIEND. + + +The keen eyes, instead of looking at the crest of the rocky ridge on his +right, were now centred on the ground, where they detected a small dark +speck swiftly approaching the horseman. At the first glance, the object +suggested a cannon-ball rolling with great speed toward the pony, that +was now standing still, with head erect, ears thrown forward, and the +appearance of perplexed interest in the thing, whatever it might be. + +For a minute Warren Starr was unable to guess the meaning of the +singular sight. Whatever its nature, it was evident that it was aiming +to reach the rider with the least possible delay. The latter drew his +Winchester around in front, so as to be ready to receive it, his first +thought being that it was some Sioux stratagem designed to do him ill. + +But while he gazed, he discovered its identity; it was a dog, running as +if its very life were at stake. The next instant young Starr perceived +something protruding from the front part of its body, resembling the +ornamental feather in an Indian's head-dress. + +"It is an arrow!" he exclaimed. "The poor creature is badly wounded, and +is striving to reach me before he dies. By gracious, it's Bruno!" he +added, as a closer approach enabled him to identify the creature. "He +brings me some message." + +Bruno was his favorite hound, that had accompanied him on many a hunting +excursion, and whom he loved scarcely less than Jack, his pony. + +It was indeed a race with death on the part of the faithful animal. +While yet a number of rods distant, he staggered, faltered, then +gathering his energies pressed on with the last strength he could +summon, and with a low moan rolled languidly on his side, and looking +upward with a human expression to his young master, said by his action: +"I have done the best I could for you, and I am content." + +Young Starr was out of the saddle like a flash, and ran forward to him. +Stooping down, he placed one arm under the head of the noble dog, and, +leaning over, touched his lips to the velvety forehead. + +"My poor Bruno, they have killed you!" he murmured, with tears in his +eyes. "I would give an arm to save you, but it is too late." + +He saw that the head of the arrow was sunken deep into the neck, and the +dark coat was splashed with crimson. To attempt to withdraw the missile +was useless. It could only deepen the agony of the animal without +relieving him in the least. He was doomed and dying before he sank to +the ground. + +Bruno turned his beautiful eyes upward to his master, emitted a low +moan, gave a slight quiver and gasp, and was dead. No martyr ever did +his duty more heroically. + +For a few moments Warren Starr yielded to his grief. He remained with +the exquisitely formed head resting on his arm, while the tears fell +from his eyes on the form that could never respond again to his +caresses. Then he gently withdrew his arm and suffered the head to rest +on the ground. + +"Your last act was for those you love," he murmured; "you gave your life +for us, and no man could do more. No one shall take from me the faith +that we shall be happy together beyond the grave. Good-by, my true and +faithful friend." + +Young Starr was too experienced a scout, despite his youth, to forget in +his grief the full significance of the sad incident. The hound had +travelled the long distance from the ranch to this point for the purpose +of bringing him a message. He had been discovered while on the road, and +fired upon by the Indians, who were so near that they used bows and +arrows to prevent the young master taking the alarm. Many missiles were +doubtless sent after the animal, and one was fated to bring him down, +though not until he had accomplished his errand. + +Warren knew where to look for the message. He unstrapped the collar, +with its silver plate--which he would have done under any circumstance +to keep as a remembrance of his voiceless friend--and there, carefully +folded and secure under the band, was a piece of paper, containing +considerable writing in lead-pencil: + + DEAR WARREN: + + Don't come to the ranch. It is sure death to undertake it. A party + of twenty and more bucks are near us. They have killed or stampeded + our cattle, and will attack us this evening if we remain, which we + shall not do. Tim discovered them this afternoon, and learned + enough to make sure of their intention. We shall mount our horses + and start for Fort Meade. We dare not use the regular trail, along + which I suppose you are making your way, but must be guided by + circumstances. I think we shall move to the westward, taking the + most direct route to the post, but are likely to be forced into a + long detour, which renders it impossible for me to give you any + direction by which we can meet each other. + + I know that your impulse will be to try to join us before we reach + the fort, but it is my earnest wish that you shall not attempt it. + Turn about at once, while you have time, and retrace your steps. If + a day or two shall pass without our coming in, perhaps it may be + well to ask the colonel to send out a squad of cavalry to help us, + for it is idle to fancy we are not in great peril. It is my prayer + that Bruno shall intercept you in time to prevent any mishap. I + have instructed him precisely what he is expected to do, and he not + only fully understands, but, as you well know, will do it if it be + possible. + + YOUR FATHER. + +"You were right," said the youth gently, looking down once more on the +inanimate form. "Bruno did his duty, and he deserves a monument for +having done it so well." + +All this time the pony stood some feet away, motionless, and apparently +a deeply interested witness of the singular scene. + +He was too well trained to leave his master, who never resorted to the +precaution of securing him by his halter. + +Meanwhile night was closing in. The gloom was overspreading the prairie +so that the ridge, which had been such a cause for solicitude to the +youth, was now dimly discernible. In a few minutes it would be swallowed +up in the coming darkness. + +Resolutely forcing his sadness aside, Warren knelt down and pressed his +ear to the ground. If horsemen were approaching he could detect it +through the sense of hearing. + +Then he climbed once more into the saddle and faced the ridge, debating +with himself what was the right course to pursue. His father had said in +unmistakable language that he wished him to return to Fort Meade. +Warren was a dutiful son, but he could not persuade himself that that +was the best thing to do. To follow his parent's wishes would require +him to look after his own safety, and to forget those whose lives were +dearer to him than his own. To return to the fort, and secure the aid +that he knew would be cheerfully given, would take a day or two, during +which the crisis must come and pass with his people. Two days at the +most would settle the question whether they were to escape or fall +victims to the ferocity of the Sioux. + +"I can't do it," he said, compressing his lips and shaking his head. "I +have never played the coward, and I'm not going to begin when my folks +are concerned. My first duty is to find out where father, mother, and +Dot are, and then do all I can for their safety." + +It was not difficult to reach this conclusion, for which no one will +deny him credit; but it was altogether a difficult and formidable task +for him to decide what next to do. + +Had his friends been following the regular trail to the fort his course +would have been simple, since he had only to continue on until he met +them; but his father had notified him that not only would he not take +that route, but he could not say which one he would adopt. He inclined +to think he would turn to the westward, leaving the path on his left, +but the question, as he said, must be settled by circumstances. + +Something cold touched his hand. It was a snowflake, and he knew that in +a short time the ground would be wrapped in a mantle of white. Once more +he glanced in the direction of the elevation, now invisible in the +gathering darkness. On the utmost height a point of light appeared, +shining for a moment with the steady radiance of a fixed star. + +"The bucks are there," concluded Warren; "they saw me from a long way, +and must wonder why I am delayed--ah, sure enough!" + +All at once the gleaming light began circling about, faster and faster, +until it looked like a wheel of fire. Then it reversed, whirling as +swiftly in the opposite direction, then up and down, then from side to +side, and finally, whiff! it vanished. + +A grim smile lit the face of the youth, who turned his gaze toward the +more distant ridge on his left for the answer, but if it was made, the +state of the atmosphere prevented his seeing it. Once he fancied he +caught the glimpse of something resembling a fire-fly, but it was only +for an instant, and was not observed again. + +It was easy to read the meaning of that which first showed itself. A +party of Indians that had evidently been watching his coming, while yet +a long way off, now telegraphed his arrival to their confederates on the +more distant elevation, together with the fact that the white man had +ceased his approach and might not come any nearer. + +It was reasonable to believe that these same red men would not remain +idle while the object of their wrath turned quietly about and retraced +his steps. + +Only a few minutes were used in considering the question, but the time +had not yet expired, when, to Warren's astonishment, he heard the sound +of firing ahead. Probably eight or ten shots were discharged at quick +but irregular intervals, and then all once more became still. + +A pang of apprehension passed through him at the fear that his friends, +after all, might have attempted to reach the fort by the trail, and had +become involved in a fight with the Sioux. Be that as it may, the fact +was impressed on him that he was doing an imprudent thing by remaining +in the path along which the warriors were liable to burst at any moment. +He turned Jack to the left and rode fully a hundred yards before again +drawing rein. It was not necessary to go this far to place himself +beyond sight of the path, but he wished to take no unnecessary chances. + +By this time the snowflakes were falling fast, and it was impossible to +see objects more than twenty feet distant. Warren checked his pony, +holding him with his nose toward the trail, and listened. + +Again the intelligent animal elevated his head, pricked his ears, and +emitted an almost noiseless neigh, as was his habit when he discovered +the approach of strangers. His rider could discern nothing through the +gloom, and resorted to the resource tried before, which is a common one +among hunters and warriors. Descending from the saddle, he brushed aside +the snow from a small spot on the ground and pressed his ear against the +earth. + +This time he _did_ hear something. A horse was approaching over the +trail on a swift gallop, and it took but a brief while for the youth to +learn that he was coming from the direction of the ridge. Furthermore, +there was but the single horseman; or, if there were others, they were +so far off that no thought need be given to them. + +Remounting his pony, Warren held him facing the path, and prepared for +any emergency likely to arise. He was well aware that if the stranger +kept to the trail he would be invisible in the gloom, but he was now so +near that from his seat young Starr plainly caught the sound of his +horse's hoofs, growing more distinct every moment. + +Whoever it was that was advancing, it was evident he was doing so at +what might be called a leisurely pace, though it was quite rapid. The +horse was on an easy canter, such as his species can maintain for hours +without fatigue. + +The youth was sitting in this posture, with never a thought of what was +coming, when to his amazement he caught the outlines of the man and his +steed passing at right angles to the course he had been following +himself. + +"He is off the trail!" was the alarming fact which caused Warren to make +ready to fire, for the truth was apparent that if he saw the stranger, +the latter had the same opportunity of seeing him. + +To his surprise Jack uttered a neigh at the critical moment when the +other was directly opposite. A collision now seemed certain, but the +other kept straight on, and quickly passed from sight. + +Not until he had been several minutes beyond hearing did the startling +thought come to Warren Starr: + +"That was a white man, and not an Indian." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +COMPANIONS IN PERIL. + + +Warren Starr was impatient with himself that he had not thought of the +stranger being a white man until it was too late to make use of the +important fact. The sounds of firing ahead ought to have raised the +suspicion in his mind, and the act of his pony should have confirmed it, +for he never would have betrayed himself to one of his own species had +he not known that he belonged to a friend. + +But it was a waste of time to bewail what could not be helped, and +nothing was to be gained by staying where he was. There was no longer +any call to push onward toward the ranch, for that was not his +destination. He was seeking his folks. + +Once more the nose of Jack was turned about, and this time he was headed +toward the northwest, his course being such that it would take him +considerably to the west of the second rocky ridge to which allusion has +been made. In short, Warren had now set out to do that which he would +not have attempted but for the receipt of the message from his father. +He was about to flank both elevations by swerving far from the direct +course to his home. + +The small tributary of the Big Cheyenne, which it was necessary to ford +in order to reach the ranch, made a sweeping curve southward, so that +the marked change in the course he was following would take him to it, +though at a point far removed from the regular ford. + +The youth was not riding blindly forward. It has been stated that he was +familiar with the country for many miles around his home, and he was +making for a definite point. It was on the bank of the small stream, and +was not only deeply wooded, but abounded with rocks, bowlders, +depressions, ravines, and wild, dangerous places, where it was certain +death for a person to try to make his way in the darkness, unless he +knew every foot of the locality. + +This was the locality for which young Starr was aiming. Here he was +confident of finding security against the Sioux, though they might be +near at hand. He knew just where to go, for he had hunted through it +many times with his friend Tim Brophy, for whose company he longed more +than ever before. + +Jack wanted food, but it could not be had. He did not need it, however, +to the extent of suffering. At the noon halt, when his master sat on the +ground by a spring of cold water to eat his lunch, the pony had cropped +the succulent grass that grew around, and he could stand it quite well +until the morrow. The animal needed rest and shelter more than anything +else, and it was that which his young master meant he should have. + +As if he understood it all, the horse of his own accord struck into a +brisk gallop, which rendered unnecessary any other protection from the +cold. The snow was still falling, but the temperature was not low, and +there was not enough on the ground to interfere with the travelling of +the animal, who maintained his pace until the abrupt appearance of the +rocky section, with its trees and bowlders, compelled him to drop to a +slow walk, with his nose thrust forward, as if to scent every step of +the way, like an elephant crossing a doubtful bridge. + +"Here we are, my boy!" called out Warren, "and you couldn't have come +more truly if the sun had been shining." + +It certainly was a marvellous piece of woodcraft, if such it may be +called, on the part of the pony, that he should have struck the spot so +accurately, and yet it is scarcely less marvellous that, had he needed +direction, his master was competent to give it, despite the darkness and +the snow. + +Warren left the saddle for the last time. With no stars or moon in the +sky, and with the snow falling faster than ever, it would seem that +one's eyes were of little use, but they served their purpose well in the +present instance. Paying no heed to the animal, he bent over, groping +his way among the rocks, which began abruptly on the edge of the +prairie, and had not spent five minutes thus when he came upon that for +which he was looking--an opening between a mass of bowlders, along which +a person or animal could make his way with little difficulty. + +"Here we are, Jack, my boy! Come on; we'll soon reach our house." + +With more thrusting forward of the head, and sniffing of the air, the +pony obeyed, though it is hardly to be supposed that he understood all +that was said to him. + +On the previous winter, when Warren Starr and Tim Brophy were hunting in +this section, they found game so abundant that they decided to spend two +or three days in the neighborhood. Accordingly they put up a shelter +which afforded good protection at night, and would do the same against +any storm not too violent. A rock a dozen feet in length formed a +half-circle, the upper edge projecting over to the extent of a yard or +more. All that was required was to lean a number of branches against +this, the upper parts supported by the ledge, while the lower rested on +the ground, some eight or ten feet away from the base. + +These branches being numerous and thickly placed, constituted what might +be considered a tepee, with only the broad opening in front. + +It was in this rude shelter that Warren Starr and Tim Brophy had spent a +couple of nights in comparative comfort. The second one was bitterly +cold, and they kindled a fire near the entrance. The smoke caused some +trouble, but wrapped in their thick blankets, and stretched out back to +back, they slept as soundly as if in their beds at home. + +This was the structure which the youth had in mind when he turned his +back on the regular trail and made for the wild solitude through which +he now began threading his way, and it was a striking tribute to his +woodcraft and knowledge that within fifteen minutes he reached the very +spot, with his pony at his heels. + +"This is the place," he remarked to his animal, "but there don't seem to +be any lamps lighted, and it's best to look around a little before +retiring for the night." + +Drawing a rubber match-safe from his pocket, he ignited one of the tiny +bits of wood, shading the twist of flame from the snowflakes, though +there was no wind stirring. + +It was months since he had visited the place, and the elements were +likely to have played havoc with the structure during that period, for +in that part of our Union the blizzard and tempest raise the mischief at +certain seasons. + +He was gratified, however, to note the slight change effected. One or +two of the long branches had fallen to the ground and several others +were askew. He was obliged to fling aside the match while he devoted +some minutes to straightening them. This was effected so well that when +he stepped inside and struck another match he saw not a flake of snow +filtering through the crevices, though there was likely to be +considerable before morning. + +"Come in!" was the astonishing command the youth gave to his pony, who +stood looking at him, as if wondering what the next move was to be. The +situation was amusing, and not without its ludicrous side, with Warren +holding a match in one hand, his rifle in the other, and his heavy +blanket wrapped about his shoulders, beckoning and addressing the pony, +which hesitated for a minute at this unexpected invitation to share the +couch of his master. + +But he was an obedient animal, and with some more sniffing and poking +forward of his nose, he stepped slowly forward until he was entirely +within the rude structure. + +"Now lie down," added Warren, lighting another match, and Jack obeyed +with more promptness than before. Then the youth flung the broad, heavy +blanket over the pony so as to envelop as much of him as possible, lay +down close to the front of his body, adjusting the hoofs as best he +could, drew the rest of the covering over himself, and was excusable for +chuckling: + +"Now, Jack, old fellow, what's to prevent us from sleeping as snug as a +bug in a rug! Hey, my boy?" + +Everything promised well, but before either could fall asleep, they were +startled beyond measure by hearing someone moving outside. Whispering +to the horse to keep still, Warren slipped out from under the blanket +and moved softly to the opening, revolver in hand. As he did so, he ran +squarely against another person who was in the act of entering the place +of shelter. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +TIM BROPHY'S DISCOVERY. + + +The letter which was delivered to Warren Starr by his mortally wounded +hound not only gave that young man definite news of the alarming events +in the neighborhood of his home, but has conveyed to the reader the +cause of the abrupt change in his plans and of the stirring incidents +which led to the hasty flight of the Starr family from their ranch on +the north of the Big Cheyenne River. + +As stated in the note, it was Tim Brophy, the young Irishman, who made +the discovery in time to prevent the family being overwhelmed and +massacred. While Jared Plummer, the lank New Englander, rode to the +westward to look after some strays, Tim galloped north to attend to the +main herd, which was supposed to be cropping the abundant grass in the +neighborhood of several small streams and tributaries of the main +river. + +Tim had been in the employ of Mr. Starr for three years, and had spent +most of his life in the West, so that he had fully learned the lesson +which such an experience should teach everyone. He knew of the impending +trouble among the Indian tribes, and was always on the alert. It was not +long, therefore, before he came upon signs which told him something was +amiss. + +In the corner of a natural clearing, near one of the small streams, he +discovered a dozen of the cattle lying dead. It was not necessary for +him to dismount and examine the ground to learn the cause of such +slaughter. The footprints of ponies near by, the bullet wounds, and +other indications answered the question that came to his lips at the +first glimpse of the cruel butchery. + +"The spalpeens!" he exclaimed wrath-fully. "They niver had a better +friend than Mr. Starr, and that's the shtyle in which they pays him for +the same. Worrah, worrah, but it's too bad!" + +Riding cautiously to the top of the next elevation, the young rancher +saw other sights which filled him with greater indignation and +resentment. A half mile to the northward the entire herd of cattle, +numbering several hundreds, were scurrying over the plain in a wild +panic. The figures of several Sioux bucks galloping at their heels, +swinging their arms and shouting, so as to keep up and add to the +affright, left no doubt that Mr. Starr's fine drove of cattle was gone +beyond recovery. The result of months of toil, expense, and trouble were +vanishing as they sometimes do before the resistless sweep of the +cyclone. + +The blue eyes of the Celt flashed, as he sat in the saddle and +contemplated the exasperating raid. Nothing would have pleased him +better than to dash with several companions after the marauders and +force them to a reckoning for the outrage. But eager as he was for such +an affray, he was too wise to try it alone. There were five or six of +the horsemen, and he was no match for them. + +Besides this, a more alarming discovery broke upon him within a minute +after observing the stampede. From the clump of wood on his right, along +the edge of the stream, only a few hundred yards away, he detected the +faint smoke of a camp-fire. The Sioux were there. + +The sight so startled Tim that he wheeled his pony short around and +withdrew behind the elevation he had just ascended, fearing he had +already been observed by the red men. + +Such undoubtedly would have been the fact had any of the turbulent Sioux +been on guard, but the occasion was one of those rare ones in which the +warriors acted upon the theory that no such precaution was needed, since +no possible danger could threaten them. + +Suspecting the truth, Tim dropped hastily from his pony and stole along +the edge of the stream, until he reached a point which gave him a sight +of the miscreants, and at the same time afforded him tolerably fair +protection. + +The scene was calculated to inspire anything but pleasant feelings in a +spectator. Fully a score of young warriors were squatted in a circle, +listening to the harangue of one of their number, who had wrought +himself into a furious passion. He was swinging his arms, shouting and +leaping about like a lunatic, and rising to a pitch which not only +threatened to throw him into a paroxysm, but was imparting itself to his +listeners. Some of them were smoking, but showing at the same time an +excitement which is generally believed to be foreign to the American +race. They were all bucks, and eager to be led upon the warpath. There +was not an old or middle-aged man among them. + +The eavesdropper was not able to understand their words, but the +gestures left no doubt of their fearful meaning. The speaker pointed in +the direction of the home of the Starrs so often, and indulged in so +much action to which the others signified full assent, that it was +beyond dispute that they meant to attack the house and slay the inmates. +Knowing all about these, and the resistance they were likely to meet, +they would wait until night before bursting upon them. + +Tim Brophy was sagacious enough to grasp almost on the instant the full +nature of the awful peril. He saw that accident, or rather Providence, +had given to him the secret which revealed that only by prompt action +could the lives of his friends be saved. There was no saying how long +the council, if such it may be called, would last, and he did not care +to know. + +Nothing could show the intense absorption of the fierce Sioux in the +outrage they had determined to commit more than the fact that a white +man rose up in full view only a few hundred yards away, without his +presence being detected. Such being the case, it was easy for Tim to +withdraw from the immediate vicinity of the gathering, steal round to +where his pony was cropping the grass, and mount again. + +He rode carefully forward, keeping the elevation between him and the +camp of the hostiles, until convinced it was safe, when he struck his +horse into a run and sped away as if for life. + +A few minutes sufficed to take him to the house, where the unsuspicious +folk looked up in wonder at his haste and agitation. Mr. Starr was +sitting near the window reading a newspaper, his little girl Dot was +playing with her doll on the floor, and the wife was busy with her +household duties. + +It took but a few minutes for Tim to tell the news. Jared Plummer had +not yet come in, and there could be no guessing as to what additional +facts he would give them. + +Like his employe, the rancher was quick to grasp the situation. The only +possible safety was in flight, and no time was to be lost. + +The building, with its broad, flat roof, its many windows and insecure +portions, was in no condition for successful defence, where the small +garrison could not guard one-half the weak points. The assailants could +readily fire it, and it would burn like so much touchwood. Flight, +therefore, was the one and only thing to be thought of. + +It was yet comparatively early in the afternoon, and those on the ranch +had noted the signs of the approaching snowstorm. The husband directed +his wife to make her preparations few and simple, and to waste no time. +It was idle to bewail the necessity which compelled them to leave so +many precious articles behind. Life was dearer than all, and the +courageous helpmate proved herself equal to the occasion. She gathered +the articles of clothing they were likely to need, filled several bags +with the provisions in the house, and announced that she was ready. + +There was a horse each for the father, mother, and Tim Brophy, while a +fourth, a small, tough pony, was laden with the bag of provisions, extra +clothing, and a few articles deemed indispensable. These were brought +round to the front, and in much less time than would be supposed the +little cavalcade was ready to move. + +Despite the belief of Brophy that no attack would be made until after +darkness had closed,--a belief shared by Mr. Starr,--the rancher was +fearful that his home would be placed under surveillance while daylight +lasted, and that the intended flight would be discovered before it +began. In such an event, the family could only fight it out to the +desperate end, and that they would do so admits of no doubt. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LEAVING THE RANCH. + + +Now that everything was ready, Mr. Starr felt anxious about the absent +Jared Plummer. He ought to have learned of the danger before this, and +should have been almost, if not quite, as prompt as Tim Brophy in +hastening to the house. His continued absence gave ground for fear that +harm had befallen him, but his friends were powerless to give him help. + +"It won't do to wait," remarked the rancher gravely, "and he will be as +able to do without as with us." + +"Why not lave a missage for him?" asked Tim. + +"The idea is a good one," replied Mr. Starr, who, sitting down, +hurriedly penned the following upon a slip of paper, and pinned it on +the front door of the dwelling, where it was sure to catch the eye of +the absent one in the event of his return: + + TO JARED PLUMMER: + + The presence of the Sioux, and the certainty that they will attack + the ranch before long, leave no choice for us but to flee at once. + I have waited as long as I dare. We shall take a south-west course + and will aim to reach Fort Meade. Follow as soon as you can, and we + will look out for each other; but give your thoughts and energies + to taking care of yourself. More than likely we shall not see each + other until we meet at the post, if it be God's will that we shall + safely arrive there. + + GEORGE STARR. + +Little Dot watched her father with great interest while he was fastening +this piece of paper to the door of their home. + +"What's that for, papa?" she asked. + +"It is something for Mr. Plummer to read when he comes back." + +"Don't you want anyone else to read it?" + +"Of course not," replied the parent with a smile, lovingly patting the +chubby cheek. + +"But if the bad Indians you and mamma have been talking about come here, +they will read it too." + +The father started. He had not thought of that. The next moment, +however, he laughed. + +"The Indians don't know how to read writing or print, so it won't do +them any good." + +"But Starcus can read as well as anybody." + +"He has been to school and learned, and then he is a good Indian, too, +and I wouldn't care if he did read it." + +"But maybe he will become bad like the other Indians," persisted the +child. + +The husband looked significantly at his wife, who was also watching his +actions and listening to the conversation. She replied with a motion of +the head, which said there might be something in the words of the little +one. + +Starcus was a young Indian that had been attending the Carlisle school +for a couple of years, and had acquired a fair English education, being +able to read, write, and talk intelligently. He had called at the house +several times, and interested the family by his pleasing ways and kind +words. + +He remarked on his last visit, some weeks before, that he was likely to +remain some time with his people, and possibly would not return again +to the East. Many things were more unlikely than that he would be +carried away by the craze that was affecting his tribe, and become one +of the most ferocious foes of the Caucasian race. + +"Tim," said Mr. Starr, turning to the Irishman, "did you notice whether +he was among the group you saw?" + +"I didn't observe him, but they were fixed out in war-paint and toggery +so that I wouldn't have knowed the gintleman onless I was inthrodooced +to the same. Thin, too, he might have been one of the spalpeens who were +stampeding the cattle." + +"Well, there's no use in thinking of that; we must take the chances; the +Sioux will find out what course we follow without asking anyone to +translate this message for them." + +Mrs. Starr caught the arm of her husband, and as he turned he noticed +that her face was pale with emotion. + +"What is it, wife?" he asked in alarm. + +"Warren," she replied in a whisper. + +"What about him?" + +"This is the day he said he would leave the fort for home; he must be on +the way now; unless he is warned he will ride to his death without +suspecting it." + +The father forgot their own danger for the moment in his alarm for his +son. It took but a few minutes to act upon the plan of which the reader +has learned long since. Another letter was pencilled and secured to the +collar of Bruno, whose instructions were so minute that they would have +been ludicrous, but for their warrant in the wonderful intelligence of +the animal. The hound sped away like an arrow from the bow, and the +faithfulness with which he did his work need not be retold. + +There was no call for further delay. Mr. Starr mounted his fine animal, +armed with Winchester and revolver, after he had assisted his wife upon +another horse and placed Dot in front of her. The mother was a superior +horsewoman, and this arrangement was intended to leave the husband free +to act without hinderance, in the event of an emergency. Tim Brophy was +equally at liberty, and with the pack animal well laden the party left +the home, each oppressed by a great fear that they would not only never +look upon it again, but would probably be struck down before reaching +the nearest point of safety, many miles away, at the base of the Black +Hills. + +More than one eye anxiously turned toward the elevation, beyond which +Tim Brophy had seen the bucks listening to the impassioned harangue of +their leader, and the relief was not great when they rode over another +swell in the plain, which shut them out from the sight of any of the +serpent-eyed Sioux concealed there; for there could be no certainty that +the fugitives had not been observed by them. It was not the custom of +their people to attack openly; more likely they would set some ambush +into which the whites might ride with no thought of danger. + +But in one sense the Rubicon was crossed. They had turned their backs on +the ranch, and it was to be dismissed from their thoughts until they +should reach some place of safety. + +There was little said by any member of the party, for the occasion was +not one to induce conversation. Even little Dot was oppressed by the +general gloom, and nestled close to her mother, whose arm lovingly +encircled and held her close to her breast, which would gladly receive +any blow intended for that precious one. + +Tim Brophy remained a brief distance at the rear, with the pack animal, +on the alert for the first sign of danger, while Mr. Starr gave his +attention to the front, selecting the course, and doing all in his power +to avoid leading his companions into danger. + +When, however, a half mile had been passed, during which several ridges +were crossed, a feeling of hope arose that after all they might elude +their vengeful enemies. With the coming of night, it would be impossible +for the Sioux to trail them. They must wait until the following morning, +and before that time the fugitives ought to be so near Fort Meade that +the pursuit would be in vain. + +It was a striking proof of parental affection that now, when the cloud +was partly lifted from the father and mother, their anxiety should be +transferred to the absent son on his way to join them. He was in the +minds of both, and despite his exceptional skill in woodcraft, the +conviction grew upon the parents that he was in greater peril than they. +Finally, the mother uttered the thoughts in her mind. + +"I agree with you, Molly," the husband replied. "Bruno will do his best, +but I believe the chances are a hundred to one that he will fail, and +Warren will ride straight to his death." + +"Can't we do something, George?" + +The husband turned his head, and beckoned to his employe to ride up +between them. + +"Tim, you know the regular trail to the fort as well as the way to your +own bedroom. I want you to set out to meet Warren, and prevent his +running into the hands of the Sioux." + +"Whin would ye like me to start?" + +"Now." + +"I'm riddy and waiting to ride to me death for the boy, if nade be." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +"TIMOTHY BROPHY, ESQ., AT YOUR SERVICE." + + +At first thought, the abrupt departure of Tim Brophy may seem an +imprudent thing, since it left only one man to look after the safety of +Mrs. Starr and their little one; but it will be remembered that the hope +of safety lay not in fighting, but in flight; and the presence or +absence of the young Irishman could not affect that one way or the +other. + +Accordingly, with a pause only long enough to draw a substantial lunch +from the provision bag and to bid his friends good-by, Tim wheeled his +horse and was off like a shot. He took good care to avoid the +neighborhood of the bucks, and soon left the ranch far behind, speeding +along the trail over which Warren Starr was at that moment galloping +toward him. + +The youth drove his task through with all the impetuosity of his nature. +He was devotedly attached to the son of his employer, and was ready at +any time, as he had always been, to risk his life for him. Believing as +he did that he was in more imminent peril than anyone else, he bent +every energy toward reaching and turning him aside before it was too +late. + +In this essay, Tim committed a mistake which Warren Starr narrowly +avoided. He acted on the theory that the only real danger was in the +immediate neighborhood of the ranch, and that none existed near the +ridges between which the trail led. The consequence was that, when he +was not dreaming of any such thing, he suddenly became the target for a +fusillade from Sioux rifles that were waiting to receive young Starr, +and therefore were not fully prepared for him. By desperate work and +good fortune he and his pony ran the gauntlet unscathed, and continued +their flight southward. The whinny of his friend's pony, he supposed, +came from one of the horses of his enemies, and therefore he galloped on +without paying any heed to it. + +Meanwhile, as will be remembered, young Starr had pushed through the +falling snow and gathering darkness until he and his horse reached the +primitive shelter among the rocks, bowlders, and trees which he had used +when on previous hunting expeditions. After he and Jack had disposed +themselves for the night they were disturbed by the approach of someone. +Rising to his feet, Warren hurried stealthily to the door, where he ran +directly against the intruder, whom he was unable to recognize in the +gloom. + +"Who are you?" he asked, holding his revolver ready for instant use, but +unwilling to fire until sure he was facing an enemy. + +"Timothy Brophy, Esq., at your service," replied his friend, identifying +the other by his voice. + +"Why, Tim, I can't tell you how glad I am to see you," exclaimed the +delighted Warren: "I have thought a score of times, when on the way, how +pleasant it would be to meet you. What brought you here?" + +"My horse, and I presume that yours did the same for yersilf." + +"Where is he?" + +"Outside, near by, wid the bist shelter I could give him: I didn't saa +your own." + +"He's inside, sharing my couch with me, or, rather, was doing so when +you disturbed us." + +Tim broke into laughter. + +"That's a good idaa; I niver heerd of anything like it before. Is there +room for Billy, too?" + +"I'm afraid we would be crowded; but come inside till I strike a match +and show you how things are fixed." + +The two entered, and Warren ignited another lucifer. Jack was evidently +puzzled, raising his head and looking at them in a way which suggested +that he would like to come to his feet. + +"Lie down, old fellow!" commanded his master; "there's nothing to be +disturbed about; you couldn't have better quarters, and you will be wise +to stay where you are; you're better off than Billy." + +Now that Tim had arrived with his blanket, it was decided that the pony +should be left where he was, while the youths lay down on the other +covering, which was wrapped about them. + +Then they curled up and made themselves as comfortable as on their +previous stay in the rude shelter. + +Lying thus, they naturally talked over what had taken place since their +last meeting. Warren's voice trembled when he told the story of Bruno, +who gave his life for him and his friends, and Tim related what had +befallen the others during the day. + +Young Starr was filled with alarm for his parents and little sister, but +Tim was hopeful that everything would come out right, and that, by the +time the sun rose, they would be so far advanced on their way to Fort +Meade that the danger would be virtually over. + +"Ye knows," he continued, "that yer fayther is acquainted wid the way as +well as yerself; the horses are frish and strong, and he'll not spare +thim; the road, too, is not as long as by the rig'lar route that we've +follyed so often." + +"That is true, but it must be all of thirty miles, and is really much +greater because of the ridges, hills, streams, and difficult places in +the path, which will compel many detours." + +"And the same will have to be observed by the spalpeens that may be +thrying to overtake thim." + +"But they understand the business better." + +"I'm not so sartin of that," sturdily replied Tim; "yer fayther is no +green hand." + +"That isn't what I mean; I'm thinking of mother and Dot; he will have to +accommodate himself to them, and in case the Indians do come up with +them----" + +"Arrah, now, what are ye thinking of?" demanded Tim impatiently; "if ye +want to go to specylatin' and 'ifing,' ye may refar to oursilves and say +that if the spalpeens come down here wid Sitting Bull laading the same, +and they sit fire to this ilegant risidence, what will become of us?" + +"That is very well, Tim, and you mean right, but I shall not rest a +minute until I know they have reached the fort. It's strange, too, about +Plummer." + +"It's my opinion," remarked the Irishman, lowering his voice, as though +afraid of being overheard, "that he's in throuble." + +"Why do you think so?" + +"Because he did not show up before we lift; he hadn't any farther to go +than mesilf, and it was nearly an hour after I got back before we come +away, but there was no sign of him." + +"Did you hear no firing?" + +"Not that I remimber; which reminds me that it was also quaar that the +Sioux could have shot down the cattle as they did, so near the house, +widout any of us noting the noise of their guns." + +"It was singular, but perhaps you were all inside at the time, busy at +something. At any rate, instead of our hurrying back to the fort, we +will do our best to find father and mother, and stick by them to the +end." + +"I'm wid ye there," was the hearty response of Tim; "I'd like to give +Plummer a helping hand, but see no way to do the same, and it is likely +that he can get along better widout us than wid us." + +The two talked a long time, for their hearts were full. It was not until +midnight that a feeling of drowsiness began creeping over them. Tim's +remarks began to grow slower and more disconnected, until finally he +failed to answer at all. Finding that he was asleep, Warren composed +himself as comfortably as he could, and soon joined him in the land of +dreams. + +The snow continued sifting softly downward, and rattled against the +branches and leaves which composed a portion of their house. The +temperature sank as the night progressed, and the situation of the +couple, no less than that of their friends, became anything but hopeful. + +They were still a long way from the post, where they could feel secure, +and the Indians were certain to press them hard. They were so much more +numerous than the little band of fugitives that the advantage lay wholly +with them. + +But the night passed without disturbance. Then the pony and the two +youths awoke simultaneously, for they were aroused by one of the most +startling causes that can be conceived: It was the screaming whinny of +Tim Brophy's horse--a cry rarely heard from the animal, and only when in +the very extremity of mortal terror. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +STIRRING TIMES. + + +Warren Starr and Tim Brophy sprang up at the same instant. The gray +light of the early wintry morning was stealing through the rocky +solitude, the snow had ceased falling, and the weather was colder than +on the preceding evening. The pony also began struggling to his feet, +but the youths in their excitement paid no heed to him. + +"It's Billy," whispered Tim. + +"Yes; let's see what is the matter." + +The young Irishman had formed the decision a moment before, for he was +as ready to defend his horse as a friend. He bounded out from the rude +shelter, with his companion at his heels. + +It was but a short distance to the spot where he had left the animal to +spend the night. The boys dropped their blankets, but each grasped his +Winchester, confident that there was call for its use. + +It was on a small natural clearing, where, after grazing a few minutes +in the dark, the pony had lain down to sleep, his instinct leading him +to select the side of a towering rock, where he was well protected from +the falling snow. This bare place was less than a quarter of an acre in +extent, and narrowed to what might be called a point, where the horse +had found refuge from the storm. Surrounded by bowlders, varying in +height from eight or more feet to twice that extent, his only means of +entering or leaving was through the opening at the extreme end, which +was not less than a rod in width. + +The pony had probably risen to his feet with the first coming of +daylight, when he was confronted by the most terrifying sight +conceivable; a colossal grizzly bear stood in the middle of the "door," +calmly surveying him, and evidently of the belief that he had come upon +the most palatable kind of breakfast, which was already secured to him +beyond possibility of loss. + +When it is borne in mind that the pony was caught in a trap as secure as +an iron cage, it will be understood why the intelligent animal, in the +agony of helplessness, emitted that astounding cry which rang like the +wail of doom through the snowy solitude. Thousands of his species live +for years and die without giving expression to that horrible outcry, for +it requires the agony of fear to call it forth. + +The horse has five times the intelligence of the bear, but the latter +was not stupid enough to fail to see his advantage, or to allow it to +slip from him. The enormous trail which he had made in the snow was +noticed by Tim Brophy before seeing the brute, and he identified it at a +glance, his only fear being that he might arrive too late to save his +pony. + +The latter cowered against the rock, his fright so pitiable that, in the +stirring moments, both youths were touched with sympathy for him. + +"Begorra, but isn't he a bouncer?" whispered Tim, coming to a halt. "I +niver looked upon as big a one." + +"Has he hurt Billy?" asked Warren, who, as will be remembered, was a +few paces behind him while making the brief run. + +"He has scared him out of ten years' growth, and it's mesilf that's +going to pay the same compliment to the spalpeen." + +"Be careful, Tim! You know how hard it is to kill one of those +creatures, and when they are roused----" + +Further utterance was cut short by the report of Tim's gun. The young +Irishman's failing was his impetuosity. When he saw his services needed, +he was so eager to give them that he frequently threw caution to the +winds, and plunged into the fray like a diver going off the rocks. + +Halting less than fifty feet away, he brought his rifle to a level and +let fly. It was as impossible for him to miss as it was to inflict a +mortal wound, and the ball meant for the skull of the brute found +lodgment elsewhere. + +The bear appeared to be in the act of rising partly on his haunches, +when the report, and probably a sharp twinge in his shoulder, apprised +him of what was going on at the rear. The contemplated feast was not to +be without its unpleasant interruption. + +He uttered a low growl and came straight for the two youths. Their +rifles being of the magazine kind, they were prepared to open a +bombardment, which they did without delay; but after a number of shots +had been fired, and the mountainous animal continued to sweep down upon +them, Warren called out: + +"Let's run, Tim! we need a cannon to stop him; we must find some place +to shelter us." + +Not doubting that his comrade would instantly follow, Warren wheeled +about and dashed off without paying heed to the direction; he had no +time to make any calculations. + +Despite the fall of snow, there were only two or three inches on the +ground, just enough to interfere with rapid travelling. Young Starr had +not taken a dozen steps, when his foot turned on a smooth stone and he +pitched headlong, with his gun flying from his grasp. He was not hurt, +and he bounded up again as if made of rubber. He supposed the animal, +which can lumber along at a speedy gait despite its awkwardness, was on +his heels, but the furtive glance over his shoulder showed nothing of +him, and the youth plunged forward and caught up his weapon as may be +said on the fly. + +With its recovery came something like confidence again, and he turned +about to learn how Tim Brophy was making out. + +It was just like the plucky fellow not to dash after his comrade, but to +stand his ground, when the most experienced and the bravest hunter in +the world would have lost no time in increasing the distance between him +and the brute. The latter had scared Billy half to death, and his master +meant to punish him therefor, so he held his ground, and managed to send +in another shot while the grizzly was approaching, but which did no more +to check his charge than a wad from a pop-gun. + +This reckless daring on the part of Tim would have brought disaster, but +for an unexpected interference. + +Billy, the pony, no sooner saw the terrible brute turn his back upon him +and lumber off, than he understood that the way of escape for him had +opened. His panic departed like a flash, and he plunged through the +opening with a snort of triumph; but his line of flight took him of +necessity along that followed by the grizzly himself, who was advancing +to the assault of the brave young Irishman. + +There may have been a feeling of wrathful resentment thrilling the +nerves of the gallant pony, or it is not beyond belief that he +understood the danger of his master. Be that as it may, he was no sooner +beside the huge brute, who slightly turned his head on hearing the +clatter of the hoofs, than he let drive with both hind feet, landing +them with such terrific force against the iron ribs of the monster that +he fell half upon his side, after being driven several feet beyond the +path. + +"Good for you!" called the delighted Tim, "let him have another +broadside, Billy, and we'll finish him----" + +The assault of the pony diverted the attention of the grizzly for a +moment from the youth to the assailant. He was thoroughly roused, and +made for the horse, who showed more sense than his master by dashing +off at full speed. This being beyond the attainment of the bear, it may +be said that Billy's escape was absolute. + +The sudden check in Tim's words was caused by bruin, who had passed but +a few paces beyond the youth, when, seeing how useless it was to pursue +the pony, he wheeled and once more charged upon the master. + +The moment had arrived for the young rancher to call his legs into +service. He was willing to run when the necessity was apparent, and none +could excel him as a sprinter--that is, none of his kind. + +He assuredly would have been overtaken before he could climb any of the +bowlders or rocks, or get out of the path, had not a bullet bored its +way directly through the brain of the grizzly, and brought him to earth +at the moment when the life of the fugitive hung on a thread. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +STARCUS. + + +Warren Starr was terrified for the moment by the peril of his companion. +While running toward him he saw the grizzly rise partly on his haunches +to seize Tim, who was within his grasp, but at that instant the brute +toppled over, and with one or two struggles was dead. + +It was an exciting moment, but a singular discovery came to young +Starr--the shot that slew the bear was fired neither by himself nor Tim! + +Without waiting to investigate, he dashed to where his panting friend +was looking down at the fallen monster, as if uncertain what to do. + +"Gracious, Tim!" called Warren, as he came up, "that was the closest +call you ever had." + +"It's qu'ar," replied the other, "that after we had pumped about a ton +of lead into him without hurting the spalpeen, he should dhrop down from +a single shot." + +"That's because it was aimed right." + +"But ye had no bitter chance than meself, nor what ye also was given a +few minutes ago." + +"But it was not I, Tim, who fired the last shot." + +"What are ye talking about?" demanded the other. "I had no chance to +shoot me rifle, and who ilse could have done the same?" + +"But I tell you I did not fire; I was about to do so, when someone else +saved me the trouble; I am sure I couldn't have done any better than I +did before." + +"Thin who was the mon?" + +The question naturally caused the couple to look around in quest of the +unknown friend. + +They saw him at the first glance. + +"There he is! Look at him!" whispered Tim Brophy. + +Less than a hundred yards away stood an Indian warrior, calmly watching +them. He had mounted a bowlder, so that his figure was brought out in +clear relief. He was in Indian costume, most of it being hidden by a +heavy blanket gathered around the shoulders, but the leggings and +moccasons showed beneath, and the head was ornamented with stained +eagle-feathers. The noticeable fact about him, however, was that his +black hair was short, and the feathers were fixed in a sort of band, +which clasped the forehead. The rather pleasing face was fantastically +daubed with paint, and he held a fine rifle in his right hand, the other +being concealed under his blanket. + +His action, or rather want of action, was striking. The bowlder which +supported him was no more stationary than he. He gazed fixedly at the +youths, but made no signs and uttered no word. + +"Begorra, but he's a shtrange gintleman," muttered Tim. "I wonder if +he's posin' for his picter." + +"His firing of the gun proves that he is a friend," said Warren; "so we +have nothing to fear from him." + +"If that's the case why doesn't he come forward and interdooce himself? +whisht now!" + +What did the Irishman do but pucker up his mouth, whistle, and beckon to +the Indian to approach. The latter, however, did not move a muscle. + +"Helloa!" called Warren; "we thank you for your kindness; won't you come +forward and join us?" + +This appeal was as fruitless as the other. + +"If the copper gintleman won't come to us I'm going to him." + +It was just like Tim to start forward to carry out his intention, though +a sense of delicacy restrained his companion from joining him. The +Indian, however, nipped the little scheme in the bud. + +The Irishman had taken only two or three steps, when the Sioux, as he +evidently was, turned about, leaped lightly down from the bowlder, and +vanished. + +"Well, I'll be hanged!" exclaimed the disappointed Tim, stopping short; +"ye may be a good rifle shot, but be the same token ye are not fond of +selict company," and with a laugh he walked back to his friend, whose +face was so grave as to attract the notice of the Irishman. + +"What's the matter, Warren?" + +"Do you know who that Indian is?" + +"I niver have saan him before." + +"Yes, you have, many a time; he's been at our house within the past few +weeks." + +"Who is he?" + +"Starcus." + +"Git out!" + +"I'm not mistaken," insisted young Starr, compressing his lips and +shaking his head. "He's painted and dressed like his people, but his +short hair made me suspicious, and when he turned to jump down from the +bowlder, he made a movement that fixed his identity beyond all doubt." + +"Wal, ye're so sartin about it that I can't help belaving ye; but if it +was Starcus, why did he act that way? Why didn't he spake, and why +didn't he coom forward and shake hands wid us?" + +"That's what troubles me; it wasn't like him. It makes me believe he has +joined the hostiles." + +"But if that is the case why did he interfere whin the grizzly was about +to chaw me up?" + +"His whole action was strange, but I explain it this way: He was +prowling through this place, probably to help the bucks that are now on +the warpath, when he heard our guns, made his way forward, and seeing +the bear about to pounce upon you, he fired with the wish to save you. +Your danger caused him to feel friendly toward us; for otherwise, +instead of killing the bear he would have shot you and me." + +"Maybe he fired at me instead of the bear," suggested Tim, "and it was a +chance shot that saved meself." + +"That cannot be, for he is too good a marksman to make such a miss. I +have fired at a target with him and never saw a better shot than he. +Then, too, when he found he missed, he could have turned his Winchester +on us in turn and brought us both down." + +"And ye think after his doing us that kindness, he became an inimy +agin?" + +"He has caught the craze that is setting his people wild, and though you +didn't recognize him yesterday among that party of bucks near the house, +I believe he was either there or was one of the horsemen that stampeded +the cattle. He is with them body and soul. His last shot was given +through impulse. Of course he knew us both, and acted from a generous +motive. He may have stood there debating with himself whether to +continue that friendship, when your advance scattered all his good +resolutions to the winds. He has gone off to join the others, and when +we meet again he will be our bitter foe, eager to serve us both as he +served the grizzly. Let us not deceive ourselves about that." + +"There's one thing that looks well," remarked Tim a moment later; "if +Starcus is wid the ither spalpeens, they haven't found your fayther and +mither, for they're not in this part of the counthry." + +"That gives me relief," said Warren, with a glowing face; "the folks +must be many miles away, and these people are off their track +altogether. Father will waste no time, but push on. This snow is not +deep enough to bother them, and they ought to be safely within Fort +Meade by nightfall." + +"But what about us?" asked Tim significantly. + +"This isn't our right latitude. We must pull out as quickly as we can. +Our ponies are fresh, and can travel as fast as any of the Indian ones. +We haven't far to go to reach the open country, and then we'll head for +the fort, unless we conclude to hunt for the folks before reaching +there. In the meantime, Tim, I'm hungry enough to eat my shoes." + +"I'm wid ye there." + +"We shall have to wait here long enough to cook a steak from that bear. +He seems to be in fine condition, and will give us a good meal." + +"There!" laughed the Irishman; "I knowed I had forgot something. Your +mither give me a good, big lunch for us both whin I was laving +yesterday, and it is in the residence beyant, onless yer pony ate up the +same whin we warn't watching him." + +"Little fear of that," replied the pleased Warren. "It is hardly the +sort of food that he fancies. Come on; let's have a good meal, and then +we'll be off." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +ON THE BANK OF A STREAM. + + +It need not be said that George Starr wasted no time. Halting only long +enough to say a few words to Tim Brophy before he set out to warn the +son of his danger, he resumed his journey toward Fort Meade, some thirty +miles away, at the base of the Black Hills. + +He drew up beside the pony on which his wife sat with Dot in front. The +pack-horse did not require leading, but as his load was lighter than +either of the others, he kept his head at the haunch of the others, and +plodded along as contentedly as they. + +Though the route to the post by means of the regular trail was longer, +it was always used when safe, because it was easy travelling throughout +its whole extent. The country before the husband and wife was varied. +There were miles of open plain, over which they could ride at a gallop, +while in other places, the rocky ridges, broken timber, and gullies +compelled detours that were likely to render a two days' journey +necessary. + +In addition to all this several streams must be crossed, and these were +held in great dread, for if swimming became necessary, the plight of the +little company, with the thermometer striking steadily below freezing +point, would be pitiful indeed. The ranchman was resolved to save his +wife and child from such an affliction, by constructing some kind of a +raft, though the delay involved in such a work might solve the question +of life and death. + +"I have never been over this route--that is, to any extent," he +remarked, after they had ridden a short time on a brisk walk; "I have +followed the cattle for some miles among the hills yonder, but, as you +know, we always used the regular trail when going to the fort." + +"This is shorter," replied the wife, "because it is the most direct, and +though there may be difficulties in the way, I am hopeful that we shall +have no serious trouble." + +"I hope so, too, but if I am not mistaken, we must cross more than one +stream, and if they happen to be deep, it will be no trifling matter. +How do you feel, Dot?" he asked, looking fondly at the little one, whose +head was about the only portion visible beneath the folds of the blanket +wrapped about her. + +"I'm all right," replied the sweet voice, while the bright eyes twinkled +happily, as though no thought of danger or sorrow had ever dimmed them. + +"How long do you think you can ride on the back of Sally?" + +"Just as long as she can carry me." + +"That's good," laughed the parent, who could not help reaching across +from the saddle and pinching the chubby cheek; "I want to give you a +good long ride, and we may keep it up after dark." + +"That don't make any difference to me, for I can sleep here as well as +in my bed at home. Mamma will take care of me, won't you?" she asked, +twisting her head about and looking up in the face of her parent. + +The latter leaned down and kissed her, murmuring: + +"Yes, with my life, precious one; but we are in the keeping of God, and +he is always merciful and kind." + +"I know that," said the child thoughtfully, "for hasn't He given me the +best parents in the world? Oh, look! papa and mamma!" she added, forcing +her head farther out of its environments, and pointing to the top of the +elevation they were approaching. + +The sight was a pretty one indeed. A noble buck had arrived first, from +the other side of the ridge, and paused on the highest point. With his +head erect, he looked down in wonderment at the party approaching him. +He made a fine picture, with his antlers high in air and his whole form +thrown in relief against the leaden sky beyond. + +"What a fine mark," said the rancher admiringly; "I never saw a larger +buck." + +"You don't intend to shoot him?" + +"No; we have all the food we are likely to want, and the sound of the +gun might be dangerous to us, when there's no saying that other of the +Sioux are not in the neighborhood." + +"Isn't that too bad!" + +The regretful exclamation of Dot was caused by the disappearance of the +animal. The steady advance of the party was more than the timid creature +could face. He whirled about and was off like a flash, to the keen +regret of Dot, who was hoping for a closer acquaintance. The parents +smiled at the innocence of the little one, and assured her it would have +to be caught and tamed before allowing any companionship from anyone. + +A few minutes later the friends rode to the top of the elevation, +halting at the very spot where the buck had stood but a few minutes +before. + +"Just what I feared!" exclaimed the rancher regretfully. + +As he spoke he pointed to the westward, where the gleam of water was +seen, revealing a winding stream, which it was necessary to cross before +continuing their journey. + +"It is not broad and may not be deep," remarked the wife. + +"That can be ascertained only by investigation." + +He halted long enough to take a sweeping survey of the country behind +them. There might have been Indians watching, but, if so, he detected no +signs of them. The little party were conspicuous objects, but it was an +easy matter for anyone to keep out of sight of the keenest vision on the +crest of the elevation. + +The stream that had caught his eye was about half a mile away, the +intervening ground being a comparatively level and grassy plain, but +beyond the water stretched a hilly and wooded section, which was likely +to offer serious obstacles to their progress. + +"We shall have snow before night," remarked Mr. Starr, glancing up and +around at the sky, "and if it amounts to much it will make more +trouble." + +"Let us ride faster, then, while we may," said his wife, urging her pony +into a gallop, which was instantly imitated by the other, though the +gait was so distasteful to the pack-horse that he held back until +sharply spoken to by his master. Finally all three struck a pace which +speedily carried them to the stream that crossed their path. + +It seemed odd that while there was plenty of timber on the other side, +even to the water's edge, not a stick was on the bank where the +fugitives halted. If it should be found necessary to make a raft with +which to cross, Mr. Starr might well ask himself where the material was +to be procured, since he saw none within reach. + +The stream was less than a hundred yards wide and the current not swift. +The water was roiled to that extent that the bottom could be seen only a +few paces from shore, but the slope was so gradual that the rancher was +hopeful that the horse would be able to wade it. + +He scanned the water and finally turned to his wife with a smile: + +"Where do you think we had better try it, Molly?" + +"I know of no way of learning the depth of water except by test," she +replied; "if it were clearer, we could make use of our eyes." + +"I wonder if it is clearer up yonder," he remarked, looking at a clump +of bushes above them and some rods in extent. "It strikes me that it may +be; anyway, I will find out." + +Instead of riding to the spot he dismounted, and, rifle in hand, walked +the short distance necessary. As he did so, naturally he gave more heed +to the stream than to his footsteps, for it was the former in which his +interest lay. Dot laughed merrily when he stumbled, and he looked about +and shook his head in mock anger at her. + +The bushes he approached were no more than three or four feet in height, +not very dense, and continued with straggling interruptions as far as +the eye could trace the winding stream. + +Mrs. Starr, who was attentively watching her husband, saw him pause on +reaching the stunted growth. He looked at the water and then at the +bushes. Then he suddenly leaped back with an exclamation and came +hastening to his wife, his white face and staring eyes showing that he +had made a horrifying discovery. + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +BENT ARM AND HIS BAND. + + +George Starr was so agitated that, forgetting the presence of his little +child, he impulsively spoke the truth, while yet a few paces away: + +"Plummer is in those bushes." + +"Is he----" + +Mrs. Starr hesitated with the dreadful word unuttered. + +"Yes; he is dead; killed by the Indians!" + +The wife gave a gasp, and the husband added: + +"The poor fellow lies stretched out, stark and stiff, where he was shot +down by the Sioux. He must have been killed shortly after leaving the +house." + +"Where is his horse?" + +"I suppose it has been stolen. It is a sad thing, but poor Plummer is +with his Maker; it won't do for us to wait any longer; I don't +understand how we have escaped thus far, for we are in greater danger +than I had supposed. We must cross the stream without delay, even if we +have to swim our horses." + +"I am ready," said Mrs. Starr calmly; "lead the way." + +"I hope it will not be necessary to subject you and Dot to the trial, +but there is not a minute to spare." + +With his lips compressed, the rancher hastily remounted his pony and +turned his head toward the water. + +"Let me keep in advance," he said, "and you can tell what to do." + +The obedient horse sniffed the water, but, without hesitation, stepped +in, sinking to his knees within a yard of the bank. + +A rod farther the depth had not materially increased, and, turning his +head, he signified to his wife to follow. She clasped Dot a little +closer to her breast, spoke quietly to her animal, and he obeyed without +faltering. + +The water steadily but slowly deepened, and when the middle of the +stream was reached it was at the stirrups of the leader. He withdrew +his feet and pushed on, the pony cautiously advancing, and the hope +growing that the stream would be forded without trouble. + +A rod farther, and Mrs. Starr uttered a slight exclamation. She saw the +steed of her husband suddenly sink, and thought he was going entirely +under. But he did not, and, by a quick raising of his feet, the rider +saved them from wetting. His animal still retained a firm foothold, and, +quickly recovering, kept forward. + +Now the water began shallowing, and, with a relief beyond words, the +rancher reached dry land without having suffered any inconvenience. + +"Thank Heaven!" he exclaimed, turning about and watching his wife, who +guided her animal over the invisible trail until she was beside him on +the hard earth. It required no little skill on her part, for when she +withdrew her foot from her stirrup, and was obliged not only to hold her +own poise, but to take care of Dot, her task became delicate and +difficult. But the little one behaved like a heroine. She did not speak +or stir, through fear of disturbing her parent, and was as relieved as +both when the current was safely forded. + +"Are there any more like this?" asked the wife. + +"There are other streams, but whether they can be forded or not remains +to be learned." + +The bank sloped upward to a height of a dozen feet, and beyond it +declined nearly as much, and then stretched away in an open plain for +more than a mile, before breaking into rough, rocky country, where they +were quite sure to find greater obstructions confronting them than any +yet encountered. + +"Oh, see there!" called out Dot. + +Flakes of scurrying snow were in the air, and her father supposed she +referred to them. + +"Yes," he replied, "we shall have to ride for a while through a snow +storm." + +"I know that, but it isn't what I mean; yonder is someone following us." + +Her position in the arms of her mother gave her opportunity to look back +over the stream they had just crossed, while the attention of her +parents was directed elsewhere. + +Her words caused both to glance behind them, where they witnessed a +startling scene. A Sioux Indian, astride of a pony, had halted with the +fore feet of the animal in the margin of the water. Directly behind him +was a second horseman, advancing slowly, and immediately to the rear of +him appeared a third, while the head and shoulders of a fourth were +rising to view over the bank in the path of the others. And there was no +saying how many others made up the procession, streaming toward the ford +in the footsteps of the fugitives. + +"Molly," said Mr. Starr, in a low voice, "ride over the top of the hill +as quickly as you can." + +"But what will you do?" + +"Never mind; obey me at once or we are lost." + +[Illustration: A HOT PURSUIT.] + +She obeyed without remonstrance, though her fear at that moment was more +for her husband than for herself and child. She was quick-witted enough +to jerk the reins sharply, so that her pony passed out of sight before +the pursuers could suspect her purpose. But the moment she was behind +the sheltering swell, she checked her horse and waited for her husband. + +The latter decided on his course of action the moment the peril broke +upon him. + +He calmly confronted the advancing bucks and held himself ready to +dispute their crossing. Unless he kept them in check and delayed the +pursuit, nothing could save his family and himself. + +The foremost Sioux evidently was the leader. Starr recognized him, +despite his paint, as a fellow who had visited his home on several +occasions, and who was known as Bent Arm, because of a peculiar rigidity +of the left arm, made by some wound received years before. + +While the white and red men sat on their ponies facing each other the +remaining warriors continued coming into view until five of them were +grouped behind the leader. There they sat--grim, silent, and +watchful--leaving matters wholly in the hands of the one in front. + +The latter, observing the rancher at bay, called to him in fair +English: + +"Wait dere--surrender--won't hurt." + +"Why do you ask me to surrender? We are not enemies," called back the +white man. + +"Wait dere," repeated Bent Arm; "want to talk wid you." + +"We are talking now; stay where you are, and let me hear what you have +to say." + +"We go over--we talk better dere." + +It was plain that the Sioux was not satisfied with the action of the +rancher's wife. She and her child were beyond sight, and it looked as if +the parley of her husband was meant to give her a chance to get beyond +reach. Valuable time was passing, and unless they acted promptly, they +would throw away an opportunity that would never come to them again. + +George Starr read their purpose as plainly as if they had announced it +in so many words. Further talk was useless; the Sioux were bent on +making him and his family prisoners, and little mercy would be shown +them. He knew the dear ones were but a few paces away, and his wife +would never leave the spot so long as he was in danger. + +The words had hardly fallen from the lips of Bent Arm when his pony +began stepping farther into the water, while his companions closed in +behind him. + +Striking his heels sharply against the sides of his horse as the rancher +drew his head about, he sent the animal over the swell in a couple of +bounds beyond reach of any shots that might be sent after him. He +wondered a little that the Indians had not announced their presence by a +volley that would have brought him from the saddle, but rightly judged +the reason to be that they preferred to make the little party prisoners, +considering them as good as already secured. + +"Stay where you are!" he called to his wondering wife. "I am going to +make a fight with them. Our only hope is in keeping them back until it +is dark." + +He was out of the saddle while speaking, and, dropping on his hands and +knees, crawled up the swell and looked over. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +AT BAY. + + +George Starr's pony, left to himself, wandered off to the side of the +other one, on which sat Mrs. Starr, with Dot. The latter reached out her +chubby hand and patted the silken nose of the intelligent horse, who +liked the caress. The mother was too agitated to notice this by-play, +but kept watch for her husband. + +The latter crept to within a foot or two of the top of the swell, when +he quickly but cautiously raised his head and peered over at the Sioux. + +But a minute or two had passed since exchanging words with Bent Arm, but +that brief period was improved as much by one party as the other. The +Sioux leader's horse was in the stream to the depth of his knees, and +the second Indian was in the act of entering, with the others close +behind him. + +It was no time for hesitation, for that meant death. Starr shoved his +Winchester in front, so that the muzzle projected over the swell, took +deliberate aim at Bent Arm, and let fly. + +The distance was short, the rancher was an excellent marksman, and the +bullet bored its way through the breast of the painted miscreant, who +hardly knew what hurt him. With a screech, he threw up his arms, one +grasping his gun, and toppled from the back of his pony, falling with a +loud splash into the water, where for the moment he disappeared under +the surface. + +George Starr was never cooler in his life. He was fighting not only for +his own existence, but for those who were dearer to him than that +existence. He knew the mercilessness of the red men near at hand, and he +was equally merciless to them. + +This proceeding, as may be supposed, caused consternation for a moment +among the advancing Sioux. The warrior immediately behind the leader +stopped his pony abruptly, stared at the tuft of grass above which the +faint puff of smoke was curling; and then, fearful of a second shot +aimed at himself, whirled his animal about and sent him at one bound up +the bank of the stream, where his companions, no less dismayed than he, +threw themselves forward on the backs of their horses, to shield +themselves from the aim of the rancher. + +It was at this crisis that George Starr committed two blunders which +threatened the very doom he was trying to escape. One of those errors, +however, did credit to his heart, if not to his head. + +Having opened the ball, he should have pushed things unmercifully. He +was well aware of the venom of those red men, and, with his magazine +rifle at command, he ought to have kept up an unremitting fire until he +had tumbled several more to the ground, and driven the survivors beyond +sight and the power of harm. It was his reluctance to perpetrate such +slaughter, and the weak hope that he had already accomplished that +result, that stayed his hand, at the moment when he should have steeled +his feelings against sympathy. The other equally serious mistake was in +staying where he was, prone on the ground, with a watchful eye on the +marauders. He saw, when it was too late, that he should have dashed back +to his pony, and leaped into the saddle and ridden with his wife, in all +haste, for the refuge a mile away. Whether that would have proven a +refuge or not was uncertain, but with the check given the Sioux he would +have secured a start that promised everything. + +Night was approaching, and, in the gathering gloom, it ought not to have +been difficult, with the advantage named, to throw his pursuers off the +trail. But he tarried until the chance was irrevocably gone. + +The Sioux proved on more than one occasion, during their recent troubles +in the West, that they were capable of daring, coolness, and heroism, +and are quick to recover from a panic. When driven to bay they will +fight like wild-cats, and the bleaching bones of many a brave soldier +and officer bear eloquent witness to these qualities on their part. + +Instead of breaking into a wild flight beyond the sheltering bank on the +other side of the stream, as the rancher expected them to do, they held +their places on the backs of their ponies, and, leaning over so as to +protect themselves, returned the fire of the white man. + +Looking across the narrow stream, they saw the slouch hat rising in the +short grass, just behind the projecting muzzle of the Winchester, and a +couple of them aimed and fired. + +But the rancher was too alert to be caught in that fashion. The moment +he observed the action of the red men, he dropped his head behind the +swell of earth, and the bullets clipped the grass and scattered the dirt +harmlessly within a few inches of his crown. + +"Be careful!" called the anxious wife, who read the meaning of the +flying soil; "they will hit you." + +"Have no fear of me," replied the husband, without looking around; "I am +all right; keep back where you are and hold yourself ready to ride as +fast as you can when I give the word." + +The rancher now did that which he should have done in the first place: +he doffed his hat and laid it on the ground beside him. It was too +conspicuous under the circumstances, and the Sioux were on the watch for +it. + +Waiting several minutes after the firing of the two shots, he stealthily +raised his head high enough to look through the grass in front. An +astonishing sight rewarded him. + +In the brief interval that had passed after firing his rifle, the five +Indians had dashed over the swell with their ponies where the latter +were out of sight, and, flinging themselves on the ground, took +precisely the same position as his own. They were now as safe from harm +as himself. The duel was one of vigilance, caution, skill, and +watchfulness, with the chances against the white man. + +The keen gaze of the latter, wandering over the surface of the stream, +detected a dark object some distance to the right, as it showed +indistinctly on the surface, disappearing, and then slowly coming to +view again farther down. He required no one to tell him that it was the +victim of his marksmanship, drifting out of sight, as many a one had +done before, when trying to stay the advancing tide of the hated +Caucasian. + +It struck the rancher that it would be well to let the Sioux know that +he was still on guard. He caught glimpses here and there of the upper +part of a repulsive face, with its long black hair and serpent-like +eyes, on the alert to catch him unawares, and he fired at the nearest. + +The aim was good, but there was no reason to believe that he had +inflicted harm, though he must have come nigh it. + +Strange it is that in the most trying moments, when it would seem that a +trifling thought should be impossible on the part of a person, he +sometimes gives way to a fancy that is of that nature. Recalling the +story which he had read when a boy, and which is familiar to all our +readers, the rancher now picked up his hat at his side and gently raised +it to view, taking care to lower his own head beyond reach of harm. + +Instantly a couple of rifles cracked from the other side of the stream, +and he smiled grimly when he saw the marks of the bullets in the crown. + +"They shoot well," he said, turning his face toward his wife and +holding up the hat, "but they made a slight mistake that time." + +If the Sioux supposed that the last shots were fatal, they were likely +to repeat their attempt to cross. That would never do, and, more with a +view of letting them know no harm had resulted, than in the hope of +inflicting injury, the rancher took aim at what seemed to be the +forehead of one of the warriors, a short distance up stream, and fired. + +To his amazement, the wild screech left no doubt that the shot was +fatal. The bullet had bored its way through the bronzed skull of the +miscreant, and the force of assaulting Sioux was now reduced by +one-third. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +FACING WESTWARD. + + +The rancher was astonished beyond measure at the success of his shot. He +had looked for nothing of the kind, but there could be no mistake as to +the result; there was nothing to be gained by any pretence on the part +of the Sioux. He certainly was as dead as dead could be. + +How he longed, like a certain famous general, for the coming of night! A +little more darkness and he would flee with his wife and child under its +friendly cover, and place a safe distance between them and their +enemies, before the latter could learn of their flight. + +Several minutes passed without a demonstration on either side, but while +matters stood thus, a new danger presented itself to the rancher. Why +should the Sioux stay where they were? What was to prevent them moving +farther up or down the bank, under the screen it afforded, and crossing +unobserved? The winding course of the current gave every chance of doing +this, and surely they were not likely to forget such an obvious course. + +The thought had hardly presented itself to the watcher when that very +thing was attempted. The one who essayed it, however, forgot the caution +he should have remembered. + +The slowly settling night and the falling snow may have misled him, but +when the warrior rode his pony into the stream at a point considerably +above, Starr observed him at the moment he began descending the bank. + +This was something that must be nipped in the bud. He shifted his +position to where the grass gave slightly better protection, and sighted +with the utmost care and deliberation. + +The shot was successful, but not precisely as he counted upon. The +bullet, instead of striking the rider, pierced the brain of the pony, +who reared frantically, plunged forward on his knees, and rolled upon +his side, the Sioux dexterously saving himself by leaping away and +scurrying behind the swell before the white man could fire a second +time. + +"If they try it at that point, they will do so at some other," was the +conclusion of the rancher, turning his gaze down stream. But the current +made such a sharp bend near at hand, that his view was shortened, and +the effort could be successfully made without detection on his part. + +An unexpected diversion occurred at this moment. The pack-horse, that +had been contentedly cropping the grass near at hand and paying no heed +to what was going on about him, wandered toward the bank, and was in +imminent peril of being shot by the vigilant Sioux before he could be +turned away. + +Mrs. Starr called sharply to him, and her voice caused the prostrate +husband to look around. The pony at that moment was ascending the swell, +to go down on the other side to the water, where he would have been in +plain sight of the red men. + +Fearful that words would not check him, the rancher sprang up and, +bending his head to save himself from his foes, ran the few steps +necessary to reach the animal. Catching hold of his bridle, he jerked +his head in the opposite direction, and, to teach him prudence, +delivered a vigorous kick. The startled animal headed toward the west +and broke into a gallop straight across the plain. + +"Let him go," said the impatient owner, looking after him: "he is too +lazy to travel far, and we'll follow him soon." + +"Why not do so now?" asked his wife. + +"I fear that they are looking for such a move, and will be across before +we can gain sufficient start." + +"But they may do so now." + +"Am I not watching them?" asked the husband, beginning to creep up the +swell again, but pausing before he was high enough to discern the other +side. + +"They may cross above or below, where you cannot see them," remarked the +wife, giving utterance to the very fear that had troubled him some +minutes before. + +"They may do so, but I have just defeated such an attempt, and they will +probably wait a while before repeating it." + +"Then we can have no more favorable time to leave them than now." + +"Such would be the fact, if I only knew of a surety that they would wait +a while." + +"I am afraid you are making a mistake, George." + +"It may be, but my judgment is against what you propose. Suppose that, +at the moment of starting, they should appear on this side; they would +run us down within a few hundred yards." + +"Are not our ponies as fleet as theirs?" + +"Probably; but with Dot to look after, you would have more than your +hands full, and nothing could save us." + +"I could manage her very well; but do as you think best. We can only +pray to Heaven to protect us all." + +Looking to the westward, the rancher saw the pack-pony just vanishing +from sight in the gloom. Brief as was the time that he had left the +Sioux without watching, he felt that it had been too long, and he now +made his way up the swell until he could peer over at the other bank, +where the red men were awaiting the very chance he gave them that +moment. + +The narrowest escape of his life followed. Providentially, his first +glance was directed at the precise spot where a crouching Sioux made a +slight movement with his rifle, which gave the white man an instant's +warning of his peril. He ducked his head, and had he not instinctively +closed his eyes, would have been blinded by the dust and snow thrown +against his face, as the leaden ball whizzed through the air, falling on +the prairie a long distance away. + +In its flight it passed directly over the heads of the wife and child, +who noticed the peculiar whistling sound a few feet above them. But they +were as safe from such danger as if a mile away. The swell of the bank +would not allow any missile to come nigh enough to harm them. + +"Don't be frightened," he said, with a reassuring smile, "they can't +touch you as long as they are on the other side." + +"But how long will they stay there?" asked the wife, unable to repress +her uneasiness over the tardiness of her husband. + +"Molly," said he, stirred by a sudden thought, "why not ride after the +pack-horse?" + +"And leave you here?" was the astonished question. + +"Only for a few minutes; you will gain a good start, and it won't take +me long to come up with you. I can put my pony on a run, and we shall +gain invaluable time." + +But this was asking more than the obedient wife was willing to grant. No +possible circumstances could justify her in deserting her husband. If he +fell, she had no wish to escape. + +Dot, who had held her peace so long, now spoke: + +"Papa, don't ask us to leave you, 'cause we don't want to. I asked mamma +to let me go to you, but she says no." + +Tears filled the eyes of the father, and his voice trembled as he said: + +"Very well, little one; stay with your mamma, and when the time comes +for us to start we will go together." + +"But why don't you go now?" persisted the child, taking her cue, +perhaps, from the words her mother had spoken. + +"I will not keep you waiting long," he assured her, more affected by the +question of the child than by the arguments of her mother. + +Shifting the point of observation, the rancher raised his head just +enough, cautiously parting the grass in front, to permit him to see the +other bank, becoming more dimly visible in the falling snow and +gathering gloom. + +He scanned the points whence had come the shots, but could discover +nothing of his enemies. They might be there, but if so they were +invisible, as could readily be the case; but, somehow or other, the +conviction grew upon him that they were moving, and that to postpone his +departure longer was to invite the worst fate imaginable for himself and +dear ones. + +"We cannot leave too soon," he exclaimed, hastening to carry out the +purpose that never ought to have been delayed so long. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +IN THE FRINGE OF THE WOODS. + + +Fully realizing the mistake he had made in waiting, the rancher now did +his best to improve the precious time at his disposal. + +His own pony had remained obediently near his companion, while the brush +was going on between his master and the Sioux on the other side of the +stream. The former hastily climbed into the saddle, and taking the reins +in hand, looked at his wife. + +"Are you ready, Molly?" + +"I have been for a long time." + +"Come on; keep close to me." + +He spoke briskly to his horse, who broke into a swift gallop, which was +imitated so promptly by the other that the couple advanced abreast +toward the wooded section. It was no time for conversation, and the +progress continued in silence. + +The snow was now falling thick and fast, and the gloom had deepened to +that extent that they could not see objects more than a hundred feet +away. Both wife and husband continually glanced behind them, for they +were almost certain that the red men were in the act of crossing the +stream at the moment the start was made, and could not be far to the +rear. + +True, the fugitives had much in their favor. The keen eyes of the +pursuers could detect their trail in the snowy ground, but not for long. +By and by they might trace it only by dropping down from their ponies +and using the sense of feeling. This would compel them to proceed +carefully, and hold them well to the rear while the whites were using +the occasion to the utmost, and continually gaining ground. Had the +route to Fort Meade been level and unobstructed, they could have asked +nothing more favorable. They would have forced their ponies to the +utmost, and by the time the sun rose the vengeful red men would be +placed hopelessly behind. + +The straining vision saw nothing but the darkness and snow in the +direction of the stream already crossed, but they could never feel +relieved of the dreadful fear until safely within the military post of +the Black Hills. + +"Oh, papa, I see a horse!" was the startling exclamation of Dot, whom +her mother had supposed, because of her stillness and immobility, to be +asleep. + +"Where?" demanded her father, grasping his Winchester and looking +affrightedly around. + +"Not there," replied the child with a laugh, working her arm out of its +environments, and pointing ahead. + +A solitary animal was observed standing as motionless as a statue a +short distance in advance. Apprehensive of some trap by the Indians, the +father brought his pony to a sudden stop, his wife instantly imitating +him, and both peered ahead at the strange form. + +They could see no rider, though there was something on the animal's +back, which might have been a warrior lying flat, so as to protect his +body from the rifle of the white man, or, what was equally probable, the +owner was standing on the ground hidden by the horse, and awaiting his +chance to send in a fatal shot. + +"What's the matter?" asked Dot, puzzled by the action of her parents. + +"S-h! We are afraid a bad Indian is there." + +"Why, can't you see that's Jerry?" + +Jerry was the name of the pack pony. + +"Of course it is. Why didn't we think of it?" asked the father the next +moment, relieved beyond measure by the discovery. + +Jerry seemed to be of the opinion that it was the place of his friends +to make the advances, for he did not stir until they rode up beside him. + +The lazy fellow was found with his load intact. He had been given all +the time he could ask for his journey to this point, and evidently was a +little sulky over the treatment received at the hands, or rather the +foot, of his master, for his head had to be jerked several times before +he faced about, and then it required more vigorous treatment to force +him into a lazy gallop. + +Luckily, the greater part of the plain had been crossed before this +reunion took place, and the party had not gone far when the rancher +allowed the animals to drop to a walk. In front loomed a dark mass, +which he recognized as the fringe of the wood observed from the bank of +the stream behind them. Through this it was necessary to thread their +way with extreme care, owing to the darkness and their unfamiliarity +with the ground. + +Upon reaching the edge of the wood the fugitives came to a stand-still. + +Slipping from his saddle, the rancher brushed away the snow at his feet +and pressed his ear against the ground. + +"I can hear nothing of them," he remarked, resuming the upright posture; +"I am quite hopeful that that party will molest us no more." + +"It won't do to count on it," were the wise words of his wife. + +"I think you had better dismount and lead your pony," said the rancher; +"we can mount again when through the wood; there will be less danger +from the trees and limbs, and you and Dot must be cramped from sitting +so long." + +He helped them to the ground. It was a relief indeed to both, for they +had kept their places on the back of the horse for a number of hours. +Dot yawned, stretched her limbs, and felt as though nothing would +delight her so much as a frolic in the snow. The thoughtful mother had +provided her not only with thick, strong shoes, but with heavy +stockings, leggings, and warm clothing, with which she was well +protected against the storm that was impending when they left their +home. + +Nothing could have better shown the childish innocence of her nature +than her action in slyly removing her mittens, stooping down, packing a +wad of snow with her hands and flinging it against her father's face, +with a merry laugh. + +"Gracious, Dot! how you startled me!" he said, looking around at her. + +"Did I hurt you?" + +"No; but don't speak or laugh so loud, for some of the bad Indians may +be near." + +"I forgot about that, but I'm going to hit Jerry, for he is so lazy he +needs it." + +And the indolent animal received a tiny whack from the snowy missile +projected by the chubby hand of the child. He seemed to think, however, +that it was no more than a snowflake, for he did not give even an extra +wink of the eye. + +The delay was only momentary, when the rancher, with one hand grasping +the bridle-rein and the other parting the limbs and bushes in front, +began groping his way through the growth of timber, where it was so dark +that everyone's eyes were practically useless. + +Directly behind the horse walked Dot, with her mother next, leading her +pony, and the pack-horse bringing up the rear. + +Ten minutes of this cautious progress and the leader checked himself +with an impatient expression. + +"What is it?" called the wife, in a guarded voice. + +"Another stream of water." + +"Do you know anything about it?" + +"Nothing; I came near tumbling into it, with Dick on top of me; if he +hadn't scented it first I would have done so." + +"What is to be done?" asked Mrs. Starr, as grievously disappointed as +her husband. + +"I'm blessed if I know; it may be half a mile deep and ten miles across, +with a perpendicular bluff a thousand feet high on the other side." + +Leaving her pony, the wife took the hand of Dot and joined him where he +had halted on the edge of the unknown stream. + +"I've made up my mind that we shall do one thing right away," he +remarked decisively. + +"What's that?" + +"Eat supper while we have the chance; Jerry is on hand with the +provisions, and he may be somewhere else in the morning." + +"I'm glad of that," said the happy Dot, "for I'm awfuller hungry than I +ever was in all my life." + +"Then supper it is." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +TURNED BACK. + + +It was a wise proceeding on the part of the rancher. The opportunity to +make a substantial repast was theirs, and as he had remarked, there was +no certainty when it would come again. + +The bag in which the provisions were placed was taken from the back of +Jerry, and the father helped his child and wife, who ate until they were +fully satisfied. He dipped up water with Dot's small tin cup from the +stream in front, and with it their thirst was slaked. + +"Molly," he suggested, "you can carry one or two of the sandwiches +without inconvenience." + +"Yes." + +"Let us both do so; we may lose Jerry, and if so, they will come in +handy." + +"I have a couple, too," said Dot. + +"It isn't best that you should burden yourself with them." + +"But I can't help it, papa." + +"How is that?" + +"They're inside of me," and the parents, even in their great dread, +smiled at the odd conceit of the little one, who chuckled softly to +think how she had "fooled" her papa. + +The delay was brief. The rancher knew that it was impossible to reach +Fort Meade without crossing the stream before them, with the probability +that still others awaited them at no great distance. It can be +understood with what depth of dread he contemplated swimming the animals +over, with the certainty of the saturation of all their garments, on +this winter night, and the cold steadily increasing. + +In short, it meant perishing, unless a fire was kindled, in which case, +a delay would be necessitated that would throw away all the advantage +secured by flight. He was determined not to do it, unless actually +driven to it as a last resource. + +He did not forget that he was now where there was an abundance of +material with which a raft could be constructed that would obviate this +exposure, but the building of such a rude craft, under the +circumstances, was next to impossible. He had no implement except his +pocket knife, and might grope about in the darkness for hours without +getting together enough timber to float them to the other side. + +Obviously one of two things must be done--try to cross where they were +or follow the bank down until a fording place could be found, and +repeated trials were likely to be necessary before success was +obtainable. + +Singular it is that so often out of the mouths of babes are heard the +words of wisdom. + +The rancher had risen to his feet, and was in the act of mounting his +pony to enter the water, when Dot spoke: + +"Why don't you let Dick go ahead and you ride behind on Sally?" + +"Well, I declare!" exclaimed the father admiringly; "I begin to believe +that if we reach the fort, it will be through your guidance, my precious +little one," and, stooping over, he kissed her cheek. + +"Strange that we did not think of that," remarked the mother. "Dot is +wise beyond her years." + +The plan was adopted at once. + +The mare ridden by the mother and child, and the horse of the father, +were so intelligent that no risk was involved in the essay, which +insured against the immersion held in such natural dread. + +The saddle and trappings were removed from Dick, while the rancher +mounted upon the side-saddle belonging to his wife. Then the horse was +ordered to enter the water, and, with some hesitation, he obeyed, his +owner being but a step or two behind on the mare. + +The gloom was so deep that the hearing, and not the sight, must be +depended upon. That, however, was reliable when nothing was likely to +occur to divert it from its duty. + +The stream was no more than fairly entered when the rancher made two +unwelcome discoveries: The current was much stronger than he had +anticipated, and the water deepened rapidly. Ten feet from shore it +touched the body of the mare. + +Inasmuch, however, as Dick was still walking, there was hope that the +depth might increase no more, or, at most, not to a dangerous extent. + +Mr. Starr could not see his own horse, but he plainly heard him as he +advanced cautiously, feeling his way, and showing by his sniffing that +the task was anything but pleasant to him. Not knowing the width of the +stream, it was impossible to tell in what portion of it they were: but +he was already listening for the sounds which would show that his animal +was climbing out on the other side, when the very thing he feared took +place. + +A loud splash, followed by a peculiar rustling noise, showed that Dick +was swimming. + +At the same moment the mare sank so deeply that, had not the rider +thrown his feet backward along her spine, with his body extended over +the saddle and her neck, he would have been saturated to the knees. As +it was, Sally was within a hair of being carried off her feet by the +force of the current. + +The rancher drew her head around, and, after a sharp struggle, she held +her own, and began laboring back to the shore she had left; putting +forth such vigor that it was plain the task was far more agreeable than +the one upon which she first ventured. + +Meanwhile, Dick was swimming powerfully for the farther bank, and before +his owner could think of calling to him, owing to his own flurry, he +heard his hoofs stamp the hard earth. True, he had landed, but that +brief space of deep water was as bad as if its width were ten times as +great; it could not be passed without the saturation of the garments of +all, and that, as has been said, was not to be endured. + +Before the mare could return Mr. Starr called to his pony, and the +animal promptly obeyed, emerging only a minute after the mare from the +point where he had entered. + +"It's no use," he said to his waiting wife and little one; "there is one +place where the horses must swim." + +"Did you get wet, papa?" enquired Dot, solicitous for his welfare. + +"No; but I came mighty near it." + +"Then I suppose we must follow down the stream, and try it elsewhere," +said the wife. + +"Yes, with the discouraging fact that we are likely to pass a dozen +fordable points, and strike a place that is deeper than anywhere else." + +The saddles were readjusted, and the move made without delay. Since it +was hard to thread their way through the wood, which lined the stream +only a short distance from the water, they withdrew from it to the +prairie, where travelling was easier. + +Reaching the open plain, but keeping close to the margin of the timber, +from which, fortunately, they had emerged at a point considerably +removed from that of the entrance, the rancher repeated the precaution +he had used before. + +"Wait a moment," he said, in a low voice. + +Once more the snow was brushed aside at his feet and the ear pressed +against the ground. + +To his dismay he heard the tramp of horses' hoofs on the hard earth. + +"They are near at hand!" he said, in a startled whisper; "we must get +away as quickly as we can." + +He hastily helped his wife and little one on the back of the mare, +mounted his own animal, and, with the pack-horse at the rear, moved +along the timber on a rapid walk, continually peering off in the gloom, +as though it was possible for him to see the Sioux, who certainly were +at no great distance. + +One fear troubled him: Suppose they should resort to the same artifice +as he, and one of them appeal to the earth for evidence. He would be +equally quick to discover the proximity of the fugitives, and with his +sense of hearing trained to the finest point by many years' exercise, +would locate the whites with unerring precision. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +MISSING. + + +But there was no avoiding the risk. In silence the little party threaded +their way along the margin of the prairie, listening for the sounds they +dreaded to hear, and peering through the gloom for the forms they held +in unspeakable fear. Not until they had progressed several hundred yards +can it be said that the rancher breathed freely. Then he checked his +pony, and those behind him did the same. + +The next instant he was out of the saddle, with his ear once more +against the cold earth. + +Not the slightest sound reached him through this better conductor. If +the Sioux horsemen were moving, they were too far off for the fact to be +known. When first heard, they must have been close to the wood, on +reaching which they undoubtedly dismounted and advanced on foot. + +In that event, they must detect the footprints of the ponies in advance, +and with their skill in trailing were certain to learn of the course +taken by the whites. Then the pursuit would be resumed in earnest, and +the perils would increase. + +One possible remedy suggested itself, though there was no certainty of +its success. The snow was now falling so fast that it promised to +obliterate the footprints to that extent that they could not be followed +in the dark. As it was, even the lynx eyes of the Sioux could avail them +nothing. One of their number must be continually dismounting and using +his hands to make sure they were not off the track. A half hour or more +interval, and this resource would be taken from them by the descending +snow. + +It was this belief which caused the rancher to ride Dick among the +trees, where he and the rest dismounted. Then they groped forward with +no little difficulty for some rods and halted. + +"Be careful," he said, speaking particularly to Dot, "and do not make +any noise, for I believe those bad Indians are not far off, and they +are looking for us." + +Dot showed her obedience by not venturing to whisper. + +It was not Mr. Starr's purpose to lose time by staying where they were. +Accordingly, after threading their way for some distance farther, he +emerged once more on the plain, and, as they remounted, rode straight +away from the timber. + +The object of this stratagem can be readily understood. The pursuing +Sioux, after discovering that the trail of the fugitives led along the +margin of the wood, were likely to override it for some way, before +learning the fact. Then they would turn about and hunt until they found +it again. The fact that at that point it entered the timber must cause +another delay, where the difficulty of tracing the whites would be +greatly increased. By the time they came back again to the open plain, +the fall of snow was likely to render further pursuit almost, if not +quite, impossible. + +This was the theory which guided the rancher's actions, though he was +too wise to lose sight of the probability of serious miscalculations on +his part. There was another danger, however, of which he failed to +think, but which was not long in manifesting itself. + +By shifting his course so often, and leaving the stream altogether, he +was sure to lose his bearings in the darkness. Instead of following the +most direct route to Fort Meade, he was liable to turn back on his old +trail, with the result that when the sun rose in the morning he would be +in the vicinity of his home, with the environing perils more threatening +than ever. + +Beyond all question this would have been the result had not nature come +to his help. He was on the point of turning his pony's head around, to +re-enter the timber he had left, when he discovered to his astonishment +that he had already reached it. There were the trees directly in front, +with the nose of Dick almost touching a projecting limb. + +He was at a loss to understand it until his wife suggested that the +winding course of the stream was responsible for the situation. Even +then he hardly believed until investigation convinced him that it was +the same swift current flowing in front. + +"We unconsciously strayed from a direct course, and must have been going +at right angles to the correct one." + +"There is no saying, George; only I advise you not to make too many +experiments in the darkness. Several hours have passed since night came, +and we are not making much progress toward the fort." + +"You are quite right," was the nervous response, "but safety seemed to +demand it. How are you standing it, Dot?" + +The child made no answer. + +"She is asleep," whispered the mother. + +"I hope that it may last until morning. If you are tired of holding her +in your arms I will take her." + +"When I grow weary of that," was the significant reply of the wife, "I +will let you know." + +Inasmuch as the continually obtruding stream must be crossed, and the +precious hours were fast passing, the rancher gave every energy to +surmounting the difficulty. + +As he led the way once more to the edge of the water, he asked himself +whether the wisest course was not to construct a raft. The work promised +to be so difficult, however, that he would have abandoned the thought +had he not come upon a heavy log, lying half submerged at the very spot +where he struck the water. + +"This will be of great help," he said to his wife. + +Leaning his Winchester against the nearest tree, he drew out his rubber +safe and struck a match. The appearance of the log was encouraging, and +after some lifting and tugging he succeeded in rolling it into the +stream. + +That ended the matter. To his chagrin, the water-soaked wood sank like +so much mud. + +"We won't experiment any longer," concluded the disappointed rancher; +"but try the same thing as before." + +Dick was stripped again and put in the lead, with his master following +on the back of the mare. Mrs. Starr, being helped to the ground, stood +with the sleeping Dot in her arms, awaiting the return of her husband +from his disagreeable experiment. + +"Heaven grant that this maybe the right place," was his prayer, as he +entered upon the second essay; "if we are turned back again I shall be +in despair." + +His interest was intensified, for he was impressed with the belief that +this was to be the decisive and final test. + +As if Dick, too, felt the seriousness of the situation, he stepped +resolutely forward, bracing himself against the strong current which was +heard washing about his limbs. It seemed to the anxious rancher that he +could discern the figure of his pony as he led the way through the +gloom, only a short distance in advance of the mare. + +When certain that they were fully half-way across, his heart began to +beat with hope at finding that the water did not touch the stirrup in +which one foot rested. It was plain also that the leading horse was +still firmly wading. + +With a relief which possibly may be imagined, the horseman heard Dick +step out on the bank a few minutes later. He had waded the whole +distance, thus proving that the stream was easily fordable at that +point. + +The delighted rancher could hardly repress a cheer. But for his fear +that the Sioux might be in the vicinity, he would have announced the +joyous fact to his wife. + +"Perhaps, however, her sharp ears have told her the truth," was his +thought, as he wheeled the mare about and started to return, leaving +Dick to follow him, as he would be needed to help the party over. + +With never a thought of danger, the animal was forced hastily through +the water, coming out a few paces below where she had entered it. + +"We are all right," he called; "we will be over in a jiffy." + +To his astonishment there was no response. He pronounced his wife's +name, but still no reply came. Then he moved up and down the bank, +stirred by an awful fear, but heard and found her not. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +A THIEF OF THE NIGHT. + + +When the rancher entered the current with the two ponies, the interest +of the wife, who remained behind with little Dot, was centred wholly in +his effort to ford the stream. She stood on the very margin of the +water, where, though unable to see the form of the rider or either of +the animals, she could hear the sound made by them in passing through +the current. + +In this position, the pack-pony remained a few steps behind her and +about half-way to the open plain. The child, who had been somewhat +disturbed by the shifting about of herself, had fallen asleep again and +rested motionless in her arms, with her form nestling in the protecting +blanket. + +Everything was silent except the slight noise caused by the animals in +the water. In this position, with her nerves strung to the highest +point, and her faculties absorbed in the single one of hearing, she +caught a suspicious sound immediately behind her. It was as if Jerry was +moving from the spot where he had been left. + +Fearful of his going astray, her lips parted to speak, when, +fortunately, she held her peace. It might be that some person was the +cause of his action. + +With the purpose of learning the truth, she stole through the timber +toward the spot where he was standing a few minutes before. She was so +close behind him, and moved so much faster, that she reached the open +plain almost on his heels. Despite the gloom, she could make out his +figure; and her feelings may be imagined when she distinguished the form +of a Sioux warrior leading him. + +Not only that, but the thief paused as soon as the open prairie was +reached and lightly vaulted upon his back, beside the load already +resting there. Then he hammered his heels against his ribs and the lazy +beast rose to a jogging trot, immediately disappearing in the snow and +darkness. + +The wife, as may be supposed, was dumfounded and uncertain what to do, +if indeed she could do anything. At the moment when it looked as if all +danger was past, one of their enemies had unexpectedly stolen their +pack-pony. + +Where were the rest? Why did they content themselves with this simple +act, when they might have done a thousandfold worse? How soon would the +rest be on the spot? Was there no hope now of escape for the miserable +fugitives? + +These and similar thoughts were passing through her mind, when she heard +her husband calling to her in a cautious voice. Not daring to reply, +through fear of attracting the attention of their enemies, she threaded +her way through the timber, and reached his side at the moment his heart +was filled with despair at the belief that something frightful had taken +place. + +The joy of the rancher, on clasping his beloved wife once more in his +arms, caused him to forget everything else for the moment, but she +quickly made known the startling incident that had occurred. + +"Heavens!" he muttered, "they have traced us after all, but where are +the rest?" + +"They must be near," she replied, laying her hand on his arm. "Listen!" + +They did so, but heard nothing more. + +"We must cross at once," he whispered. + +No time was lost in following the prudent suggestion. The wife was +helped upon the back of the mare, Dot still remaining asleep, and the +husband, mounted on Dick, placed himself in front. + +"There is only one place, and that lasts but for a few steps, where you +will have to raise your foot to protect it from the water," he said, as +they were about to enter the stream. + +"I will remember," she nervously replied; "don't wait." + +Once again the faithful pony entered the water, the mare so close behind +that husband and wife could have touched each other, and the fording of +the current began. + +The rancher did not forget that it was impossible in the darkness to +follow precisely his own course. Having emerged at a different point +from where he entered, he was in reality following a different course, +which might be the same as if it were a half mile farther up or down +stream. + +This proved to be the case, though the disappointment was of an +agreeable nature, for the ponies struck a shallower part than that which +was first forded. At no portion did the water do more than barely touch +the bodies of the animals, and then only for a few steps. Once the mare +slipped on a smooth stone, and came within a hair of unseating her +rider, but the latter's skill enabled her to retain her seat, and a few +minutes later the two came out on the other side, without a drop of +moisture on their garments. + +"Thank Heaven!" was the fervent ejaculation of the husband as the fact +was accomplished. "It is better than I expected." + +"But don't forget that they may have done the same thing, and perhaps +are awaiting us near at hand." + +"You may be right, Molly, and we cannot be too careful." + +The words were barely uttered when the splashing of water behind them +left no doubt that the Sioux were again on their trail. + +"Quick!" whispered the husband; "dismount; you can't ride the mare among +the trees; she will follow, and don't fail to keep close behind Dick." + +It was important, above all things, to leave the spot before the red men +landed. Otherwise, they would hear the horses and locate them without +difficulty. + +A disappointment awaited our friends. It will be remembered that the +fringe of timber on the other side was quite narrow, and they naturally +supposed it corresponded on the farther shore. But after threading their +way for double the distance, they were surprised to find no evidence of +the open plain beyond. + +The rancher dared not continue farther while there was reason to fear +their pursuers were near. The brushing of the branches against the +bodies of the animals and the noise of their hoofs could be detected in +the silence, and was sure to betray the fugitives to any Sioux within a +hundred yards. + +The wife understood why the halt was made. Her husband stole back and +placed himself by her side. + +"You must be wearied with carrying Dot so long," he said sympathizingly. + +"It is quite a trial," she replied, in the same guarded voice, "but +there is no help for it, and I beg you to give the matter no thought." + +"Let me take her a while." + +"No, that will not do; you must hold your gun ready for instant use, and +you could not do so with her in your arms. It is not so hard when we are +sitting on the mare, for it is easy to arrange it so that she supports +most of her weight." + +"You are a good, brave woman, Molly, and deserve to be saved." + +"Sh!" she admonished; "I hear something." + +He knew she was right, for he caught the sound at the same moment. +Someone was stealing through the wood near them. It was a person, beyond +question, for a horse would have made more noise, and the sounds of his +hoofs would have been more distinct than anything else. That which, fell +upon their ears was the occasional crackling of a twig, and the brushing +aside of the obtruding limbs. No matter with what care an Indian warrior +threaded his way through the timber in this dense gloom, he could not +avoid such slight evidences of his movements--so slight, indeed, that +but for the oppressive stillness and the strained hearing of the husband +and wife they would not have detected them. + +Confident that the red man could not trace them in the gloom, even +though so dangerously near, the dread now was that the ponies would +betray them. Those watchful animals often prove the most valuable allies +of the fleeing fugitive, for they possess the power of discovering +impending danger before it can become known to their masters. But when +they make such discovery they are apt to announce it by a stamp of the +hoof or with a sniffing of the nostrils, which, while serving the master +well, has the disadvantage also of apprising the enemy that his approach +has become known. + +Stealing from his position beside his wife, the rancher stepped to the +mare and passed his hand reassuringly over her mouth, doing the same +with his own pony. This action was meant as a command for them to hold +their peace, though whether it was understood to the extent that it +would be obeyed, remains to be seen. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +THROUGH THE WOOD. + + +Even in that trying moment, Starr could not help reflecting upon the +peculiar turn matters had taken. He failed to understand the action of +the solitary Sioux on the other side, who had contented himself with the +simple theft of the pack-pony, when he might have done tenfold more +injury to the fugitives. + +And now, judging from the slight sounds that reached him, there was +another single warrior prowling through the wood, instead of several. It +might be, however, that his companions were near, awaiting the result of +his reconnoissance, and would descend upon the whites the instant the +way opened. + +But these speculations were cut short by the alarming discovery that +some strange fatality was bringing the scout fearfully close to where +the husband and wife were standing beside their animals, hardly daring +to speak in the most guarded whispers. + +It must have been that the ponies understood what was expected from +them, for they gave not the least sound. There was not a stamp of a +hoof, and their breathing was as gentle as an infant's. So long as they +remained mute it would seem that the peril must pass by. + +And so it ought to have done, for assuredly the Indian could have gained +no clew to the whereabouts of the fugitives from them or their animals. + +But all the same, George Starr was not long in making the uncomfortable +discovery that the red man was at his elbow, and the crisis was upon +him. + +The rancher knew where the miscreant was, and he determined to chance +it. He silently clubbed his Winchester, brought it back over his left +shoulder, and, concentrating his utmost strength in his arms, brought +down the butt of this weapon with resistless force. + +It could not have been better aimed had the sun been shining. It crashed +on the crown of the unsuspecting Sioux, who sank silently to the earth, +and it is enough to say that the "subsequent proceedings interested him +no more." + +"Sh!" whispered the husband; "there may be others near us; do you hear +anything?" + +Neither could catch any suspicious noise, and he concluded it was best +to move on. If they should remain where they were when daylight came, +all hope would be gone. The situation would be hardly improved if they +stayed any longer in the gloom, after what had taken place. + +Making known his purpose to his wife, he placed himself at the head of +Dick, and holding his bit, started forward. The mare followed the moment +she heard what was going on, and the mother with her child walked +between. + +But less than twenty steps were taken, when the leader paused abruptly, +alarmed by an altogether unexpected discovery. The twinkle of a light +appeared among the trees in front, so directly in their path that, had +they continued straight forward, they would have stepped into the blaze. + +This was cause for astonishment, and suggested that the fugitives had +struck a place where other Sioux had gathered, probably a number who +knew nothing of what had taken place a short time before. If this were +true, there ought not to be much difficulty in working past them. + +Still, critical as was the situation, he felt that the chance to learn +something ought not to be thrown away. Whispering to his wife to remain +where she was, he left her and stole forward until he could gain sight +of the blaze and those surrounding it. + +There was the fire made by a number of sticks heaped against the trunk +of a tree, and burning vigorously, but to his surprise, not an Indian +was in sight. How many had been gathered there, how long since they had +left, whether they would return, and if so, how soon? All these were +questions that must be left to some other time before even attempting to +guess the answers. + +He waited some minutes, thinking possibly the missing warriors would +return, but not one showed up, and he felt it would not do to tarry +longer. A goodly portion of the night had already passed, and Fort Meade +was still a long distance away, with a dangerous stretch of country to +pass. + +It seemed to the husband and wife that they hardly breathed, as they +moved through the wood. He held his pony by the rein with his left hand, +while he used the right, grasping the Winchester, to open the way in +front. They could do nothing more, listening meanwhile for the sounds of +danger which they expected to hear every moment. + +But lo! while they were advancing in this guarded manner, they suddenly +came out of the wood and into the open country again. + +The husband uttered another exclamation of thankfulness, and checked the +animals. + +"Now it looks as if we had a chance to accomplish something," he said, +"and I am sure you are in need of rest." + +"I am somewhat weary, but I can stand a great deal more, George; give no +thought to me, but think only of the peril from which we must escape +this night or never." + +He gently took the little Dot, swathed as she was in the heavy blanket, +and held her while his wife remounted the mare, without help. We have +said she was an excellent horsewoman, as she had proved before this +eventful night. + +"Now," said he, when she was firmly seated and extended her arms to take +the child, "I am going to use my authority as a husband over you." + +"Have I not always been an obedient wife?" she asked, with mock +humility. + +"No man was ever blessed with a better helpmate," was the reply. + +"I await your commands, my lord." + +Instead of passing the child to her, he reached up his rifle. + +"What is the meaning of that?" she asked wonderingly. + +"Lay it across the saddle in front, where its weight will not discommode +you. I shall carry Dot." + +"But think, George, of the risk it involves. I assure you that it will +be no task for me to take care of her now that I am in the saddle +again." + +"All discussion is ended," he replied, with a severity which she well +knew was assumed, though she did not dispute him. She accepted the +weapon and placed it in position as he directed. Then supporting the +precious child with one arm, he mounted his pony and placed himself by +her side. + +"We will ride abreast; if any emergency calls for the use of my gun, I +can pass Dot to you in an instant; you must remember too, that I have a +revolver, which may serve me better in any sudden peril." + +"I obey," she replied, "but you will not deny me the right to think you +are committing a mistake; since, however, it is actuated by love, I +appreciate it." + +"I assure you," he said with deep feeling, "that aside from the +consideration due you, I am acting for the best. I wish you, as long as +possible, to remain at my side. We have made so many turnings and +changes in our course that I have lost all idea of the points of the +compass; I do not know whether we are going toward Fort Meade or +straying off to the right or left, with the probability that in the +morning we may be far out of the way. Help me to keep our bearings." + +And husband and wife rode out on the prairie in the darkness and falling +snow. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + +NIGHT AND MORNING. + + +By this time the snow lay to the depth of several inches on the earth. +It was still falling, and the cold was increasing. The flakes were +slighter, and there were fewer of them. His knowledge of the weather +told the rancher that the fall would cease after a while, with a still +further lowering of the temperature. Thanks, however, to the +thoughtfulness of his wife more than himself, they were so plentifully +provided with blankets and extra garments that they were not likely to +suffer any inconvenience from that cause. + +Fortunately for them and greatly to their relief, the stretch of prairie +which they had struck continued comparatively level. Occasionally they +ascended a slight elevation or rode down a declivity, but in no case for +more than two hours was either so steep that the ponies changed their +gait from the easy swinging canter to a walk. + +Once, after riding down a slight decline, they struck another stream, +but it was little more than a brook, so strait that a dozen steps +brought them out on the other side with little more than the wetting of +their animals' hoofs. + +They rode side by side, for the mare was as fleet and enduring as the +horse. Now and then they glanced back, but saw nothing to cause alarm, +and hope became stronger than before. + +"We are doing remarkably well," said the husband, breaking the silence +for the first time in a half hour. + +"Yes," was the thoughtful reply; "we must have travelled a good many +miles since the last start, and there is only one danger that troubles +me." + +"What is that?" + +"The probability--nay, the almost certainty--that we are not journeying +toward the fort." + +"I have thought much of that," replied the husband, giving voice to a +misgiving that had disturbed him more than he was willing to admit; "it +is as you say, that the chances are against our proceeding in a direct +line, but it is equally true that the general course is right." + +"How can you know that?" + +"Because we have crossed two streams that were in our path, and they +remain behind us." + +"But," reminded the thoughtful wife, "you forget that those same streams +are very winding in their course. If they followed a direct line, we +could ask no more proof that we are on the right track." + +"True, but it cannot be that they take such a course that we are +travelling toward the ranch again." + +"Hardly as bad as that, but if we are riding at right angles in either +direction, we shall be in a sad plight when the morning comes. The sun +will take from us all chance of dodging the Sioux so narrowly as we have +done more than once since leaving home." + +"We must not forget the peril of which you speak; at such times I trust +much to the instinct of the animals." + +"And would not that, in the present case, lead them to go toward rather +than from home?" + +"I'm blessed if I thought of that!" + +The rancher was filled with dismay for the moment, and brought Dick down +to a walk. + +"No," he added the next moment, striking him into a gallop again, "if +they were left to themselves they would try to make their way to the +ranch, but they have been under too much guidance, and have been forced +to do too many disagreeable things, for them to attempt that. I am sure +we are nearing Fort Meade." + +"I trust so," was the response of the wife; which remark did anything +but add to the hopefulness of her husband. + +The animals now began to show signs of fatigue. The snow balled under +their hoofs, causing a peculiar jolting to the riders, when it became so +big that the weight broke it or made their feet slip off, when new +gatherings commenced immediately to form. + +After being forced to a canter the horses would drop of their own accord +to a walk, and soon they were left to continue at their own gait. + +"How far, Molly, do you think we have come?" asked the rancher. + +"It must be fifteen miles, and possibly more; if it were in a direct +line, adding what we made before crossing the last stream, it would be +safe to wait until morning." + +Again the wife gave expression to the thought that was in her husband's +mind. He had been asking himself for the last half hour whether it would +not be wise to come to a halt for daylight. The rest thus secured to the +animals would enable them to do much better, when the right course could +be determined with absolute certainty, and a few hours' brisk riding +ought to take them beyond all fear of their harassing enemies. + +There remained the haunting fear of their being on the wrong course. If +daylight found them little nearer the fort than when at the ranch, their +situation would be most critical. But all speculation on that important +matter must remain such until the truth could be learned. + +One reason why the rancher did not propose a halt before it was hinted +at by his wife, was that no suitable place presented itself. It would +not do to camp in the open plain, where there was no shelter for them or +their animals; they must keep on until the ground changed. + +That change came sooner than they anticipated. The ponies were plodding +forward with their loads, when, before either of the riders suspected +it, they were on the edge of another growth of timber, which promised +the very thing they sought. + +"Here we are!" said Mr. Starr, "and I think we can say that the journey +will be suspended until daylight." + +"If there is another stream, George, I shall feel safer if we place +ourselves on the other side before we halt for the rest of the night." + +"I don't view another fording with much pleasure, but we can soon find +out how it is." + +The character of this timber differed from that which they had already +passed, in that it abounded with so many bowlders and rocks that, after +penetrating it a short way, it became too dangerous for the ponies to +persevere. They were liable at any moment to break a limb. + +"Remain here a few minutes while I investigate," said the rancher, +passing the sleeping Dot to his wife. + +He penetrated more than a hundred yards, without coming upon any water. +He did not go farther, for he was satisfied there was none near them. +The ground not only grew more rocky and precipitous as he advanced, but +steadily rose, so as to show that he was at the base of a ridge over +which it was a difficult matter to make their way. It would have been +folly to try it in the darkness, and on his return he sought some spot +favorable for going into camp. + +He was more successful than he expected. A mass of rocks was found, +whose tops projected sufficiently to afford a fair shelter. The snow, +slanting from the other direction, left a comparatively large surface +bare. Here the ponies were drawn to one side and their trappings +removed. There were not enough spare blankets to cover them as the +fugitives wished to do, but they were too tough to suffer much. + +Then the blankets were distributed, and so placed that when the husband +and wife huddled together against the base of the rocks, they, as well +as Dot, were quite comfortable. The rancher might have gathered wood and +started a fire, but it was not needed, and they feared the consequences +of such a proceeding. They were so worn out with the trials and toil of +the night, that they soon sank into a deep slumber which lasted till +morning. Then, upon awaking, the first act of the rancher was to +ascertain his bearings, so far as it was possible to do so. + +The result was the disheartening conviction that they were no nearer +Fort Meade than when they forded the last stream early on the preceding +night. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + +A STARTLING SURPRISE. + + +We must not forget that young Warren Starr and Tim Brophy have an +important part to play in the incidents we have set out to relate. + +We left them in the wooded rocky section, where they had spent the night +together in the rude shelter erected a year before when on their hunting +excursions. They were awakened by the frenzied cry of the young +Irishman's horse, and appeared on the scene just in time to save the +pony from a grizzly bear, who made things exceedingly lively for the +young gentlemen themselves. + +But relieved of their peril, they sat down like sensible persons to make +their morning meal from the lunch brought thither by Tim. They ate +heartily, never pausing until the last particle of food was gone. Then +they rose like giants refreshed with new wine. + +"Now," said Warren, "we will mount the ponies, and instead of making for +the fort will try to find the folks." + +"I'm wid ye there, as I remarked previously," was the response of the +brave young rancher, who was ever ready to risk his life for those whom +he loved. + +"It will be an almost hopeless hunt, for father could give me only a +general idea of the course he meant to take, and we are likely to go +miles astray." + +"We shall have to depind on Providence to hilp us, though it may be the +folks are in no naad of our assistance." + +"I pray that such may be the case," was the fervent response of Warren, +accompanied by a sigh of misgiving. "I think we shall be able to take +care of ourselves, but father is in a bad fix with mother and Dot on his +hands. I hope Plummer has joined them." + +"He niver will do the same," remarked Tim gravely. + +"Why do you say that?" + +"He has been killed by the spalpeens, for if he hadn't, he would have +showed himsilf before we lift the ranch." + +"It looks that way, but you cannot be certain." + +"I wish I couldn't, but he must have larned of thim being so near the +house as soon as mesilf, or very nearly so, and he would have been back +before me. That he didn't come is proof to my mind that he niver +will--ye may depind on the same." + +This brief conversation took place while the youths were saddling and +mounting their horses. They made certain that everything was secure, and +then, carefully guiding their animals among bowlders to the open +prairie, paused a moment to decide upon the best course to take. + +To the northwest stretched the white plain in gentle undulations, and in +the clear sunlight, miles away in the horizon, rose the dark line of a +wooded ridge, similar to the others described, and which are so common +in that section of the country. They agreed that the best course was to +head toward it, for it seemed to them that the rancher had probably +crossed the same at some point, or if he had not already done so, would +ride in that direction. Possibly, too, the father, despite the wishes he +had expressed, would suspect such a movement on the part of his son. If +so, the probability of their meeting was increased. + +The air was clear, sharp, and bracing, with the sun shining from an +unclouded sky. It was a time to stir the blood, and had not the young +ranchers been oppressed by anxiety for their friends, they would have +bounded across the plain in the highest possible spirits. The ponies, +having no such fear, struck into a swinging gallop of their own accord, +which continued without interruption until more than half the +intervening distance was passed. All this time the youths were carefully +scanning the wooded ridge, as it rose more distinctly to view; for they +could not forget that they were more likely to meet hostiles than +friends in that section, and approaching it across an open plain, must +continue conspicuous objects to whatever Sioux were there. + +"Tim," said Warren, as they rode easily beside each other, "unless I am +much mistaken, a fire is burning on the ridge." + +"Where?" + +"Almost directly ahead, but a little to the left; tell me whether you +can make it out." + +The Irishman shaded his eyes with one hand, for the glare of the sun on +the snow was almost blinding, and after a moment's scrutiny, said: + +"Ye are right; there is a fire up there; not much smoke does the same +give out, but it is climbing up the clear sky as straight as a mon's +finger." + +"I take it that it means Indians; it seems to me they are all around +us." + +"I agraas wid ye, but s'pose it is a fire that yer fayther has started +himsilf." + +Warren shook his head. + +"He would not do so imprudent a thing as that." + +"But he moight have in his eye that we'd be looking for something of the +same." + +Still his friend was unconvinced. + +"He could not be certain that it would be noted by us, while he must +have known that it was sure to attract the attention of the Sioux. No; +I cannot be mistaken." + +"Do ye want to pass it by widout finding out its maaning?" + +"If it is father who has kindled the blaze, and he is looking for us, he +will find some way of telling us more plainly----" + +"Do ye obsarve?" asked Tim, in some excitement. + +Beyond question the approach of the two young horsemen had produced an +effect. The faint column of smoke which, until that moment, had climbed +perpendicularly up the sky, now showed a wavy appearance, vibrating from +side to side in graceful undulations, as though it were a ribbon swayed +by human hands. But Warren, instead of accepting this as did his +companion, regarded it as more indicative of danger. The Sioux that were +responsible for the ascending vapor were aware of the approach of the +couple, and were signalling the fact to others whose whereabouts was +unknown to the whites. + +"Do ye moind," said Tim, "that two months since, whin we were hunting +along the Big Cheyenne and got separated from him and Plummer, he let +us know where they were in jist that way?" + +It was a fact. Precisely the same signal had been used by the parent to +apprise his son and companion where he and Plummer were, though in that +instance it was the employe who adopted the method. + +He was inclined for a few seconds to agree with his companion; but there +was something in the prominence of the artifice, and the certainty that +it would be noted by unfriendly eyes, that caused him to dismiss the +belief. Enough doubt, however, had been injected into his mind to bring +the desire for further investigation. + +"We will ride straight toward it, as though we intended to go to the +camp or signal fire as it may be, but will turn aside before reaching +the ridge, so as to avoid the trap that may be set for us. I had an +experience yesterday afternoon something like that before you joined +me." + +Strange it was that the couple, who, despite their youth, had learned so +much of border life, forgot to keep watch of the rear, while giving so +much attention to the front. Singular as it may seem, they had not +looked behind them for the preceding half hour. The sight of the signal +fire ahead so absorbed their interest that they neglected this obvious +precaution; nor did it once occur to them that if the smoke was sent +into the sky by hostiles, who meant it for the guidance of confederates, +those same confederates were likely to be to the rear of them. + +Such was the fact, and the knowledge came to the friends in the most +startling manner conceivable, being in the shape of several rifle +bullets which whistled about their ears. Then, when they glanced +affrightedly around, they saw fully a dozen Sioux bucks, all well +mounted, bearing down upon them at full speed. + +They had issued from the rocky section behind them, and ridden to this +perilous position without the youths once dreaming of the fact until, as +may be said, the hostiles were literally upon them. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. + +A RUN FOR LIFE. + + +But one thing could be done: that was to run, and Warren Starr and Tim +Brophy did it in the highest style of the art. They put their ponies to +their utmost pace without an instant's delay. The animals, as if +conscious of their peril, bounded across the snowy plain on a dead run, +with their riders stretching forward over their necks to escape the +bullets expected every moment. + +It must have been that the Sioux were sure the fugitives would look +around the next moment, else they would have stolen nearer before +announcing their presence in such a startling fashion. + +The only hope for the young ranchers lay in the speed of their horses, +since there was no other possible chance against the bucks who were as +fierce after their lives as so many ravening wolves. The boys shouted to +their animals, who flew across the plain as though the snow did not +discommode them in the least. They did not separate, for the instinctive +resolve thrilled them that they would fall or escape together. + +Each was provided with a repeating Winchester, and enough has been told +to prove they knew how to use the weapons effectively, but the +opportunity was hardly the present, since to turn and fire while their +ponies were on the run, offered little chance of success, and was liable +to interfere with their speed, so important above everything else. + +The flight was so sudden that, without thought, they headed toward the +wooded ridge, where they had seen the suspicious signal fire, but they +had not gone far before discovering that that would never do. The flight +must end at the ridge, where they would find themselves at fearful +disadvantage. + +"We must have the open plain or we are lost!" called Warren. + +"Ay, ay; I'm wid ye," replied Tim, who pulled sharply on the right rein +of his animal. At the same moment his friend turned the head of his +horse to the left, and, before the comrades were aware, they were +diverging with several rods between them. + +Warren was the first to perceive the mistake, and believing he had +adopted the right line of flight, shouted for his friend to do the same. +Tim had already noticed the turn and now thundered across the prairie +toward him. But the devious course, as will be readily seen, threw him +slightly to the rear, seeing which, Warren drew in his animal to allow +him to come up. + +"None of that!" called the Irishman; "ye've no advantage to throw away! +Ye can't hilp me by that nonsense." + +But Warren gave him no heed. The next minute Tim was almost at his side. + +"I belave we're riding faster than the spalpeens," he added, glancing +for the twentieth time to the rear, where the Sioux were forcing their +horses to the utmost. They did not fire for some time after the opening +volley, giving their whole attention to this run for life. + +That the capacities of the pursuing ponies varied was quickly apparent. +Several began dropping to the rear, but more than half maintained their +places near each other. + +It was hard to tell whether they were holding their own or gradually +drifting back from the fugitives. The one hopeful fact was that as yet +they were not gaining. Whether they would do so or lose ground must +quickly appear. + +Tim Brophy now performed a deed as reckless as it was daring. He watched +the rear more than did Warren, and was in the act of drawing up beside +the latter, when he discovered that one of the Sioux was leading all the +rest. He was fully a rod in advance, and what was more alarming than +everything else, he was gaining, beyond question, on the fugitives. His +horse had developed a burst of speed that no one anticipated. + +Rising to the sitting posture in the saddle, Tim brought his gun to his +shoulder. + +"Don't do that!" admonished Warren. "You have no chance to hit him, and +will cause Billy to lose ground." + +The Irishman made no reply; he was too much occupied with the act he had +in mind. Furthermore, he noted that the buck whom he held in such fear +was making ready to fire. + +But Tim was ahead of him, and, by one of those strange accidents which +sometimes happen, he hit him so fair and hard that, with the invariable +cry of his race when mortally hurt, he reeled sideways and fell to the +ground, his horse, with a snort of alarm, circling off over the prairie +far from his companions. + +[Illustration: TIM'S FORTUNATE SHOT.] + +Warren glanced around at the moment the gun was discharged and could +hardly believe his own eyes. He knew the success was accidental, and +hoped it would not encourage Tim to repeat the attempt. + +It was expected that the shot would serve as a check to the rest, and +ordinarily it would have done so, but it produced not the slightest +effect in that direction. Back of the fallen warrior, whose body rolled +over and over in the snow, as it struck with a rebound, were more than +half a dozen, with the others streaming after them. They gave no heed to +their fallen leader, neither uttering any outcry nor firing in return, +but pressing their ponies to the highest possible point. They were +resolved upon capturing those fugitives and subjecting them to a +punishment beside which shooting would be a mercy. + +It would not do to forget the country in front. While their chief +interest lay to the rear, they were liable to run into some peril that +would undo all the good gained by outrunning their pursuers. Warren saw +that while they had swerved to the left, yet the course of the ridge +would carry them to its base, unless they diverged still more from the +direct path. + +And yet this divergence must be made as gradual as circumstances would +permit, since otherwise great advantage would be given their enemies by +the chance to "cut across lots," or in other words to follow a straight +line, while offsetting the curved course of the fugitives. + +Directing the attention of Tim to the situation, he begged him to give +no further thought to firing upon their foes. + +"I'll let the spalpeens alone if they'll do the same wid me," was his +reply, spoken in a low voice, for the two were separated by only a few +feet. + +"You can't have as good luck a second time." + +"But," persisted Tim, "if I hadn't dropped that felly, he would have +tumbled you or mesilf out of the saddle, as he was about to do whin I +jumped on him wid both feet." + +But Warren begged him to desist, confident as he was that any further +attempt would result in ill to them. Tim held his peace, but leaving his +friend to watch where they went he gave his chief attention to the +Sioux, whose leaders, if they were not gaining ground, seemed to be +holding their own. + +Suddenly, to Warren's disgust, his companion again brought his gun to +his shoulder. Before he could aim and fire, however, one of the bucks +discharged his weapon and the bullet nipped the leg of young Starr, who +continued leaning forward, so as to offer as little of his body as +possible for a target. + +Tim fired, but more than likely the ball went wide of the mark. + +His companion hoped that the act of their pursuers in shooting was +caused by their fear of losing the fugitives through the speed of their +ponies. + +But a short distance was necessary before the boys were riding in a line +parallel with the ridge that had loomed up in their path. This gave them +an open country for an unknown distance, over which to continue their +flight, but it was hardly to be supposed that it would continue long. +The section was too broken to warrant such a hope. + +It may have been the perception of the fugitives' object that brought +the shot from the Sioux. At any rate, if it should become manifest that +the young ranchers were drawing away, the rifles of the pursuers were +certain to be brought into effective use, and the distance between the +parties was fearfully brief. + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + +AWAY WE GO! + + +One recourse was before the pursuing Sioux from the start: that was to +shoot the horses of the fugitives. The wonder was that they had not +aimed to do so from the first. With the couple dismounted, they would be +at their mercy. + +It was the fear of this that caused Warren to ask his friend to draw up +as near to him as he could. It was not likely that both ponies would +fall at once, and the survivor might be able to carry the couple to +safety. + +"I tell ye we are gaining," said the Irishman, with far more hope in his +manner than Warren thought was warranted. + +"We must gain a good deal before getting out of the woods," was the +reply of the other, who devoted every energy to forcing his animal to +his best pace. + +"Look out! they're going to shoot again," said Tim. + +Throwing himself forward, Warren hugged his pony closer than ever, his +companion doing the same, instead of trying to use his gun. The volley +came while the words were in course of utterance, but neither of the +youths was touched. The Sioux must have found it equally hard to fire +with their animals on a full run. + +"Why don't the spalpeens save their powder?" was the disgusted question +of Tim, but his feelings changed a minute later, when his own pony +showed by his actions that he had been hit hard. He uttered a low, +moaning cry, and staggered as if about to fall. + +Warren was the first to notice it. + +"Tim, Billy is going to drop; ride closer and mount Jack behind me." + +"Not a bit of it! I'll see you hanged first," was the characteristic +reply of the brave fellow, who sturdily refused to heed the urgent +appeal of his friend. + +"Why not?" + +"Jack can't carry us both." + +"He can until we reach the ridge." + +"But we're not going toward it," insisted Tim, too observant to be +deceived. + +"Turn Billy's head that way," said Warren, growing desperate in the +imminence of the peril, and swerving his pony to the right; "Jack can +carry us both as well as one." + +Still the Irishman hesitated. It might be as his companion said, but he +was unwilling to imperil Warren, and destroy the chances of both, when +everything looked so favorable for one. + +Meanwhile, the stricken Billy was fast giving out. He struggled gamely, +but it was evident that he must quickly succumb. At the most, he could +go but a short distance farther. + +The Sioux fired again, but nothing was accomplished. If Jack was hit, he +did not show it during the few seconds that his rider held his breath. + +Still Tim held back in the face of the pleadings of his friend. Two +discoveries, however, led him to yield. + +They were now heading straight for the ridge, which was barely half a +mile distant. It must soon be attained, unless something happened to +Jack. The foremost Sioux had fallen so perceptibly behind that there was +reason to believe the horse could carry both riders to safety, or rather +to the refuge which they hoped to find at the base of the ridge. + +"I'll do the same, being it's yerself that asks it----" + +"Quick! Billy is falling!" called Warren, far more excited than his +companion. + +The crisis had come. The poor animal could go no farther, and was +swaying from side to side like a drunken person, certain to fall with +the next minute. + +Tim released his foot from the stirrup on his right, swung his leg over +the saddle, as only a skilful horseman can do, and, holding his gun with +one hand, grasped the outstretched one of Warren and made a slight leap, +which landed him behind him. + +It was a delicate and difficult task, and despite the skill with which +it was executed, both came within a hair of tumbling headlong to the +ground. + +Quickly as it was done, it was not a moment too soon. The mortally +wounded Billy suddenly went forward, his nose ploughing up the snow and +earth, and after a few struggles all was over. + +The action had not only increased the danger of both of the fugitives, +but it rendered the situation of the Irishman doubly perilous. Although +both leaned forward, they could not do so as effectually as when each +was on his own horse, and Tim of necessity was the more exposed of the +two. + +Leaving Warren to guide and urge Jack, he gave his attention to the +Sioux, who did not relax their efforts, but whose relative situations, +owing to the varying speed of their horses, underwent a curious change +of position. + +Two were riding abreast, and so far as Tim could see there was not the +least difference in the speed of their ponies. Behind them at a distance +of several rods came two others, holding precisely the same relative +positions, while the rest were strung along over the prairie, until it +looked as if the hindmost was a third of a mile distant. + +Nothing was to be feared from them, but what of those that were so much +nearer? + +That was the vital question that must soon be answered. + +While the position of the Irishman was anything but pleasant, and with +the horse on a jump he was required to take the utmost care to maintain +his seat, he decided to try his gun once more. + +This proved harder than he supposed. He could make no use of the saddle +in which young Starr sat, and when he sought to turn he would have +fallen, had he not kept one arm about the waist of his friend. And yet, +in the face of all this, he managed to get his Winchester in position +with the muzzle toward the leading Sioux. + +Anything like aiming the weapon was out of the question, and it would +have been folly to expect that a second chance shot would favor him. +Nevertheless, the demonstration accomplished something unexpected. He +had done execution with one shot, and when the bucks saw the muzzle +pointing backward, they were scared. + +The leaders naturally supposed they were the ones intended to serve as +targets, and they ducked their heads with such suddenness that the +Irishman grinned. Not only that, but one of them caused his +pony--probably through some inadvertent act on the part of the rider--to +swerve from his course, thereby interfering with those immediately in +the rear. + +Even the companion at his side was thrown somewhat out of "plumb," and +lost a few paces, much to the delight of Tim, who gleefully told Warren +of what had taken place. + +The advantage to the fugitives will be understood when it is remembered +that they were rapidly drawing near the ridge, now at no great distance +in front. + +True, there was no certainty that it would prove a refuge to them, if +attained; but it would be more of a shelter than the open prairie, +where, if driven to bay, there was not the slightest protection against +the bullets of the Sioux, unless the body of Jack should be used as a +breastwork. + +The confusion of the bucks was only temporary. They needed no one to +tell them what the aim of the youths was when they changed the line of +their flight, nor could they fail to see that the ridge would be +attained quite soon, unless they were checked. + +Tim Brophy suspected that such thoughts were passing through their +minds, and despite the hopelessness of the effort, he discharged his +rifle toward them; and when it is stated that it was discharged "toward +them," no more can be said. There is no reason to believe that he came +within twenty feet of hitting any one of the Sioux. + +It may be doubted, therefore, whether this essay on his part was +beneficial to himself and companion, inasmuch as it must have lowered +their opinion of his marksmanship and convinced the red men that they +were altogether mistaken in giving heed to any more shots fired by him +from the back of the pony, which was not only going at full speed, but +was carrying a double burden. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + +ON FOOT. + + +The fugitives were now so close to the ridge that Warren Starr, from his +position on his pony, turned his attention to their immediate front. He +saw that the race must end, so far as his steed was concerned, within +the next second. The trees stood close together, the ascent was steep, +and the bowlders and rocks, plainly discernible, since all leafage was +gone, showed that the horse must halt of necessity at the moment of +striking the base of the elevation. + +The Sioux had ceased firing. They were so certain of capturing the +youths that they saved their ammunition. The struggle could not last +much longer. + +"Be ready to jump off!" said Warren to his companion; "I am going to +stop!" + +Even as he spoke, he threw Jack on his haunches with a suddenness that +would have pitched the couple over his head, had they not braced +themselves. Both took a flying leap from his back and dashed for the +cover now directly before them. + +The purpose was still to keep together, but circumstances beyond their +control prevented. They had no time to form any plan. Young Starr darted +to the right, aiming for some rocks which he fancied might afford +partial shelter. Tim had his eye on a somewhat similar refuge to the +left, and made for that. He would have joined his friend had he known +his intention, but the seconds were too precious to allow it, after a +few steps were taken. So he kept on without once glancing behind him. + +Still there was no firing. The Indians must have felt more certain than +ever of their prey, thus to hold their shots. They emitted several +whoops of exultation, and the foremost bounded from their ponies and +sped after the fugitives like so many bloodhounds. + +But the separation of the latter compelled a division of the former, +who, it will be remembered, were scattered at varying distances, only a +couple being at the heels of the young ranchers. Thus it came about that +each was pursued by a single warrior, and through a whim which cannot be +fully understood, the Sioux next to the leaders turned to the left on +the trail of the young Irishman, who had thus the honor, if it may be so +considered, of attracting the greater attention. + +For a few moments Warren devoted his energies to running. He bounded +like a hare over the first bowlder that interposed, swerved slightly to +the right, to pass an obstructing rock, and went up the slope with the +same headlong speed with which he had dashed from the level ground to +the bottom of the slope. + +It was not until he had sped fully a hundred yards in this furious +fashion that he ventured to throw a glance over his shoulder. Then he +learned that there was but a single Sioux in sight. + +The fugitive had held his own so well against this miscreant, that the +latter must have felt a quick fear of his escaping him altogether. Young +Starr was an unusually swift sprinter, and it may be doubted whether +the fleet-footed Indian could have run him down in a fair contest. + +The fear of losing the young man caused the Sioux to check himself +abruptly, bring his gun to a level, and let fly. + +An extraordinary accident, or rather providence, saved the fugitive. At +the very instant of his enemy firing, Warren's foot slipped in the snow, +and he stumbled on his hands and knees. Certain that his fall was due to +the bullet just sent after him, the Sioux, with a whoop of triumph, +bounded forward over the bowlders and around the rocks to finish him. + +Warren saw, with lightning-like quickness, that his fall might be his +salvation. It had deceived his foe into the belief that he was either +killed or mortally hurt, and he was, therefore, unprepared for that +which followed. + +The youth did not attempt to rise. He had slipped down in such a +position that he was hidden from the sight of his pursuer. He quickly +shifted around so as to face him, and, rising on one knee, held his +Winchester pointed and ready for use. + +He had not long to wait. The Sioux was so close that the next minute his +head and shoulders appeared above the rock, as he took his tremendous +strides toward the lad, whom he expected to see stretched helpless on +the snowy earth. + +The sight of him kneeling on one knee, with his rifle aimed, his eye +ranging along the barrel, and his finger on the trigger, was the first +startling apprisal of the real state of affairs. + +The warrior instantly perceived his fearful mistake, and made a +desperate attempt to dodge to one side, but though the loon may elude +the bullet of the hunter's rifle, no man has ever yet been equal to the +task. No screeching Indian was ever hit more fairly, surprised more +suddenly, or extinguished more utterly. + +[Illustration: THE DEATH OF THE INDIAN.] + +And so it came about that in the twinkling of an eye Warren Starr was +left without a pursuer. Not a solitary Sioux was in sight. + +But he was too wise to think he was safe. He was simply relieved for +the time being of his harassing foes. They must have heard the discharge +of his rifle, and some of them would soon investigate when their comrade +failed to return to them. This would be after a few minutes. Naturally +they would suppose that the fugitive had been brought down, and not +until a brief period had elapsed would they suspect the truth. + +It was this interval which must be utilized to the utmost, if the youth +hoped to escape. While the snow would reveal his trail so plainly that +it could be followed without the least difficulty, yet his own fleetness +ought to enable him to keep so far in advance of the Sioux that they +could not gain another shot at him. True, he was deprived of his +matchless pony, but the red men were also on foot, and therefore they +stood on equal terms, with the opening in favor of the fugitive. + +Warren would have been full of hope and resolution, but for Tim Brophy. +His concern for his devoted friend forbade him turning the situation +solely to his own account. He made a hasty examination of his rifle, and +found nothing the matter with it. It was ready for use whenever needed. + +Not a solitary warrior was in sight, and the profound stillness which +reigned caused the incidents of the last few minutes to seem like some +wild dream. + +With that peculiar doubt that sometimes comes over one in such crises, +Warren gently pinched one hand with the other. The result convinced him +that everything was real--imagination had nothing to do with it. + +The reports of his own Winchester and the Sioux's rifle were all that +had broken the stillness since the headlong leap of the young ranchers +from the back of the pony. There could have been no other report without +its being heard by Warren, who was sorely perplexed over the fact. + +Could it be that equally good fortune had befallen Tim Brophy? Had he +been able to throw his pursuers off the track for the time? It seemed +impossible that two such providences should come simultaneously to the +fugitives. The Irishman was by no means as fleet of foot as Warren, and +with the majority of the pursuers dashing after him, only the worst +result was to be feared. + +"Some of them will soon be here," was the conclusion of the youth, as he +stood sorely perplexed as to what he should do; "if I remain, I shall +have half a dozen of them around me, and then it will be all up; but +what about Tim?" + +In his chivalrous devotion to his comrade, he now began withdrawing from +his dangerous position, but trended to the right as he faced his +enemies, with the object of getting near Tim, and with the hope that he +might be of help to him in his desperate strait. + +He shuddered as he glanced down at the ground and observed the prints he +made in the snow. There could be no delay in tracing him, no matter what +direction he might take. It must be the same with his friend, who, +despite any advantage gained at the beginning of his last flight, could +be readily run down, if the Sioux preferred that to "winging" him while +in full flight. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + +DOWN! + + +Meanwhile Tim Brophy found himself in the hottest quarters of his life. + +Inspired by the same desperate thought of his friend, he strove, with +all the energy he possessed, to widen the space between himself and his +pursuers. Less fleet of foot than they, it took but a few seconds to +show him the hopelessness of the task. + +None of the trees was large enough to give protection to his body, but +seeing no rocks that could serve him, he dodged behind the first trunk +that presented itself. This was barely six inches in diameter, and was +no better than nothing at all. + +Pausing but a moment, he leaped away again, with that wild, aimless +impulse which comes over one when panic-stricken. The halt, brief though +it was, proved fatal. His pursuer was on his heels, and the brave youth +turned at bay. As if fate was against him, when he attempted to bring +his rifle to a level, he made a slip and it dropped from his grasp. He +had no time to pick it up. + +"S'render! s'render!" called his foe in good English, waving his right +hand aloft with his gun grasped in it. + +"I'll surrender, ye spalpeen!" + +Resorting like a flash to nature's weapons, the Irishman delivered a +blow straight from the shoulder, which sent the Sioux spinning backward +with his feet pointing toward the sky. + +Had he been the only foe to contend with, Tim might have saved himself, +for the savage was utterly "knocked out," and the opportunity to finish +him could not have been better. + +Tim had his revolver, but in his excitement he forgot the important +fact. He was about to leap upon his prostrate enemy, with the intention +of snatching his gun from him and using it, when the other two Sioux +burst to view. + +Without waiting for them to assail him, the youth dashed forward like a +panther at bay. + +Before the foremost could elude the assault, he struck him as fairly as +he had hit the other, and he sprawled on his back, with the breath +driven from his body. + +But the impetus of his blow carried Tim forward, and, half tripping in +his headlong rush, he fell on his hands and knees. He strove frantically +to save himself, but, before he could struggle to his feet, the other +Sioux dealt him a stroke with the butt of his gun which laid the fellow +helpless on his face. + +The skull of the Irishman, however, was tough, and he quickly recovered, +but not before several other warriors appeared on the scene. + +For one moment the young rancher meditated a rush upon them, and had +actually doubled his fists for that purpose, but even in his fury he +perceived the folly of such a course. If he assailed the Sioux, they +would quickly finish him then and there, while the fact of their having +spared his life thus far proved that they did not intend to put him to +instant death. + +It was with singular emotions that he recognized among the last arrivals +the Carlisle student Starcus, who had saved his life the preceding +morning by his timely shot when the grizzly bear was upon him. The +presence of the "civilized" youth among the hostiles told its own story. + +"Ye've got me foul," said Tim, looking straight at Starcus as he spoke; +"and now ye may do wid me what ye loikes." + +Starcus, knowing the words and look were meant for him, made no answer, +but kept in the background. + +He was grim and silent. Who shall say what thoughts were stirring his +heart at that trying moment! He had sat with this youth at the table of +George Starr and his family. + +He had partaken of their hospitality, and had claimed to possess the +civilization which he was anxious his own race should adopt, but here he +was, taking part in the pursuit and attack of two youths who not only +had never done him harm, but had always acted the part of friends toward +him. + +There was one curious fact (and yet, perhaps it was not so curious after +all) which was evident to the captured youth. The Sioux admired the +brave fight he had made for himself. Trained for ages to regard physical +prowess as above all virtues, the American race cannot fail to revere +it, even when they are the sufferers therefrom. + +The warrior who had first felt the weight of Tim's fist now began +clambering to his feet. He was dazed and bewildered, for the blow was a +terrific one. Landing squarely in his face, it had brought considerable +crimson, which, mingling with the daubs of paint already there, gave him +a frightful appearance. + +He assumed the upright posture, and standing uncertainly for a few +seconds, fixed his eyes on the prisoner. + +Then grasping the situation, and recognizing him as the individual that +had treated him so harshly, he suddenly emitted a shout, whipped out his +hunting-knife, and rushed at him like a fury. Tim instantly threw +himself into a pugilistic attitude, and no doubt would have given a good +account of himself had he been permitted, for he was skilled in the art +of self-defence, and such a person always has the advantage over a foe, +no matter what his weapon, provided it is not a firearm. + +But the collision did not take place. Three Indians interposed, +restraining the fierce red man; among the foremost being Starcus, who +roughly seized the upraised arm and forced the warrior back several +steps, using some strong words in his own language. The savage strove to +free himself that he might attack the youth, but he was not permitted, +and finally gave up the effort and withdrew sullenly into the +background. + +This incident was hardly over, when the second warrior that had gone +down before the young Irishman's prowess also gained his feet. He looked +as if he would very much like to try conclusions again, with the aid of +one of his weapons, but he seemed to think he could bide his time, and +have it out on a more fitting occasion. + +The captive was too wise to place a favorable construction on the +interference of Starcus, despite the additional fact of his kindly +offices of the morning. The rest of the Sioux had shown a wish to take +him prisoner, for certainly the chance to bring him down had been theirs +more than once. Actuated by their intense hatred of the white race, they +looked upon sudden death as too merciful to a foe that had done them so +much ill. He had slain one of their best men, and knocked prostrate two +others; no punishment, therefore, was too cruel to be visited upon him. + +While the group stood about the helpless captive they talked in their +own language, without Tim being able to guess the meaning of a word +uttered. He watched the countenances closely, and was surprised a minute +or two later by the appearance of the last member of the party. He came +straggling up as though he felt no concern in the proceedings. That +which interested Tim the most was the sight of his valued Winchester in +the fellow's hand. For one moment the youth thought he meant to hand it +over to him, but that would have been a stretch of hospitality of which +none of his race could ever be guilty. He did a rare thing for an +Indian--indulged in a grin of pleasure at the prize which his +companions had passed by to allow it to fall into his possession. + +In his trying situation, Tim Brophy could not avoid a feeling of +curiosity concerning Starcus. To him the fellow's conduct was +inexplicable. While his presence among the Sioux was proof that he was +"with them" in thought, intention, and feeling, yet there was the +friendly act of the morning during the struggle with the grizzly, and +his late interference to prevent the warrior from injuring him, which +united to puzzle the captive. + +As has been said, he was too wise to build much hope on these facts, but +nevertheless they raised doubts and questions relating wholly to the +future. + +Would Starcus continue to hold his present enmity to the people that had +been friendly to him? + +While he had been carried away by the frenzy that had driven so many of +his people out of their senses, was not an awakening likely to take +place, when his better nature would resume control? Could he forget +that he had eaten salt with this hapless fellow, and stand by, without +raising hand or voice, when his extremity should come, as come it must, +in a very brief while? + +But these were questions that Tim Brophy could not answer; they must be +left for the immediate future. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. + +THE FRIEND IN NEED. + + +While these lively scenes were taking place, Warren Starr was not idle. +The report of his gun was plainly heard by the other Sioux and the +captive, but the former took it for granted that it was fired by their +comrade, and calmly awaited his return with the news of the death of the +fugitive. + +But as the reader has learned the boot was on the other leg. The youth +was unharmed, and his enemy was of no further account. + +Actuated by the chivalrous wish to help Tim, he began cautiously picking +his way along the slope, at a considerable distance from the base, +peering forward and listening intently for sights and sounds that could +tell him how his companion had fared. + +He had better fortune than he dared expect. The flickering of something +among the trees warned him that he was in a delicate position, and his +farther advance was with the utmost care, accompanied by glances on +every hand, to guard against walking into a trap. + +Very soon he reached a point from which he saw all that was going on. +Tim was standing defiantly among the Sioux, who appeared to be +discussing the question of what to do with him. He identified Starcus, +and recognized also the hapless state of affairs. + +Much as he regretted the conclusion, Warren Starr was forced, in spite +of himself, to see that it was out of his power to raise a finger to +help his friend. For one moment he meditated bringing his Winchester to +his shoulder and opening fire, but at the best he could not hope to +bring down more than two or three before the others would be upon him. +With no possible way of escape open, the situation of Tim would be worse +than before, for one of the first things done by the Sioux would be to +slay him on the spot, whereas they were now likely to spare him for a +time, and so long as he had life, so long did hope remain. + +Warren would have been as eager to befriend the brave fellow as the +latter would have been to aid him; but, as we have said, there was no +dodging the fact that it was out of his power. What, therefore, should +he do for himself and the other loved ones for whom all this danger had +been incurred? + +Where were that father, mother, and little sister? They might be in +equally sore distress, and longer delay on his part perhaps would decide +the question of life or death. + +Stealthily withdrawing again, until well beyond sight of the group, he +began carefully descending the side of the ridge toward the open +prairie. In doing so, he avoided doubling on his own trail, for at any +moment some of the Sioux were liable to start out on a tour of +investigation, which would bring them face to face with him. + +With all his senses on the alert, he threaded his way among the trees +and around the rocks and bowlders, until he stood on the base of the +elevation, with the broad plain, across which he and his friend had fled +in such desperate haste, stretching out before him for many miles. + +But another sight interested him. Along the foot of the ridge were +scattered nearly a dozen Indian ponies, cropping as best they could the +grass, whose tops faintly showed above the thin coating of snow. Their +owners had abandoned them in their haste, without thought of securing +them to any of the limbs, confident that they would be found within +reach when wanted. + +They were tough little animals, without saddle or bridle. The majority +had a blanket roughly secured over the back, with a thong about the +upper part of the neck, which was all that was needed to guide them +wherever their masters willed. + +But there was one animal worth all the rest for whom the eyes of the +youth eagerly searched among the group, scattered at varying distances. +He would have given anything for a sight of his own Jack at that moment. + +To his astonishment, he saw nothing of him. Through some unaccountable +cause, he had vanished as utterly as if he had never existed. + +In the vain hope of discovering him, Warren glanced from one to the +other, until he had surveyed each one several times over. But there was +no mistake; Jack was invisible. + +The fact caused him keen regret, but it would not do to tarry, with the +certainty that the Sioux would soon learn the truth and be after him +like a whirlwind. One or two of their ponies were almost as fleet as +Jack, and Warren was a good enough horseman to ride them as well as +their masters could without saddle. + +Fixing his attention on the best looking animal, which happened also to +be the nearest, he moved briskly toward him, with the purpose of +bounding upon his back and dashing away; but his abruptness defeated his +intention. It frightened the pony, who with a snort threw up his head, +trotted several rods out on the prairie, and then turned and looked at +him. + +The alarm of this animal communicated itself to the others, who also +hurriedly trotted beyond his reach. + +The situation was critical. The action of the ponies was almost certain +to be heard by their owners a short distance off, and they would be +quickly on the spot. If they caught sight of the youth on foot trying to +steal one, his position would be far more hopeless than when among the +rocks and trees. + +Seeing his mistake, Warren tried to right matters by a less abrupt +approach. He dropped to a slow walk, holding out his hand and uttering +soothing words. Had he done this at the beginning, he would have had no +trouble in capturing any horse he desired, but the animals identified +him as a stranger, and continued shy. + +The finest, which he had sought first to catch, closely watched him as +he slowly approached, but at the very moment the heart of the youth was +beating high with hope, he swung his head around and trotted beyond +reach. Warren turned his attention to the one that was nearest, and by a +sudden dash aimed to catch his halter, one end of which was dangling in +the snow. + +As he stooped to grasp the thong, it was whisked from under his hand, +and the pony galloped beyond his reach. + +The bitter disappointment made Warren desperate. He had undertaken an +impossible task. He might succeed had more time been at his command, but +the Sioux were liable to appear any minute. It would not do for him to +be caught in this situation. He must abandon the attempt and get back +among the trees and rocks, where there remained the bare possibility of +eluding the red men. + +"What the mischief has become of Jack?" he muttered, facing about and +breaking into a lope for the ridge. "If he were only in sight, he would +come to me at once. Hello! just what I feared!" + +At that juncture he detected something moving among the trees. It was +not clearly seen, but not doubting that the Sioux were coming, he broke +into a run for cover, not daring to risk a shot until partial shelter +was secured. + +In his affright he did not dare glance to the left even, and held his +breath in thrilling expectancy, certain that with every leap he took he +would be greeted by a volley, or that the Sioux would throw themselves +across his track to shut off all chance of escape. + +That they did not do so was not only unaccountable to him, but gave him +the hope that possibly he might still elude them. Bending his head, he +ran with might and main. The distance was not great, but it seemed +tenfold greater than it was, and a slip of the foot, which came near +bringing him to his knees, filled his heart with despair and made him +certain that he would soon join Tim Brophy. + +He heard his pursuers at his heels. Despite his own fleetness, they were +outspeeding him. Nothing could save him from being overtaken before +reaching the ridge. + +Suddenly a peculiarity in the sound made by those at his rear caused him +abruptly to halt and look around. + +Then, to his unbounded delight and amazement, he recognized his own +pony, Jack, striving hard to keep him company. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. + +THE PRAIRIE DUEL. + + +Warren Starr could have hugged his pony in his transport of delight. +Until a moment before he was sure several of the Sioux were upon him; +when, wheeling about, he was confronted by Jack, whom he had been +desirous of meeting above every other person or animal in the world. + +The action of the horse he understood. On the sudden flight of his +master he had attempted to follow him among the rocks and trees of the +ridge; the Indians, in the flurry of the occasion, paying no attention +to him. Failing, he was making his way back to the open prairie, when +the sight of his master sent him galloping after him; Warren being too +panic-stricken to suspect the truth until he was well-nigh run down by +the faithful animal. + +"Heaven bless you, Jack!" he exclaimed, with glowing face and joyous +heart; "you are in the nick of time." + +Saddle and trappings were unharmed, though the tapering limbs of the +creature had been scratched and cut by his attempt to follow his master. +The youth was in the saddle in a twinkling, and, but for the sad +situation of Tim Brophy, he would have uttered a shout of triumph. + +For in truth he felt safe, even though the hostiles were dangerously +near. Remembering this, he rode farther out from the ridge, and whooped +and swung his arms at the Indian ponies, who dashed still farther out on +the plain. + +It was inevitable that this tumult should become known to the captors of +Tim Brophy. Young Starr expected it, and therefore was not surprised +when he saw the figures of several warriors at the base of the ridge. He +could not forbear swinging his Winchester over his head and taunting +them. They replied with several shots, but the distance was too great +for Warren to feel any alarm. He, too, discharged his gun at the group, +and acted as if he meant to challenge them to come out and attack him. + +If such were his intentions, the challenge was accepted. Several +warriors ran out on the prairie, calling to their ponies, in order that +they might mount and take up the pursuit. Their action caused the youth +no alarm, for the test of speed had already been made, and he feared +none of the Indian animals. + +The latter may have been under good discipline when their masters were +astride of them, but they showed anything but obedience now that they +were free from their control. They kept trotting about in circles, and +avoided the warriors with a persistency that must have been exasperating +to them. + +Only one displayed consideration for his master. He was among the +fleetest, and after some coy dallying he stood still until the athletic +Sioux came beside him. He vaulted upon his back, and then accepted the +seeming challenge of the youth. + +The latter had checked his steed at a safe distance on the snowy plain, +and confronted the Indian party. Looking beyond the warrior nearest him, +he strove to catch sight of Tim Brophy; but he was too far off, and the +trees interfered with his vision. Before he could continue the scrutiny +long, the mounted Sioux demanded his attention. + +Prudence would have suggested that now, since young Starr was well +mounted, he should take no chances, but scurry away at the top of his +speed, leaving the discomfited warrior to nurse his chagrin over the +clever trick played upon him. + +But the young rancher saw no reason why he should flee from a single +buck, no better mounted or armed than himself. He had had enough +experience in the Northwest to understand those people well, and thought +he knew how to take care of himself. No, he would fight him; and now +opened a most extraordinary prairie duel between Warren Starr and his +dusky enemy. + +The youth glanced at his Winchester, and saw that it was all right, as +was the case with his revolver. His saddle was firmly cinched in place, +Jack was at his best, and what cared he for a single Indian, even though +he was a warrior that had taken the scalp of more than one unoffending +pioneer! + +Jack stood as motionless as a statue, with his nose toward his enemy. A +gentle wind blowing across the prairie lifted his luxuriant mane +slightly from his neck and swung his heavy tail to one side. His head +was high, and the nostrils seemed to breathe defiance to the dusky foe, +who approached at a swinging gallop, as though he meant to ride down the +animal and rider. + +But he held no such intention. The Sioux required no one to tell him +that that stationary figure, sitting so firmly in his saddle, meant to +fight. + +While more than a hundred yards still separated the combatants the Sioux +horseman wheeled to the right, and, without checking his speed, started +to describe a long circle around the youth. The latter spoke softly to +Jack, who slowly turned, so as to keep his head continually pointed +toward the enemy. Evidently the animal understood the situation, and was +competent to do his part. + +The Sioux at the base of the ridge had given over their effort for the +time to capture their ponies. All their attention was centred on the two +horsemen out on the prairie. + +As yet the Indian made no move to fire. Warren was looking for him to +throw himself over the side of his animal, and aim from under his neck, +screening his own body meanwhile from the bullet of the young rancher. +Instead of doing so, however, he described a complete circle about +Warren, coming back to his starting point, while Jack continued to move +around, as if on a pivot, keeping his head always facing his foe. + +The warrior was starting on his second round, when, without any +perceptible movement, he discharged his gun. Warren saw the blue puff of +smoke, the report sounding dull and far away in the wintry air. + +The bullet did not pass nigh enough for him to be aware how close it +was. It would seem that the Indian ought to have done better, for it was +noticeable from where Warren sat that in completing his circle he had +shortened it, and was now several rods nearer than when he set out to +circumnavigate him. + +"It is no more than fair to return the compliment," thought Warren, +raising his Winchester, taking careful aim, and pulling the trigger. +Truth compels us to say, however, that his shot went as wide of the mark +as the one aimed at him. Thus far honors were equal between them. + +The Sioux continued his trip around the central object, though what he +expected or hoped to accomplish by this curious proceeding was more than +his antagonist could conjecture. + +The advantage during the performance possibly was with young Starr; for, +by keeping the nose of Jack pointed toward the other he offered the +least possible target to the foe, while the course of the Indian +compelled him to hold his pony broadside, himself remaining a +conspicuous object on his back. + +"I think I can shorten this business," reflected Starr, "by another shot +or two. I am standing still, and if I can't bring that fellow off his +horse I'm of little account." + +But the Sioux was more watchful than he suspected. Hardly was the +Winchester raised when, presto! the warrior disappeared. He had flung +himself far on the other side of his pony, and was capable of +maintaining that situation while making the circuit of the youth. + +The latter held his fire. He was confident of being able to hit the +other animal, but to his mind that would be taking a dishonorable +advantage, though none knew better than he that he was dealing with an +enemy to whom treachery was a cardinal virtue. + +The horse showed no decrease of his speed, but continued galloping +forward with the easy swing shown by the trained circus animal when an +equestrian is giving an exhibition. That the rider, from his position on +the other side of his body, with his moccason extended over the spine of +the animal, was keeping close watch of the youth the latter did not need +to be told. + +He must have seen Warren, after holding his weapon levelled for a +moment, lower it again, disappointed at the vanishing target. The next +moment the Sioux discharged his weapon. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. + +ON THE GROUND. + + +The aim of the warrior was better than before, and though it was not +fatal, it came startlingly near being so. The bullet nipped the ear of +the pony, and cut through the coat of Warren Starr; grazing his shoulder +in the passage. + +There could be no question that the red man was in dead earnest, and +that when he discharged his rifle he meant to kill. + +It must not be supposed there was any holding back on the part of the +youth; he was equally resolved that, if the chance were given, he would +do his best to bring his antagonist from the back of his horse. + +The Sioux resumed his circling course, gradually drawing nearer the +young man, who continued as alert as at the first; ready to take +advantage of any opening that presented itself. + +Suddenly the red man wheeled his pony in the opposite direction, +doubling on his own course. This compelled him to swing over to the +other side in order to continue his use of the animal as a shield. He +executed the movement with wonderful deftness, but a singular condition +was against him. + +Young Starr had just formed the decision that the best, if indeed not +the only thing he could do, was to shoot the steed of his foe. This was +easy, and with the Indian dismounted he would be at a great +disadvantage, though likely still to use the body of his animal as a +guard against the marksmanship of his enemy; but the latter counted on +the flurry giving him his opportunity. + +Thus it happened that at the moment the Winchester was at Warren's +shoulder, and his eye was ranging along the barrel, he caught a glimpse +of the dusky body in the act of whisking over that of the pony. The +glimpse was only momentary, but under the peculiar conditions it was +just what was needed. The youth fired, and with such accuracy that the +warrior lunged over his steed, and sprawled in the snow on the other +side. + +The released animal threw up his head with a snort, and trotted toward +the ridge as if he, too, had felt the sting of the bullet and was +hastening away from a possible repetition. + +The sight of the Indian on the ground told the youth of the success of +his shot, but it did not lead him to do anything rash, as would have +been natural in the flush of triumph. The Sioux was not yet killed, and +was still capable of mischief. + +Warren rode rapidly a few yards toward him, and then brought Jack to an +abrupt halt. He had seen something suspicious in the actions of his +enemy. + +"Is he shamming?" was the question he asked himself, as he leaned +forward, carefully keeping the head and neck of Jack in front of his +body, and on the alert against a treacherous shot. + +The Sioux seemed to have fallen on his side, with his face turned partly +away from the youth. With surprising quickness he shifted his position +so as to confront the horseman, and still lay prostrate in the snow, as +if unable to rise. + +There might be a sinister meaning to this. The pretence of being +mortally disabled was an old one with his people, as many a white man +has learned when too late. If he were trying the artifice in the present +instance, he did it skilfully. + +Under the belief that he was powerless to inflict further harm, nothing +was more natural than that the youth should ride forward with the +purpose of giving him his quietus, disregarding his own safety until a +bullet through the body should apprise him of his fatal oversight. It +was this fear that checked Warren in the very nick of time. + +The one great obstacle in the way of the Sioux successfully playing this +ruse was that he was in open view, where no movement on his part could +be concealed. Were it in the wood, with rocks and trees at his command, +the chances would have been far better for him. + +Warren Starr kept his eye fixed on him. It would have been easy, while +seated on his own pony, to drive a ball through the miscreant, who was +fully exposed to his fire, but it might be after all that he was badly +wounded and unable to defend himself. If such were the case he could not +commit the cruelty of firing at him again, even though the Sioux would +have eagerly seized such a chance against a foe. + +It was for the purpose of learning the truth in the matter that Warren +watched him with the utmost closeness, holding his own weapon ready to +use the instant the other made a hostile demonstration. + +The action or rather inaction of the other Sioux at the base of the +ridge was suggestive, and increased the suspicion of the young rancher. +They were in a direct line with the one on the ground, so that Warren +readily saw them without withdrawing his attention from his immediate +antagonist. + +Instead of rushing out to the help of the latter they remained where +they were, and continued the role of spectators. This looked as if they +did not believe the fellow was in need of assistance, and they were +simply waiting with confidence in the result of the piece of treacherous +cunning. + +The warrior with his left hand drew his rifle round to the front. The +weapon was a magazine one like Warren's, and it was one, therefore, of +which it would not do to lose sight. + +The gun being in position for use, the owner, apparently with +difficulty, raised the upper part of his body, so that it was supported +on the left elbow. Then he essayed to call the right hand into play, but +appeared to find a difficulty in doing so. + +Up to this moment Warren Starr had been trying to learn in what manner +the fellow was wounded. The motion of his lower limbs showed no +weakness, though it might have been there without appearing, so long as +he held his prone position and did not call them into use. + +The action now indicated that his right arm was the one that had +suffered, since it fumbled awkwardly and refused to give the needed help +when called upon. + +Still all this might be pretence, intended to deceive the youth into +uncovering himself. Warren did not lose sight of that probability. + +The action of the Sioux was precisely what it would have been had he, +knowing that he was confronted by a merciless enemy, done his utmost, +while badly wounded in the right arm, to bring his weapon to bear upon +him. There was no hesitation or trouble with the left arm, but it was +the other which, from appearances, refused to answer the call upon it. + +It was seen to move aimlessly about, but still was unable to help in +aiming, and the hand could not manipulate the trigger--an impotence +which, if actual, was fatal. + +But who can trust an Indian? Knowing that his slightest action could not +escape the keen eyes of the youthful horseman a short distance away, was +he not likely to direct every movement with the purpose of deceiving +him? + +The truth must show itself soon; but be it what it might, Warren Starr +had the comforting belief that he was master of the situation. He was +unharmed, with his ready Winchester in such position that he could use +it like a flash. As yet the Sioux had not brought himself to the point +of aiming, and Warren was watching him so closely that he could +anticipate his firing. He was resolved that the instant he attempted to +shoot he would let fly, and end the singular prairie duel. + +It has taken considerable time to make all this clear, but the incidents +from the fall of the Sioux to the close occupied but a few minutes. + +Young Starr spoke in a low voice to his pony, who began moving slowly +toward the prostrate Indian, the rider holding his weapon ready as +before. Jack took short and very deliberate steps, for he did not like +the appearance of things. A man lying on the ground is always a +disquieting object to a horse, and this one had already felt the sting +of the Indian's anger when the bullet clipped a tiny speck out of his +ear. Warren Starr was resolved to learn the truth, and he did so before +Jack had advanced a dozen steps. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. + +A GOOD SAMARITAN. + + +The young rancher was yet some distance from the prostrate foe, when his +quick eye discovered something. It was a crimson stain on the snow near +the stock of the Indian's rifle. + +The miscreant was wounded; he was not shamming. + +It was remarkable that with this discovery came an utter revulsion of +feeling on the part of the youth. While he had been ready up to that +moment to drive his bullet through the bronzed skull, an emotion of pity +now took possession of him. He forgot that the fellow had tried with +desperate endeavor to take his life, and he knew he expected no mercy at +his hands. Nevertheless, as a Christian, he could not withhold his +sympathy, nor could he forget that simple but sublime role of the good +Samaritan. + +Touching his heels against the ribs of Jack, the pony increased his +pace, but had not yet reached the prostrate figure when Warren +experienced the greatest surprise of all. + +The Indian on the ground was Starcus! + +The next moment young Starr dropped from his saddle, and was bending +over him. + +"I hardly expected this, Starcus," he said, with a gentle reproof in his +voice. "You seem to have changed your mind since this morning, when you +shot the grizzly." + +Indian though he was the fellow's painted face was darkened by an +expression of deep pain, whether the result of his hurt or of his mental +disquietude no one can say. + +"I am not your friend; I am the enemy of all white men." + +"You have proven that since you turned against those who would do you no +harm. But I have no wish to reproach you; your arm is badly hurt; let me +give you what help I can." + +"I want no help," replied the Sioux, resolutely compressing his thin +lips; "go away and leave me alone." + +"I shall not; I am your master, and shall do as I please with you." + +"I tell you to leave me alone; I do not want your help," added Starcus +fiercely. + +"You shan't hinder me, old fellow; this is for old times." + +And paying no heed to the sufferer, who struggled with pitiful +awkwardness to keep him off, Starr ripped a piece from the lining of his +coat, and began bandaging the bleeding arm. The Sioux still resisted, +but while doing so showed a weakness rare in one of his race by fainting +dead away. + +The youth made no effort to revive him until he had completed his hasty +but rude swathing of the arm, which was badly shattered by a bullet. +Then he flung some snow in the face of the fellow, who had already shown +signs of coming to. + +Starcus looked around for a moment in a bewildered way, and then fixed +his gaze on the wounded member, now bound so that the flow of blood was +stopped. Then he turned his dark eyes on the face of the youth bending +over him, with an indescribable expression, and said in a low voice: + +"I tried my best to kill you, Warren." + +"But you didn't; and I am unharmed, and am your friend." + +"And why are you my friend? I do not deserve it," continued the Sioux, +with his black eyes still centred on the face of the athletic youth. + +"If you and I had what we deserved where would we be? Give it no further +thought." + +Starcus now held his peace for a full minute, during which he never once +removed his gaze from the countenance of the good Samaritan. Strange +thoughts must have passed through his brain. When he spoke it was in a +voice as gentle as a girl's. + +"Can you forgive me for what I have done?" + +"With my whole heart." + +"But I tried my best to kill you." + +"Are you sorry?" + +"Yes, sorry as I can be." + +"Then I repeat, I forgive you; but are you able to rise to your feet?" + +"Yes; I pretended I was not, so as to bring you closer to me. Had not my +arm been hurt I would have shot you." + +"I am not sure of that," replied Warren, with a curious smile; "I +suspected it, and was on my guard. At the first move on your part I +would have fired. I was not sure even that you were hurt at all until I +saw blood on the snow. But it will not do for you to stay here. Let me +help you to your feet." + +Starcus proved that the rest of his limbs were uninjured by coming as +nimbly as an acrobat to an upright posture. + +"You have done all you can for me, and I thank you; now do not wait any +longer." + +"Why not?" asked Warren, suspecting his meaning, but desirous of testing +him a little further. + +"Look toward the ridge," was the significant reply. + +The inaction of the other Sioux, as has been intimated, was due to their +belief that Starcus was master of the situation. Even when they saw him +pitch from the back of his pony they must have thought it a part of the +strategy designed to lure the young man to his death. + +But the sight of the youth bending over the prostrate figure of their +comrade told the truth. Starcus had been wounded, and was at the mercy +of his conqueror. + +Much as the warriors were disappointed, they were not the ones to allow +the brave fellow to be killed without an effort on their part to save +him. + +Warren had suspected the truth, and, while seeming to be unaware of it, +he observed several of the warriors running at full speed from the ridge +out on the snowy prairie. They were still a goodly distance away, and he +calculated just how far it was prudent to allow them to approach before +appealing to Jack, standing within a few paces and awaiting his +pleasure. + +He was hoping for just such a warning from Starcus as he had received. +He wanted it as a "guarantee of good faith," and when it came all doubts +of the sincerity of his repentance were gone. + +Still, although this particular Sioux might feel gratitude for the +undeserved mercy shown to him, there was no hope of anything of that +nature from his companions. Had Warren counted upon that, he would have +made the mistake of his life. He and his friend had done the bucks too +much ill to be forgiven for an act of kindness to one of their number, +even though it was actuated by a motive whose nobility they could not +fail to understand. + +"That is kind of you, to warn me of my danger," remarked the youth. "I +shall not forget it. But they are so far off that I need not hurry to +mount my horse." + +"Do not wait too long; they will soon be here." + +"I have my pony, and they are on foot." + +"But they can run fast." + +"I will leave in time; but, Starcus, if you are really a friend of mine, +you have the chance to prove it by being a friend of Tim; he is a +prisoner with your people, and in need of your good offices." + +"I cannot help him," was the reply, accompanied by a shake of the head. + +"I only ask that you shall do what you can; I am sure you will, whether +it results in good to him or not." + +"Give yourself no hope of that; it will be hard for me to explain why I +was spared by you." + +"But that was my own affair; surely they cannot suspect us of any +collusion." + +"You do not know my people as I do." + +"But I am not the first white man that has shown mercy to a helpless +foe; they know that as well as you and I." + +"You are waiting too long, Warren; they will soon be here," added the +warrior, with an apprehensive glance toward the ridge, from which his +people were approaching with alarming swiftness. + +"Well, good-by, Starcus." + +He grasped the left hand of the Sioux, who warmly returned the pressure +with the words, "Good-by, Warren." + +Then Warren Starr, not a moment too soon, sprang into the saddle and +galloped away. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. + +THE LONE HORSEMAN. + + +The young rancher had calculated matters closely, for hardly was he in +the saddle when the foremost of the running Sioux halted, raised his +gun, and fired. He was nigh enough to make his shot dangerous, though +providentially it did no ill. + +It was an inviting chance for Warren to return the fire with the best +prospect of doing so effectively. But he had no disposition to slay any +one of the hostiles. His singular experience with Starcus had a +softening effect, and he was resolved to attempt no injury against the +men unless compelled to do it in actual self-defence. + +Jack, being put to his best paces, quickly carried him beyond any +further peril, and when far enough to feel safe he checked the pony and +looked back. + +He saw half a dozen Sioux gathered around the wounded Starcus, +evidently in conversation. Being strong in his lower limbs, and with his +wounded arm bandaged as well as it could be, he required no attention or +help from them. After all, knowing the buck had been a close friend of +the young rancher, they must have seen nothing remarkable in the mercy +that had been shown to him. White men are as capable of meanness and +cruelty as the Indians, but few of them disregard the laws of honorable +warfare, and still fewer are deaf to the cry of a hapless foe. + +A few minutes later the group moved slowly back in the direction of the +ridge. A couple, however, drew off, and began a more systematic hunt of +the ponies that had shown such a fondness for their freedom. They +managed matters with such skill that they soon coaxed a couple of the +fleetest back to captivity. With the aid of these they soon corralled +the others, and the party gathered with their animals at the base of the +ridge. + +Warren Starr remained at a safe distance for the greater part of an +hour, in the hope of learning something of the intentions of the Sioux. +But they gave no sign that he could understand. The ponies were in plain +sight near the trees, and he caught glimpses of their owners moving back +and forth, but nothing could be learned as to what it all meant. + +He now debated what he should next do. He was free, well mounted, and at +liberty to follow his own judgment. + +His immediate anxiety was concerning Tim Brophy. He knew he was in the +most perilous strait of his life; Warren's parents might be as badly +situated, but he had no knowledge of the fact. He therefore hoped for +the best concerning them. But if there was any way of helping his friend +it was beyond his power to discover it. He was a prisoner in the hands +of a dozen watchful and treacherous Sioux, who were not likely to give +him the least chance of escape, and any attempt on the part of Warren to +befriend him would not only be utterly useless, but would imperil his +own life. + +He had appealed to Starcus to make the effort, but Warren saw the force +of the Indian's declaration that it was beyond his power. He was +wounded himself, and at the first move to interfere in behalf of the +captive, who had killed one of their best warriors and badly bruised a +couple, would be likely to bring down their vengeance upon his own head. +Distressing as was the conclusion, there was no escaping it--he must +turn his back on his devoted comrade. Warren accepted the situation like +a martyr, and had decided to continue his search for his folks, of whose +whereabouts he had only the vaguest idea. + +Two lines of action presented themselves, and there was much to be said +in favor of and against both. By sharp riding he could reach Fort Meade +before sunset, and there whatever help he might need would be cheerfully +given by the commandant. Under the guidance of the friendly Indian +scouts, they could search for the rancher and his family; and their +knowledge of the people, as well as the country, would render such +search far more effective than any by the youth, without taking into +account the force that would insure safety instantly on such discovery. + +But this plan involved considerable time, with the certainty that his +folks must spend another night in imminent peril--a night that he could +not help believing was to prove the decisive one. + +Knowing nothing of the death of Jared Plummer, Warren hoped that he was +with his father, despite the gloomy prophecy of Tim Brophy. If the young +rancher could join them, the party would be considerable, and ought to +hold its own against any band of Indians such as were roaming through +the country. Besides, all would be well mounted and prepared for flight +whenever advisable. + +These and other considerations, which it is not necessary to name, +decided the youth to make further search for his folks before riding to +Fort Meade. + +One fact caused him no little speculation. It will be remembered that +the approach of himself and Tim to the ridge was caused by the discovery +of a thin column of smoke climbing into the sky from a more elevated +portion than that attained by themselves or the Sioux with whom they had +had the stirring encounter. + +He did not forget, either, that the red men with whom they had exchanged +shots, and from whom he had escaped by the narrowest chance conceivable, +appeared from the opposite direction. Neither then, nor at any time +since, had anything occurred to explain the meaning of the vapor that +had arrested their attention when miles away. + +If it had been kindled by Sioux or brother hostiles, why had they not +appeared and taken a hand in the lively proceedings? Abundant time was +given, and if they were there they ought to have met the fugitives at +the close of their desperate chase, when they sprang from the back of +Jack and dashed among the trees on foot. + +It was these questions which caused the youth to suspect that the fire +might have been started by his father. True, he had expressed a +disbelief in this view when given by Tim, but that was before the later +phase had dawned upon him. + +It looked like a rash act on the part of the rancher, if he had +performed it, but there might be excuse for his appealing to the signal +that he had employed in a former instance to apprise his son of his +location. + +Speculation and guessing, however, could go on forever without result. +There was but one way of learning the truth, and that was to investigate +for himself. + +Prudence demanded that the Sioux at the base of the ridge should be +given no inkling of his intention; and, in order to prevent it, a long +detour was necessary to take him out of their field of vision. + +Accordingly he turned so as to follow a course parallel to the ridge, +and breaking into a swift canter kept it up until, when he turned in the +saddle and looked back, not the first sign of the hostiles was visible. + +He was now miles distant, too far to return on foot, even had he felt +inclined to abandon Jack and try it alone. He rode close to the base of +the ridge, whose curving course was favorable, and facing about started +back toward the point he had left after his survey of the party that +held Tim Brophy a prisoner. + +He did not believe there was any special danger in this, for he had only +to maintain a sharp lookout to detect the Sioux, if they happened to be +journeying in that direction. The broad stretch of open plain gave him +every chance he could ask to turn the fleetness of Jack to the best +account: and he feared no pursuit that could be made, where he was +granted anything like a chance. + +His purpose was to approach as near the spot as was prudent, provided +they remained where he last saw them, and then, dismounting, penetrate +nigh enough to learn the meaning of the smoke which was such an +interesting fact to him. The task was a difficult one, for it was more +than probable that by the time he reached the neighborhood of the signal +fire it would be extinguished; for certainly his father would not +continue the display after it had failed in its purpose, and the +appearance of the hostiles showed him that it was liable to do more harm +than good. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. + +A BREAK FOR FREEDOM. + + +Accustomed as are the Sioux to scenes of violence, it is not probable +that any members of the party to whom we have been referring ever looked +upon a sight so remarkable as the prairie duel between Starcus and the +young rancher. + +This Indian, who had come among his native people in the hope of staying +the tide of frenzy sweeping through the tribe, was himself carried away +by the craze, and from a peaceable, well-educated youth became among the +most violent of those that arrayed themselves against the white man. + +It was one of the better impulses of his nature that led him to fire the +shot when Tim Brophy was in such danger from the grizzly bear; but, as +he afterward confessed, it was no sooner done than he reproached himself +for not having turned his weapon against the two youths for whom he had +once entertained a strong friendship. + +When the headlong Irishman started toward him, Starcus hurried away, and +not only joined a band of prowling hostiles, but told them of the lads, +and joined in a scheme to capture and hold them as hostages for several +turbulent Sioux then in the hands of the Government authorities. Knowing +them as well as he did, he formed the plan of stealing up behind them, +while they were riding across the snowy prairie, and the partial success +of the plan has been shown. + +His comrades watched the opening and progress of the strange duel with +no misgiving as to the results. They saw how a run of wonderful fortune +had helped the young rancher, but now, when something like equality +existed between the combatants, the superiority of the American over the +Caucasian race must manifest itself. + +As events progressed the interest of the spectators deepened. They +descended to the edge of the plain, where the view was unobstructed, +leaving but a solitary warrior guarding the prisoner. The solicitude of +the latter for his friend was as intense as it could be, for he could +not be sure of the result until the end. He feared that Warren Starr was +committing the same rashness for which he had often chided him. + +The view from the rocks through the intervening trees was so imperfect +that it grew to be exasperating, but there seemed to be no help for it. + +The warrior in charge of Tim Brophy was expected to give his full +attention to him, but as events progressed there was danger of his +forgetting this duty. He began to look more to the singular contest than +to his captive. + +This Indian was standing on his feet, leaning forward, and peering as +best he could between the trees and the obstructing limbs. Tim was +seated on a bowlder at his side, and until this moment was the target of +a pair of eyes that would have detected the slightest movement on his +part. + +The Irishman was quick to observe that by the strange trend of events a +golden opportunity had or was about to come to him. The warrior seemed +to forget him entirely, though, like all his people, he would be +recalled with lightning quickness on hearing or seeing anything amiss. + +Surely no such chance could come again. Convinced of this, Tim seized it +with the rush of a hurricane. + +Rising quickly and noiselessly to his feet he delivered a blow as quick +as a flash under the ear of the Sioux, which stretched him like a dead +man on his face. + +There had been no noise, and in the excitement of the occasion the +Indians at the base of the ridge were not likely to learn what had taken +place until the revival of the senseless warrior, who was not likely to +become of any account for several minutes. + +Tim needed no urging to improve his opportunity. Facing the top of the +ridge, he started off with a single desire of getting over the rough +ground as fast as possible. + +He had taken but a few steps, however, when he abruptly stopped. + +"Begorra!" he muttered, "but what a forgitful spalpeen is Tim Brophy!" + +He had no rifle. That would never do, when pursuit was inevitable in a +short time. Accordingly, he turned about, ran to the prostrate figure, +and took the gun from his grasp. It was not as good as his own, but +inasmuch as that was in the possession of one of the others it was +beyond recovery. + +It seemed cruel, but to make matters safe the Irishman gave the +prostrate fellow a second vigorous blow, from which he was certain not +to recover for a considerable while. + +"I hate to hit a man whin he is down," he reflected. "If I meets him +ag'in I'll ax his pardon." + +It was no time to indulge in sentiment, and he was off once more. + +Some strange fate directed his steps, without his noticing the fact, +along the trail made by Warren Starr in his first hurried flight. Thus +it was that he came upon the other warrior that had been outwitted by +the youth whom he was so confident of capturing. + +Urgent as was his hurry, the fugitive paused a moment to contemplate the +sight. Then with a sigh he hurried forward, for not a moment was to be +lost. + +It was remarkable that, after having captured the young man with so much +difficulty, they should have invited him to escape, as they virtually +did by their action, but the circumstances themselves were exceptional. +The like could not happen again. + +It was the same curious turn of events that extended his opportunity. It +is rare, indeed, that, after a captive does make a break for freedom, he +is allowed such a period in which to secure it; but here again the +unparalleled series of incidents favored him. + +There had been no outcry on the part of the third victim to Tim Brophy's +good right arm. But for the forgetfulness of the youth in starting off +without his gun, the fellow would have recovered speedily and made an +outcry that must have brought several of his confederates to the spot. + +But events were interesting beyond compare out on the prairie. All the +Sioux but the one named were watching them, and when they saw the plight +of Starcus there was a general rush to his assistance. The return was +slow, being retarded by the efforts of several to capture their +wandering ponies. When they succeeded in doing this and coming back to +the edge of the plains, the better part of half an hour had passed. + +The first startling recollection that came to the party after this +return was the fact that the warrior who had pursued the young rancher +up the side of the ridge had not put in an appearance. They would have +awakened to this fact long before but for the affair between Warren +Starr and Starcus. Now that it was impressed upon them, and they +recalled the report of the gun that reached them long ago, together with +the reappearance of the young rancher on the back of his pony, they +could not fail to see the suspicious aspect of things. + +There was a hasty consultation at the base of the ridge, and then the +man who was really the leader ordered a couple of his warriors to lose +no time in learning the truth. As eager as he to investigate, they set +out without delay, but had not gone far when one of them uttered a cry +which brought the whole party to the spot. + +A striking scene greeted them. The white prisoner was gone, and the +Indian left in charge lay on his face like one dead. His gun was +missing. Strange proceedings had taken place during the absence of the +party. + +It took but a few minutes to learn the truth. It was easy to see that +the interest of the guard in the incidents on the plain had caused him +to forget his duty for the time. The Irishman had suddenly assailed him +with that terrible right arm of his, and felled him senseless to the +ground. + +The recipient of this attention was not dead, but he felt as though he +wished he was, when he was helped to a sitting position, and was +compelled not only to suffer the pain of the terrific blows received, +but had to face the jeering looks of his companions, who could forgive +anything sooner than the outwitting of a full-grown warrior by a trick +which ought not to have deceived a child. + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. + +COMRADES AGAIN. + + +Actuated by his resolution to learn the real meaning of the signal fire +seen on the crest of the ridge, Warren Starr pushed on in the face of +the fact that every rod in the way of advance increased his own peril. +Studying the contour of the country, and carefully making his +calculations, he was able to tell when he drew near the scene of his +stirring encounter with the war party of Sioux. Deeming it unsafe to +ride farther, he drew his pony aside, and, dismounting, led him among +the rocks and trees, until he was beyond sight of anyone passing over +the open country. He did not forget that a plain trail was left, which +would serve as an unerring guide to those hostiles who might come upon +it, but that was one of the risks of the undertaking which could not be +avoided. + +"Now, Jack, my boy, I want you to stay right here till I come back +again," he said, in parting from the animal. "You have been faithful and +have served me well, and I can depend upon you, for you are sure to do +the best you can." + +There could be no doubt on that point, and without any more delay he +left the creature and began toiling up the ascent, his Winchester firmly +in his grasp, and as alert as ever for the sudden appearance of his +enemies. + +An astounding surprise was at hand. + +He had penetrated but a short distance from his starting point when he +became aware that someone else was in the vicinity. He caught only a +flitting glimpse of a person, who, descrying him at the same instant, +whisked behind a bowlder for protection. Warren was equally prompt, and +the two dodged out of each other's sight in a twinkling. + +"If there is only one Indian," reflected the young rancher, "I ought to +be able to take care of myself--great Heavens!" + +The exclamation was caused by the sight of Tim Brophy, who stepped from +behind the shelter and walked toward him. + +Young Starr was astounded, and believed for a minute that his friend had +been put forward as a decoy, and that his captors were immediately +behind him. But that dread was removed the next moment by the appearance +of the young Irishman, who, advancing jauntily, called out in his cheery +voice: + +"It's all roight, me boy! None of the spalpeens are here, and it's +mesilf that would like to shake ye by the hand." + +That the two warmly grasped hands and greeted each other need not be +stated. Even then Warren could only murmur: + +"Why, Tim, this is the greatest surprise of my life! Where in the name +of the seven wonders did you come from? and how came you to give them +the slip?" + +"It was that which helped me out," replied the other, holding up his +clenched fist; "it b'ats all other wippons whin ye git into a tight +corner." + +Not until the fellow had told his story could the other comprehend the +amazing truth. Then he saw how a marvellous combination of +circumstances had helped him, and how cleverly the quick-witted youth +had turned them to account. + +"I must shake hands with you again," responded the delighted Warren. "I +never knew of anything more remarkable." + +"Ye didn't think ye could give me any hilp," chuckled Tim, "but ye did +it all the same." + +"How?" + +"Haven't I told ye that the little circus ye opened out on the plain +drew away all the spalpeens but the single one lift to look after me? +And don't ye understand that ye made things so interesting that he +forgot me until I reminded him I was there by giving him a welt under +the ear that he won't forgit in a dog's age?" + +"I see; but I never dreamed of any such result as that." + +"Nor did I, but it came all the same, and sarved me as will as if ye had +fixed up the whole business." + +Noticing the strange weapon in his hand Warren referred to it, and then +received the whole story. + +"Well, it beats anything I ever heard of. Jack isn't far off, and we can +use him as we did before." + +"And may I ask what ye are doing here so close to the spalpeens, whin ye +ought to be miles away?" + +"I set out to learn whether that fire whose smoke we saw was started by +father or not. I didn't think so when you and I were talking it over, +but can't rid myself of the suspicion till I find out for myself." + +Tim nodded his head, and said: + +"Yis; it was Mr. Starr that did it." + +"How can you know that?" + +"I've been there, and found out," was the surprising reply. + +"Where are he and mother now?" + +"Can't say; I'm looking for them. Whin I give the spalpeens the slip I +did the best travelling I knew how, and without thinking of anything but +getting away as quick as I could I coom right onto the spot where the +fire had been burning. It hadn't gone out yit, but it was so nearly so +that it give no smoke. Looking around it did not take me long to l'arn +that two horses had been there----" + +"They had three with them, as you told me." + +"But they have only two now. I wouldn't have been sartin of the matter +if I hadn't seen the print of yer mother's small shoe in the snow, and +while I was looking I obsarved that of Dot, no bigger than Cinderella +hersilf might have made." + +Warren was profoundly interested, and tears dimmed his eyes. + +"Was there no man with father?" + +"I couldn't see any footprints except his." + +"Then it has been as you said: Plummer was killed by the Sioux. But +surely you noticed the direction they took?" + +"I did that same, and was following their trail whin I cotched sight of +yersilf among the trees, and coom nigh shooting ye before asking for an +inthrodooction." + +"Then they have passed nigh this spot?" asked the startled son. + +Tim partly turned and pointed behind him. + +"Right beyant is the thracks made by thimsilves and their animals, for +the ground won't admit of their riding." + +"I wish it were otherwise," remarked Warren thoughtfully, "for I have +had the hope that they might be so near the fort as to be safe. They are +not, but we ought to join them quite soon. But, Tim," added his friend, +as if alarmed by a new fear, "the Sioux must have learned of your flight +long ago, and are now on your trail." + +"I must say that I'm forced to agree wid ye," was the reply of the +Irishman, spoken as though the question was of trifling import. + +"It won't do for us to stay here. They are liable to appear at any +moment," and the alarmed youth glanced apprehensively around, as if he +expected to see the whole party of hostiles burst through upon them. + +"Jack is strong enough to carry us a long way," he added, "and since he +is close at hand I can lead him out on the open plain, where we shall +gain such a good start that there will be little chance of their +overtaking us." + +"No doubt ye are corrict." + +"Then let's do it without throwing away another moment." + +He turned hurriedly to carry out his own purpose, when his comrade laid +his hand on his arm and detained him. + +"I think, Warry," he said, in a low voice, "that ye've forgot one +matter--yer fayther, mither, and Dot." + +"Gracious! how came I to do that? Here I set out to hunt for them, and +when they were as good as found I turn my back upon them, and think only +of my own safety." + +"Ye are excoosable, since ye have been upsit by the thrifling +occurrences that have been going on this day." + +"Take me to the spot where you left their trail," added Warren, with +unusual excitement, "and we'll never leave it until we join them; we +shall escape or die together." + +The youths moved like those who knew that the question of life and death +must be settled within a few minutes. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI. + +THE LAST HOPE. + + +The young ranchers had to go but a short distance, when they struck the +trail left by their friends. The snow rendered it so distinct that the +first glance told the story. Warren saw the track made by the feet of +his father, mother, and little Dot. The consciousness that he was so +near them profoundly affected the son. + +"There are several strange things about this," he remarked to Tim, +halting for a minute before taking up the search in earnest; "we found +it almost impossible for a horse to clamber up the ridge, and yet their +two ponies have been to the very crest." + +"That's because they found an easy way to do it from the ither side," +was the sensible comment of Tim Brophy. + +"Of course, but father is away off the track. More than half a day has +passed since he left home, and he is hardly a quarter of the way to +Fort Meade." + +"He is just as near as we are, and he didn't start any sooner," was the +significant remark of Tim Brophy. + +"But that was his destination when he set out, while our business has +been to find him." + +"With no moon or stars to guide him last night, what means had he of +keeping to the right coorse?" + +The question gave its own answer. The cause of this wandering was so +self-evident that Warren Starr would not have asked it had he not been +in such a state of mental agitation as a person feels when certain he is +on the eve of some critical event. + +Reasoning with something like his usual coolness, the young rancher +thought he saw the explanation of other matters which had puzzled him, +but he bestowed little thought upon them, for his whole ambition for the +time was to reach his parents. + +The trail which they were following led toward the open prairie, left by +Warren but a short time before. It was evident that Mr. Starr was +making for that, for their animals could not serve them so long as they +continued in this rough section. + +"If I had been a little later," reflected the son, "I would have met +them. That I did not proves that they cannot be far off." + +He was tempted to call or whistle, but that would have been rash, for if +there was any one point on which he was certain, it was that the +hostiles were hot on the trail of Tim Brophy. The real peril was from +that direction, and several times he reminded the Irishman of the fact, +though he needed not the warnings. + +A short distance farther and both stopped with an exclamation of dismay. +The report of a weapon sounded from a point only a little way ahead. + +"That was not a rifle," said Warren, turning his white face on his +companion; "it was a pistol." + +"Ye are corrict." + +"And it was fired by father." + +"I'm sure ye are right." + +"They have been attacked! come on! They need our help!" + +The youth dashed ahead, clambering over bowlders, darting around rocks, +ducking his head to avoid the limbs, stumbling, but instantly regaining +his feet, only intent on getting forward with the utmost possible speed. + +His companion found it hard work to keep up with him, but fortunately +they had not far to run. Without the least warning of what was coming +Warren Starr burst upon his astonished parents and little Dot, the rush +being so impetuous that the rancher had his Winchester half raised to +fire before he understood. + +At the feet of Mr. Starr lay the mare dead, killed by her master. While +struggling over the rugged places she had slipped and broken her leg. +The rancher mercifully put her out of her misery by placing the muzzle +of his revolver to her forehead and sending a bullet through her brain. + +Mrs. Starr and Dot had turned away that they might not witness the +painful sight, for they loved the creature. The arrival of the youths +caused the mother to face quickly about, and the next moment she and +her son were clasped in each other's arms, with Dot tugging at the coat +of her big brother. + +"Warren, Warren, I guess you forgot me," she pleaded, when she thought +the embrace had lasted long enough. + +"Forget you, my darling!" he repeated, catching her up and hugging the +breath from her body; "never! we are together again, and only death +shall separate us." + +The rancher had shaken the hand of Tim Brophy during this little +by-play, and they exchanged a few words before father and son closed +palms. + +Then the questions and answers came fast. Tim Brophy drew a little aside +to where mother and child stood, and holding the tiny hand of Dot +explained matters, while Warren did the same with his father. + +"Did you see us approaching when you started the fire?" asked Warren, +after hurriedly telling his own story. + +"No, but I was quite sure, when your mother and I came to talk it over, +that you would disregard my wishes about hurrying to the fort. We went +astray in the darkness, and after a number of narrow escapes, as I have +just related, found ourselves at the base of this ridge on the other +side." + +"Did you recognize where you were?" + +"No; the points of the compass were all askew, and to save my life I +couldn't get my bearings. But I was convinced that you were at no great +distance, and decided to try the signal which Plummer and I had used +before. Poor Plummer!" + +"Do you know anything about him?" + +Mr. Starr related what he had discovered, adding that the body was +shockingly mutilated and stripped of its belongings. + +"The ascent of the ridge on the other side was quite easy, and we found +no difficulty in leading the horses to the crest. There the fire was +kindled. Knowing of the long stretch of level ground on this side, we +set out without waiting to learn the result of the signal smoke. I knew +that if you made your way to the spot where it was burning you would +understand the situation, and the snow would show you how to follow us +as fast as you desired." + +"Did you hear or see nothing of the Indians?" + +"We saw nothing of them, and were confident that the party with whom we +had repeated encounters were thrown so far behind that we had good +reason to believe they need be feared no longer. But all our hopes were +scattered when we heard firing from the direction of the open plain. +While fleeing from one party of hostiles we had almost run into another. +I confess," added the father, "that for a minute I was in despair. Your +mother, however, retained her courage, as she has from the first. She +urged me to make for the level country, aiming for a point so far +removed from the sounds of the guns that we would not be seen, unless +some ill fortune overtook us. My haste in striving to do so caused the +mare to fall and break her leg. I could not bear the sight of her +suffering, and though I knew the danger of the act, I put her out of her +misery with a pistol-ball through her brain." + +"You little dreamed that Tim and I had a part in the firing of those +guns which so alarmed you." + +"No; it did not occur to me; but we must not make the mistake of +supposing we are yet out of danger." + +The experiences that had been hastily exchanged awakened the ranchers to +the fact that they were still in imminent peril, for the Sioux were +certain to follow Tim Brophy vigorously, and at that moment could not be +far off. + +Mr. Starr beckoned to his wife and Tim to approach. + +"You understand matters," he said, "and the question is, what is best to +do?" + +"Why not continue our flight?" asked the wife. + +"I would not hesitate a second were we not so fearfully handicapped. +There are four of us, not counting Dot, and we have but two animals, +provided Warren's pony can be found, which I very much doubt. True, we +men can walk or take turns in riding, but if we continue our flight, +speed is indispensable, and we would make a sorry show in our crippled +condition. We would be absolutely helpless on the open prairie against +the Sioux, all of whom, Warren tells me, have excellent horses." + +The rancher had a scheme in his mind, but before making it known he +wished the views of the others. + +"It's mesilf that thinks this," said Tim Brophy; "let us go wid yees to +the ridge of the prairie, and there mount Mr. Starr on Jack, while Mrs. +Starr and Dot can take the ither. Thin, what is to hinder yees from +going like a house afire for the foort?" + +"But what of you and Warren?" was the natural question of the rancher. + +"We'll cover yer retr'at." + +"The proposal does more credit to your heart than your head, but I +cannot entertain it." + +"Nor will I listen to anything which compels us to separate again," +added the son decisively. "I do not believe you can reach Fort Meade +without another fight, and the absence of Tim and me would destroy hope +from the first." + +"But my idea," persisted the Irishman, "was to keep the fight away from +the folks and have all the fun oursilves." + +"That would do if it were possible to arrange the business that way," +said Warren, "but the Sioux are the ones who have the decision in their +hands, and while we were doing our best others would slip off and attack +father and mother. If we remain together it must be otherwise. If there +ever was a situation where union is strength this is one of them." + +"I've exhausted me resoorces," said Tim, withdrawing a step, as though +he had nothing more to say. Leaving the others to decide, he took +Warren's Winchester from his unresisting hand, and began watching for +the approach of the Sioux, who he was certain were following the trail +through the snow. + +One fact was apparent to him, and he considered it no unimportant +advantage. The pursuers would advance at a speed that must bring them +into sight before they could surprise the fugitives. + +A glance around showed that the rancher could not have selected a +better place for defence. The bowlders were on all sides, there being a +natural amphitheatre several rods in extent. Kneeling behind these the +whites had a secure protection against their enemies, unless they should +make an overwhelming rush--a course of action which is never popular +with the American Indian, inasmuch as it involves much personal risk to +the assailants. + +It was at his suggestion that the others seated themselves on the ground +while holding their conference. When the Sioux should appear it would be +on the trail made by the party, so that the Irishman knew where to look +for them. He, too, crouched down, with the muzzle of the Winchester +pointed between two of the bowlders, ready to fire on the first glimpse +of a target. + +Even the pony was forced to lie down near the lifeless body of his +comrade. So it was that anyone might have passed near the irregular +circle of bowlders without a suspicion of who were within it. + +"I have but the one proposition to make," said Warren, seeing that his +father was waiting for him to speak, "and that is to stay here and fight +it out. We are strong enough to hold the Sioux at bay for a good while, +perhaps long enough to discourage them." + +"And what have you to say, Molly?" + +"I cannot feel as hopeful as Warren, but it really seems to me that that +is the only recourse left to us." + +"I do not agree with either of you," remarked the rancher, feeling that +the time had come to announce his decision. "I formed my plan some +minutes ago. It is the only one that offers the slightest hope, and I +shall insist on its fulfilment to the letter. It is that Warren shall +leave at once, find his pony if he can, mount him, and ride with all +haste to the fort for assistance. Tim will stay behind with us to help +fight. The time for discussion is past; we must act. Warren, make ready +to leave this minute." + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII. + +AWAY! AWAY! + + +When George Starr announced his decision to any member of his family no +one presumed to question it. Had the son been disposed to do so in this +instance he would have refrained, for he believed, with his parent, that +he had made known their last and only hope. + +"I will go, father!" + +He was in the act of rising to his feet, when Tim Brophy discharged his +rifle. + +"I plugged him," was his comment, as he peered through between the +bowlders; "the spalpeen wasn't ixpicting the same, but that one won't +bother us any more." + +Being in the act of rising at this moment, Warren shrank back again, +undecided for the moment what to do, but hesitation was fatal, as his +father saw. + +"Go," he said; "don't lose an instant; they are not on that side; you +can slip off without being seen." + +The youth saw the force of the words. Crouching as low as possible, with +the Sioux rifle in his hand, he passed between the bowlders opposite to +the point at which Tim had fired, and which, therefore, was in the +direction of the open prairie. + +The move was one of those in which success depends wholly upon +promptness. The Sioux would speedily dispose themselves so as to prevent +anyone leaving, as soon as they found that the parties whom they were +seeking were at bay among the bowlders. Fortunate, therefore, was it +that no delay took place in the flight of young Starr, even though, when +he started, the enemy was at the gate. + +It required no very skilful woodcraft for him to get away, since it was +not anticipated by the Sioux, and he had the best means for concealing +himself. + +There had been one idea in the mind of the rancher, which he would have +carried out but for the sudden appearance of the Indians; that was for +his son to take the remaining pony with him. The fugitives could make no +use of him, and should it prove that Jack was gone, his owner would not +be without the means of pushing to Fort Meade for help. Circumstances, +however, prevented that precaution. It never would have done to attempt +to take the remaining pony. Warren quickly vanished among the trees and +bowlders, and the Rubicon was crossed. + +But Jack was found just where he had been left, patiently awaiting the +return of his master. The pursuit of Tim Brophy by the Sioux had led +them in a different direction, though, had the flight of Warren been +postponed for a short time, the steed must have fallen into the hands of +the enemy. + +The heart of the youth gave a bound of delight when he came upon the +animal. + +"Follow me, Jack," he said cheerily; "if you ever did your best, now is +the time. The lives of us all depend upon you. Have a care, my boy, or +you will slip." + +In his eagerness the youth descended the slope faster than was prudent. +Jack did slip, but quickly recovered himself, and no harm seemed to +have been done. + +It was but a short way to the edge of the prairie, where the pause was +long enough to see that the trappings were right, when the young rancher +swung himself into the saddle, twitched the rein, and said: + +"Come!" + +The gallant fellow, with a sniff of delight, sprang away, and sped with +a swiftness which few of his kind could surpass. The snowy plain +stretched in front, and he darted over it as though his hoofs scorned +the earth. The still air became a gale, which whistled about the ears of +the youth, who felt the thrill that comes to one when coursing on the +back of a noble horse to whom the rapid flight is as pleasant as to the +rider. + +It was now near meridian. A long distance remained to be passed, and +since a goodly portion of it was rough and precipitous, the young +rancher felt little hope of reaching Fort Meade before nightfall. + +"If we could have such travelling as this," he reflected, "we would be +there in a few hours, but there are places where you will have to walk, +and others where it will be hard work to travel at all." + +It was a discomforting thought, but it was the fact; since the youth was +not following the regular trail leading from the ranch to the fort at +the foot of the Black Hills. But his familiarity with the country and +the daylight ensured him against going astray; he was certain to do the +best possible thing under the circumstances. + +Two miles had been passed at this brilliant pace, and Warren was as +hopeful as ever, when he became aware of an alarming truth, and one +which caused a feeling of consternation--Jack was falling lame. That +slip made in descending the lower part of the ridge, just before his +owner mounted him, was more serious than he had suspected. It had +injured the ankle of the horse so that, despite the gallantry with which +he struggled, it not only troubled him, but with every leap he made over +the plain it grew worse. + +It was a condition of things enough to cause consternation on the part +of the rider, for it put an end to his hope of reaching the fort that +day. True, he could continue the advance on foot, but, doing his utmost, +he could not arrive before late at night--so late, indeed, that no help +would be sent out before the morning, and they could not reach the +beleaguered fugitives until late on the following day. + +"Can they hold out until then?" + +That was the question which was ever in the young rancher's mind and +which he dare not answer as he believed the probabilities required. + +There was no getting away from the fearful truth. The vigilance of his +father and Tim might enable them to stand off the Sioux as long as +daylight lasted. Each had an excellent magazine rifle, for it will be +remembered that he had exchanged weapons with his young friend, but +there was not only a formidable party of bucks surrounding them, +shutting off all possibility of their slipping off during the darkness, +but other Sioux were in the neighborhood who could be readily summoned +to the spot. + +Darkness is the favorite time with the red men when moving against an +enemy, and they would probably make no determined demonstration until +the night was well advanced. Then, when they should rush over the +bowlders, nothing could save the fugitives. Should this emergency arise, +Warren Starr felt that everything was lost, and he was right. + +He weakly hoped that Jack would recover from his lameness, but all know +how vain is such an expectation. The injury rapidly grew worse, so that +when the animal dropped his gait to a trot and then to a walk, Warren +had not the heart to urge him farther. + +Slipping from the saddle he examined the hurt. It was near the fetlock +of the left hind leg. The skin was abraded; the ankle evidently had been +wrenched. It was swollen, and when the youth passed his hand gently over +it, the start and shrinking of the creature showed that it was +excessively painful to him. + +"It's no use, Jack," said the lad; "I know you would give your life for +me, but you can't travel on three legs, and I'm not going to make you +suffer when it can do us no good." + +Manifestly there was but one course open--that was to abandon the pony +and press on as fast as he could on foot. Jack could get along for a day +or two, and his master would not forget to look after him on the first +opportunity. + +There was no call to burden himself with the saddle and bridle, but they +would prove an incumbrance to the animal if left upon him, and his owner +was too considerate to commit the oversight. + +In riding so fast the young rancher had followed the general course of +the ridge, so that on halting he was quite near it. He now turned to his +right, calling upon Jack to follow. + +The action of the pony was pitiful. When he bore a part of his weight on +the limb, after the brief halt, it had become so painful as to be almost +useless. Nevertheless he hobbled forward until the foot of the slope was +reached. + +Here Warren removed the trappings. His blanket being rolled behind the +saddle, he spread it over the back of the horse and secured it in +place. + +"It is all I can do for you, Jack," he said tenderly, "and it will give +you protection against the cold. You will be able to find a few blades +of grass here and there where the snow has not covered them, and the +buds of the trees will give some help. The snow will prevent your +suffering much from want of water. Perhaps a good long rest will improve +your ankle so that you can use it. If it does," and here the young +rancher spoke impressively, as though he expected his steed to +understand his words, "I want you to start for the fort; don't forget +that!" + +He touched his lips to the forehead of his faithful ally, who looked +after his young master, as he walked away, with an expression almost +human in its affection. But there was no help for it, and with a sad +heart, but the determination to do his utmost, Warren Starr resumed his +journey toward Fort Meade. + +Not long after parting with his pony he came upon something which caused +him surprise. In the snow directly in front appeared the footprints of a +single horse that had passed over the ground on a run, taking the same +direction that the youth was following. + +His experience with horses told the youth at a first glance that the +animal was travelling at his utmost speed. The trail swerved inward from +the open plain, as though the rider had sought the base of the ridge for +his protection. + +Had there been several ponies coursing ahead of him, he would not have +found it so hard to understand matters, for he would have concluded that +they were an independent party, making all haste to reach some point, +but he could not read the meaning of a single warrior speeding in this +fashion. + +"Whoever he was he lost no time," mused Warren, breaking into a loping +trot, for his own haste was great. + +Had he not known that poor Jared Plummer was no longer among the living, +he would have thought it possible that he was making for Fort Meade. He +wondered whether it could not be a white man engaged on a similar +errand. + +The probabilities were against this supposition. He knew of no rancher +in the neighborhood of his old home, and it would seem that no white man +would ride with such desperation unless pursued by a relentless enemy, +and he saw no evidence of such a contest of speed. + +True, the pursuers might have been farther out on the prairie, but their +trail would have joined that of the fugitive ere long, so as to make the +line more direct; but though the young rancher trotted a full half mile +before checking himself and looking around, he discovered no signs of +others. + +The last advance of Warren brought him close to the precipitous section +which, knowing well, he had feared would prove too difficult for his +pony. Raising his eyes to survey it and fix upon the best line to +follow, he caught sight of the horseman he had been following. + +His animal was on a deliberate walk, and coming directly toward him. The +youth stopped short. As he did so he perceived that he was an Indian +warrior. Warren brought his rifle round in front, with no intention of +running from him or taking advantage of the cover near at hand. + +The Indian raised his hand, and oscillated it as a signal of comity. As +he did so the two were so near that the youth perceived that the arm was +bandaged. Something familiar in the appearance of the horseman struck +him at the same moment, and the young rancher lowered his weapon with +the exclamation: + +"Starcus!" + +It was he, and as he rode forward he had a strange story to tell Warren +Starr. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII. + +BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS. + + +When the Sioux who had rushed out on the open plain to the help of the +wounded Starcus gathered around him they were quick to perceive that his +life was due to the mercy of his conqueror, but their hostility toward +the latter was not diminished one whit by the discovery; they were as +eager for his life as ever, and proved it by firing several shots after +him as he rode away. + +The wounded arm was bandaged in a piece of the lining of Warren Starr's +coat. The crimson stain showed through the cloth, though the flow of +blood was checked. Sound and unhurt as was Starcus in all other +respects, he was unable to use the injured limb, and was therefore as +useless in any impending hostilities as if out of existence. + +As the party moved back toward the base of the ridge there was a +consultation among them as to what was best to do. Starcus expressed a +more venomous rancor than ever against the white people, and especially +against the one that had brought him low. He regretted that he was to be +helpless for weeks to come, with a permanent injury for life. + +When the leader of the band suggested that he should return to the +nearest village and remain until able to take the warpath again, he +vehemently opposed it. He was not willing to retire in such a +humiliating manner, but the leader insisted, and after sulking a while +the "civilized" Indian consented. + +Being a capital horseman, he leaped unassisted upon his pony, and +unwilling in his anger so much as to bid the warriors good-by, he struck +the animal into a swift gallop, heading toward the village, where he was +expected to stay until fully recovered. + +The action of the warrior was singular. After riding some distance he +glanced behind him at the ridge he had left. He seemed to be in an +irritable mood, for he uttered an impatient exclamation and urged his +beast to a faster gait. His wound pained him, but the agitation of his +mind and his own stoical nature caused him to pay no heed to it. Indeed +nothing more could be done for the hurt. + +When he looked back the second time he had reached a point for which he +had been making since his departure. He was out of sight of any of his +people who might be watching him. + +An abrupt change in the course of his pony was instantly made, and he +sent him flying at the height of his speed. Strange as it may seem, he +was aiming for the same point toward which Warren Starr started some +time later. + +He did not spare his animal. He went like a whirlwind, and as though his +life depended upon reaching his destination without delay. Warren Starr +read the trail aright when he interpreted it as meaning that the pony +before him was going as fast as he could. + +Starcus was picking his way, still mounted, over the rough section where +the youth had expected to meet great difficulty with his animal, when +he suddenly discovered that white people were immediately in his front. +He drew up, and was in doubt for a minute whether to flee or hold his +ground. + +A squad of cavalry from Fort Meade confronted him. They numbered nearly +twenty, under the command of a young lieutenant, a recent graduate of +West Point. They were accompanied by a couple of Indian scouts familiar +with the country. + +Starcus was quick to make a signal of friendship, and then rode forward +to meet the soldiers, who had halted upon seeing him. + +The Sioux was well known to the two Indians, the officer, and several of +the cavalry. They knew he had joined the hostiles, and were therefore +suspicious of him. This fact rendered his self-imposed task one of +considerable difficulty. But after a while he convinced them of his +honesty. + +The lieutenant had been sent out by the commandant at Fort Meade to +bring in the rancher and his family, their scouts having reported them +in imminent danger. Starcus explained that the parties for whom they +were looking were at no great distance, having left the ranch the night +before to hasten to the fort. One of the ranchmen had been killed, and +the rest were in great peril. Starcus said he had started to ride to the +fort for help, and it was most fortunate that he encountered it so near, +when the passing moments were beyond importance. + +The young officer was sagacious. He could have asked some very +embarrassing questions relating to the wound of the messenger, but he +wisely forbore. It is not best at all times to let a person know how +much is plain to you and how much you suspect. Evidently Starcus was +earnest in his desire to befriend the imperilled ones; the fact that he +was journeying alone in the direction of the fort constituting the +strongest evidence. + +He explained that the ridge where he believed the whites were doing +their best to escape the Sioux was much more approachable from the other +side. He described the ground minutely, and the two scouts present +confirmed the accuracy of his statements. + +When the lieutenant proposed that Starcus should act as their guide the +truth could no longer be kept back. He made a clean breast of +everything. + +He had been with the hostiles. He was among the fiercest. He had tried +to shoot young Starr, who, more fortunate than he, brought him wounded +from his horse. When he lay on the ground, at his mercy, the young man +rode up, spoke words of kindness, and bandaged his wound. + +And in doing this the youth proved more of a conqueror than he had done +by his excellent marksmanship. He won the heart of the Indian, who was +now eager to prove his gratitude by any act in his power. He +unhesitatingly answered that he would serve as the guide to the cavalry. + +But once again the officer displayed rare tact. If Starcus was sincere +in his newly awakened friendship for the whites, it might be in his +power to accomplish a great deal of good by going among his people and +using persuasion and argument; but if he should appear as an active ally +of the whites such power would be gone, and it would be unsafe at any +time in the future to trust himself among them. + +"No," replied the lieutenant; "return to your own people; do what you +can to show them the mistake they are making in taking the warpath; you +may effect much good. My guides will do as well as you to direct us to +the spot where the whites are in urgent need of our help. You say it is +not far, and I am hopeful that we shall be in time to save them." + +Accordingly Starcus parted from the cavalry, and was on his return to +join his people and to attempt to carry out the wise suggestion of the +officer, when he encountered the young rancher making all haste on foot +to secure the help which was much nearer than he had dared to hope. + +After exchanging friendly greetings, Starcus told the story which the +reader has just learned. + +Warren listened with amazement and delight. He had, indeed, heaped coals +of fire upon his enemy's head by his forbearance, and the bread cast +upon the waters had returned before many days. + +"You have acted nobly," was the comment of the youth. + +"Can it undo the harm of the last few days?" asked the Indian, with a +troubled expression. + +"Far more, for I am sure the timely news given to the lieutenant will +save my people." + +"And yet I was their enemy." + +"And are now their friend. You lost your head in the frenzy that is +spreading like a prairie fire among your people; your footsteps were +guided by Providence, otherwise you would have missed the cavalry; they +would have ridden to the ranch, and my folks would have been left as +much without their help as though the soldiers had stayed at the fort. +Besides," added the young rancher, "you can do as the officer +suggested--show your own people the right course for them to follow." + +"I will try," replied Starcus firmly; "I cannot understand how it was my +senses forsook me, but they have come back, and," he said, with a +meaning smile, "I think they will stay." + +"I am sure of that, and you will do much good." + +"Well, good-by," said Starcus, reaching down his unwounded arm. "I hope +we shall meet again under pleasanter conditions." + +Warren warmly pressed the hand and stood for a minute gazing after the +strange fellow, who rode toward the nearest Indian village with the +determination to carry out his new intentions. + +It may as well be said that he honestly did so, and there is little +doubt that his work was effective in more than one respect, and did much +to ameliorate many phases of the sad incidents that speedily followed. + +Left alone once more, the young rancher stood for some minutes in doubt +as to his right course. It was idle to push on to the fort on foot, and +he was at much disadvantage, now that he had no animal at command. He +decided to follow the cavalry. + +He had forgotten to ask Starcus how far off they were, but judged the +distance was not great. The trail of the Indian's horse gave him the +necessary guidance, and he broke once more into his loping trot, +despite the rough nature of the ground. + +A half-hour sufficed to take him to the scene of meeting, when he turned +and began following the footprints of the horses at a faster gait than +before. + +Inasmuch as he was now a goodly number of miles from the bowlders where +his friends were at bay before the attacking Sioux, he hardly expected +to reach the place in time to take a hand in the decisive scenes or even +to witness them. Starcus had left such accurate directions, and the +Indian guides were so familiar with everything, that little delay was +probable. + +The distant sound of firing spurred him to still greater speed, and he +ran so fast and hard that ere long he was compelled to drop to a walk to +regain his breath. + +Great as was his hope, he felt much misgiving. The cavalry might arrive +in time, but in the flurry sad mishaps were probable. It might be that +his father or mother or Dot or Tim had fallen before the vigilance of +the assailants. He could not feel any real happiness until he learned +beyond peradventure that all was well. + +The shot fired by Tim Brophy the instant he caught sight of the warrior +hurrying along the trail, with no thought that he was so close to the +whites, was the best thing in every way that could have happened, for it +not only wiped out the rash miscreant, but told those immediately behind +him that the fugitives were at bay and ready to fight to the bitter end. + +There was an instant withdrawal beyond reach of the rifles, of whose +effectiveness they had received more than one striking example that +night. + +It took a considerable while for the Sioux to learn the whole truth. The +fugitives had intrenched themselves in what was undoubtedly the most +secure position near, and were on the watch. Gradually working round so +as to enclose them against flight, the trail of the young rancher was +discovered. A little investigation made known that he had mounted his +pony and started off for assistance. + +But help was no nearer than Fort Meade, and, as the Indians naturally +thought, it could not possibly arrive before the morrow. If this were +so, abundant time remained in which to encompass the destruction of the +defenders. The Sioux decided to maintain watch, but to defer the +decisive assault until late at night. + +And it was this decision that saved the little party. Within the +following two hours the friendly scouts reported the situation to the +lieutenant of cavalry, who began his arrangements for an immediate +attack upon the hostiles. + +The latter, however, were as watchful as their enemies, and were quick +to learn their new danger. They withdrew and disappeared after the +exchange of a few shots, fired under such circumstances that no harm was +done on either side. + +The rescued whites were conducted to the foot of the ridge on the other +side, where they were so disposed among their friends that all were +furnished with transportation, and the journey to Fort Meade was begun, +or rather resumed so far as they were concerned. + +Not far away they met the young rancher, breathless and in an agony of +distress. His joy may be imagined upon learning the happy truth. All +were saved without so much as a hair of their heads being harmed. + +The next day Warren returned for his pony, and found him so much better +that he was able to walk with little trouble. The youth was too +considerate to ask him to carry any load, and the two made the journey +with the rider on foot. + +And so it came about that Providence mercifully extricated our friends +from the danger which threatened more than once the ruin of all. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Young Ranchers, by Edward S. Ellis + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE YOUNG RANCHERS *** + +***** This file should be named 28331.txt or 28331.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/8/3/3/28331/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Mary Meehan and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive) + + +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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |