FOREST AND PRAIRIE SERIES: No. 3.
THE YOUNG RANCHERS
OK
FIQHT1NQ THE SIOUX
BY
EDWARD S. ELLIS
AUTHOR OP " BOY PIONEER SERIES," " DEERFOOT
SERIES," "WILDWOOD SERIES," ETC.
PHILADELPHIA
HENRY T. COAXES & CO.
COPYRIGHT, 1895,
n
PORTER & COATES.
PS
VV1
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. DANGER AHEAD, 1
II. THE VOICELESS FRIEND, .... 9
III. COMPANIONS IN PERIL, 21
IV. TIM BROPHY S DISCOVERY, .... 30
V. LEAVING THE RANCH, 38
VI. "TIMOTHY BROPHY, ESQ., AT YOUR SERVICE," 46
VII. STIRRING TIMES, 54
VIII. STARCUS 62
IX. ON THE BANK OP A STREAM, ... 70
X. BENT ARM AND His BAND, ... 78
XI. AT BAY, 86
XII. FACING WESTWARD, 93
XIII. IN THE FRINGE OF THE WOODS, . . . 102
XIV. TURNED BACK, 110
XV. MISSING, . 118
XVI. A THIEF OF THE NIGHT 126
XVII. THROUGH THE WOOD, 135
XVIII. NIGHT AND MORNING, .... 143
XIX. A STARTLING SURPRISE, .... 151
XX. A RUN FOR LIFE, 159
XXI. AWAY WE Go ! 167
Hi
M35G37
iv
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
XXII. ON FOOT, 175
XXIII. DOWN ! 183
XXIV. THE FRIEND IN NEED, * . 9 .192
XXV. THE PRAIRIE DUEL, .... 200
XXVI. ON THE GROUND, 208
XXVII. A GOOD SAMARITAN, .... 216
XXVIII. THE LONE HORSEMAN, .... 224
XXIX. A BREAK FOR FREEDOM, ... 232
XXX. COMRADES AGAIN, . . . . 240
XXXI. THE LAST HOPE, 248
XXXII. AWAY ! AWAY! 260
XXXIII. BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS, . 272
THE YOUNG RANCHERS;
OR,
FIGHTING THE SIOUX.
CHAPTER I. .-
DANGEK AHEAD.
fTlHEKE was snow in the air. Warren
JL 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,
2 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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
e numerous hunting excursions
he--was so fond. He could have
ina de ^le^Jburrney 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 appe
tite, 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
DANGER AHEAD. 3
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 mili
tary 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
4 THE YOUNG KANCIIERS.
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,
Heavemhelp 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 sur
rounding 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.
DANGER AHEAD. O
He was now riding across an open plain di
rectly toward a small branch of the Big Chey
enne, 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 fol
lowing passed between these elevations ; that
on the right first presenting itself and diverg
ing so far to the east, just before the other
ridge was reached, that it may be said it dis
appeared, 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 al-
6 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
ways uneasy, for it is bard 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 guid
ance 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 un
awares ; 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 \vould have involved a long de
tour and delay in arriving home. At the same
DANGER AHEAD. 7
time, if any warriors were on the watch, they
could easily checkmate him by accommodating
their movements to his, and continually head
ing 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:
4 Be ware, master! I have discovered some
thing."
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
8 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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.
rjlHE keen eyes, instead of looking at the
-L crest of the rocky ridge on his right,
were now centred on the ground, where they
detected a small dark speck swiftly approach
ing the horseman. At the first glance, the ob
ject 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 Winches
ter 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 iden-
10 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
tity ; 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 orna
mental 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 crea
ture. "He brings me some message."
Bruno was his favorite hound, that had ac
companied 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."
THE VOICELESS FRIEND. 11
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. ISTo 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
12 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 to
gether 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 dis
covered 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 doubt
less 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 circum
stance to keep as a remembrance of his voice-
THE VOICELESS FRIEND. 13
less 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 under
take 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 pre
cisely 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.
14 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
"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 secur
ing 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 solici
tude 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
THE VOICELESS FRIEND. 15
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 cheer
fully 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
16 THE YOUNG EANCIIERS.
simple, since lie had only to continue on until
lie 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
snow-flake, 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 gather
ing 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 cir
cling about, faster and faster, until it looked
like a wheel of fire. Then it reversed, whirl
ing as swiftly in the opposite direction, then
up and down, then from side to side, and
finally, whiff ! it vanished.
THE VOICELESS FRIEND. 17
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 see
ing 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 dis
tant 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 ob
ject of their wrath turned quietly about and
retraced his steps.
Only a few minutes were used in consider
ing 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
2
18 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 im
pressed on him that he was doing an impru
dent 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 snow-flakes 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 dis
covered the approach of strangers. His rider
could discern nothing through the gloom, and
THE VOICELESS FEIEND. 19
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.
Ee mo anting 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
20 THE YOUNG KANCHERS.
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.
1 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 oppor
tunity 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 be
yond hearing did the startling thought come
to Warren Starr :
"That was a white man, and not an
Indian."
CHAPTER III.
COMPANIONS IN PEKIL.
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
21
22 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 at
tempted 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
COMPANIONS IN PERIL. 23
Ms 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 suc
culent grass that grew around, and he could
stand it quite well until the morrow. The
animal needed rest and shelter more than any
thing 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
24 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 wood
craft, 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,
COMPANIONS IN PERIL. 25
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
26 THE YOUNG KANCHEES.
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 regu
lar trail and made for the wild solitude
through which he now began threading his
way, and it was a striking tribute to his wood
craft and knowledge that within fifteen min
utes he reached the very spot, with his pony
at his heels.
" This is the place," he remarked to his ani
mal, "but there don t seem to be any lamps
lighted, and it s best to look around a little
before retiring for the night."
COMPANIONS IN PERIL. 27
Drawing a rubber match-safe from Ms
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 bliz
zard 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 min
utes 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 look
ing at him, as if wondering what the next
move was to be. The situation was amusing,
28 THE YOUNG EANCHEKS.
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, adjust
ing the hoofs as best he could, drew the rest
of the covering over himself, and was excus
able 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
COMPANIONS IN PERIL. 29
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.
T
CHAPTER IV.
TIM BEOPHY S DISCOVERY.
I HE 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 over
whelmed and massacred. While Jared Plum-
mer, the lank New Englander, rode to the
westward to look after some strays, Tim gal
loped 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.
30
TIM BROPHY S DISCOVERY. 31
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, there
fore, 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
32 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 recov
ery. 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 exasper
ating 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. Bat 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 observ
ing the stampede. From the clump of wood
on his right, along the edge of the stream,
TIM BROPHY S DISCOVERY. 33
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 pos
sible 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 any
thing 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
3
34 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
rising to a pitch which not only threatened to
throw him into a paroxysm, but was impart
ing 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 war-path.
There was not an old or middle-aged man
among them.
The eavesdropper was not able to under
stand 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
TIM BROPHY S DISCOVERY. 35
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 ele
vation 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
36 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 touch
wood. Flight, therefore, was the one and
only thing to be thought of.
It was yet comparatively early in the after
noon, and those on the ranch had noted the
signs of the approaching snowstorm. The
husband directed his wife to make her prep
arations few and simple, and to waste no
time. It was idle to bewail the necessity
which compelled them to leave so many pre-
TIM BROPHY s DISCOVERY. 37
cious articles behind. Life was dearer than
all, and the courageous helpmate proved her
self 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 arti
cles 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 Y.
LEAVING THE RANCH.
"TVTOW that everything was ready, Mr.
-L^l 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 con
tinued 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
LEAVING THE KANCH. 39
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. Plurnmer 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.
40 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
" The Indians don t know how to read writ
ing or print, so it won t do them any good."
"Bat Starcus can read as well as any
body."
"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 educa
tion, being able to read, write, and talk in
telligently. 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
LEAVING THE KANCH. 41
return again to the East. Many tilings 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?"
k 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 ask
ing 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 I"
42 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
" 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 in
tended to leave the husband free to act with
out hinderance, in the event of an emergency.
Tim Brophy was equally at liberty, and with
the pack animal well laden the party left the
LEAVING THE KANCII. 43
home, eacli 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 con
cealed 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.
Bat 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
44 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 impos
sible 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
LEAVING THE RANCH. 45
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.
i 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 YOUE SERVICE."
AT first thought, the abrupt departure of
-j- 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 provi
sion 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 de-
"TIMOTHY BROPHY, ESQ." 47
votedly 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
48 THE YOUNG KANCHERS.
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?"
"TIMOTHY BROPHY, ESQ." 49
" Outside, near by, wid tlie 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 any
thing 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.
4
50 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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."
" TIMOTHY BROPHY, ESQ." 51
" 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 accom
modate 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 liis voice, as though afraid of being
overheard, "that he s in throuble."
" Why do you think so "
52 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
" Because lie 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 re
sponse 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
"TIMOTHY BROPHY, ESQ." 53
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 down
ward, 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 any
thing 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 con
ceived : 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 YIL
STIEEING 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 de
cision 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
54
STIRRING TIMES. 55
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 lead
ing 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 open
ing 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 break
fast, which was already secured to him
beyond possibility of loss.
56 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
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.
STIREING TIMES. 57
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 im
possible for him to miss as it was to inflict
a mortal wound, and the ball meant for
the skull of the brute found lodgment else
where.
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
58 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 :
4 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 direc
tion ; 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 de
spite its awkwardness, was on his heels, but
STIRRING TIMES. 59
the furtive glance over Ms shoulder showed
nothing of him, and the youth plunged for
ward and caught up his weapon as may be
said on the fly.
With its recovery came something like con
fidence 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 unex
pected 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
60 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
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 ad
vancing 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 under
stood 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 atten
tion of the grizzly for a moment from the
youth to the assailant. lie was thoroughly
roused, and made for the horse, who showed
STIRRING TIMES. 61
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 appar
ent, 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 !
AY i th out 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 AYarren, as he
came up, " that was the closest call you ever
had."
"It s qu ar," replied the other, "that after
STARCUS. 63
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
64 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 for
ward and interdooce himself ? whisht now ! "
STARCUS. 65
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 join
ing 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 dis
appointed 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.
5
66 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
" 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 bowl
der, he made a movement that fixed his iden
tity beyond all doubt."
" Wai, 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 ex-
STAKCUS. 67
plain 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 kind
ness, he became an inimy agin ? "
u 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
68 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 gen
erous motive. He may have stood there de
bating 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," re
marked 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 sig
nificantly.
STARCUS. 69
"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."
u I m wid ye there."
"We shall have to wait here long enough
to cook a steak from that benr. 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 dan
ger, 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
70
ON THE BANK OF A STREAM. 71
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 afflic
tion, 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, "be
cause 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,
72 THE YOUNG KANCIIERS.
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 look
ing up in the face of her parent.
The latter leaned down and kissed her, mur
muring:
ON THE BANK OF A STREAM. 73
u 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 thought
fully, "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 approach
ing him. He made a fine picture, with his
antlers high in air and his w 7 hole 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 dan
gerous to us, when there s no saying that other
of the Sioux are not in the neighborhood."
74 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
"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 investi
gation."
ON THE BANK OF A STREAM. 75
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 hilty
and wooded section, which was likely to offer
serious obstacles to their progress.
"We shall have snow before night," re
marked 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.
76 THE YOUNG KANCHEKS.
It seemed odd that while there was plenty
of timber on the other side, even to t he
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."
ON THE BANK OF A STREAM. 77
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 interrup
tions 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 be suddenly leaped
back with an exclamation and came hasten
ing to his wife, his white face and staring
eyes showing that he had made a horrifying
discovery.
CHAPTER X.
BENT ARM AND HIS BAND.
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
78
BENT ARM AND HIS BAND. 79
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;
4 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 ani
mal, 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.
80 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 incon
venience.
4 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.
BENT AKM AND HIS BAND. 81
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 con
fronting 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, u 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.
6
82 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 im
mediately 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 to
ward 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."
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 shelter-
BENT ARM AND HIS BAND. 83
ing 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 cross
ing. Unless he kept them in check and de
layed 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 war
riors 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 :
84 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
" 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."
" \y e 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. Yal liable 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.
BENT ARM AND HIS BAND. 85
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 XL
AT BAY.
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 byplay, 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 ex
changing 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.
AT BAY.
87
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 bared its
way through the breast of the painted mis
creant, 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 disap
peared 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,
88 THE YOUNG RANCIIEKS.
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 com
mitted 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 per
petrate 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 sym
pathy. The other equally serious mistake
AT BAT. 89
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 gather
ing 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 occa
sion, 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 be
yond the sheltering bank on the other side of
90 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 them
selves, 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 Win
chester, 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 harm
lessly 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
liat and laid it on the ground beside him,. It
AT BAY. 91
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 them
selves 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.
92 THE YOUNG BANCHEES.
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. Kecalling 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
AT BAY. 93
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 inflict
ing 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 WESTWAED.
rriHE rancher was astonished beyond meas
ure 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 dark
ness 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 demon
stration 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,
M
FACING WESTWARD. 95
under the screen it afforded, and crossing
unobserved ? The winding course of the cur
rent 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 at
tempted. The one who essayed it, however,
forgot the caution he should have remem
bered.
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 for
ward on his knees, and rolled upon his side,
the Sioux dexterously saving himself by leap-
96 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
ing 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 con
tentedly 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 as
cending 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
FACING WESTWARD. 97
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 ani
mal 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."
7
98 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
"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 mo
ment 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
FACING WESTWAED. 99
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 dan
ger 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 reas
suring 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 uneasi
ness over the tardiness of her husband.
100 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
" 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 cir
cumstances 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
FACING WESTWAKD. 101
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, cau
tiously parting the grass in front, to per
mit him to see the other bank, becoming more
dimly visible in the falling snow and gather
ing 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 go
ing 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 ad
vanced abreast toward the wooded section.
It was no time for conversation, and the prog
ress continued in silence.
The snow was now falling thick and fast,
103
IN THE FRINGE OF THE WOODS. 103
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 occa
sion 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
104 THE YOUNG EANCHEKS.
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 start
ling 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 sud
den 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,
IN THE FRINGE OF THE WOODS. 105
and awaiting his chance to send in a fatal
shot.
" What s the matter?" asked Dot, puzzled
by the action of her parents.
u 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, re
lieved beyond measure by the discovery.
Jerry seemed to be of the opinion that it
was the place of his friends to make the ad
vances, 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 sev
eral 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,
106 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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
lie recognized as the fringe of the wood ob
served 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,
IN THE FEINGE OF THE WOODS. - 107
and you and Dot must be cramped from sit
ting 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 child
ish 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."
108 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
" 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 ? "
IN THE FRINGE OF THE WOODS. 109
"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 per
pendicular 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 decis
ively.
"What s that?"
"Eat supper while v:e 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 sub
stantial 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 incon
venience."
"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.
no
TURNEJ) BACK. Ill
"It isn t best that you should burden your
self with them."
" But I can t help it, papa."
"Haw 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 deter
mined 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
112 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 imple
ment 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, stoop
ing over, he kissed her cheek.
TURNED BACK. 113
" 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 dis
coveries : 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.
8
114 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
Inasmuch, however, as Dick was still walk
ing, there was hope that the depth might
increase no more, or, at most, not to a danger
ous extent.
Mr. Starr could not see his own horse, but
he plainly heard him as he advanced cau
tiously, 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 rus
tling 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 oif her feet by the force of the current.
The rancher drew her head around, and,
TURNED BACK. 115
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."
116 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
" 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 any
where 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, for
tunately, they had emerged at a point consid
erably 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
TURNED BACK. 117
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 pos
sible 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 prox
imity 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 XY.
MISSING.
BUT there was no avoiding the risk. In
silence the little party threaded their
way along the margin of the prairie, listen
ing 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.
118
MISSING. 119
In that event, they must detect the foot
prints of the ponies in advance, and with their
skill in trailing were certain to learn of the
course taken by the whites. Then the pur
suit 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 for
ward with no little difficulty for some rods
and halted.
"Be careful," he said, speaking particu
larly to Dot, "and do not make any noise,
120 THE YOUNG KANCHERS.
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 dis
covering 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
MISSING. 121
lose sight of the probability of serious miscal
culations 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 follow
ing 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 morn
ing 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 investiga-
122 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
tion 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.
MISSING. 123
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 en
couraging, 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," con
cluded 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
124 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 im
pressed 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, brac
ing 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 stir
rup in which one foot rested. It was plain
also that the leading horse was still firmly
wading.
With a relief which possibly may be im
agined, the horseman heard Dick step out on
MISSING. 125
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 an
nounced 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, com
ing out a few paces below where she had
entered it.
i We are all right, he called ; l c 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 pass
ing 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
126
A THIEF OF THE NIGHT. 127
highest point, and her faculties absorbed in
the single one of hearing, she caught a sus
picious 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 migbt 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.
128 THE YOUNG KANCIIEKS.
The wife, as may be supposed, was dum-
f ounded 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 ene
mies had unexpectedly stolen their pack-pony.
Where were the rest ? Why did they con
tent 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 hus
band 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.
A THIEF OF THE NIGHT. 129
" 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.
u 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 im
possible in the darkness to follow precisely
his own course. Having emerged at a different
9
130 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
point from where lie 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 dis
appointment 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 ejacula
tion of the husband as the fact was accom
plished. " 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
A THIEF OF THE NIGHT. 131
splashing of water behind them left no doubt
that the Sioux were again on their trail.
"Quick!" whispered the husband; " dis
mount ; 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. Other
wise, 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 pur
suers 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.
132 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
The wife understood why the halt was made.
Her husband stole back and placed himself by
her side.
4 You must be wearied with carrying Dot
so long," he said sympathizing! y.
"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 some
thing."
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
A THIEF OF THE NIGHT. 133
hoofs would have been more distinct than any
thing 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 danger
ously near, the dread now was that the ponies
would betray them. Those watchful animals
often prove the most valuable allies of the flee
ing fugitive, for they possess the power of dis
covering impending danger before it can be
come 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.
134 THE YOUNG RANCHEKS.
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.
"Tjl YEN in that trying moment, Starr could
1 ^ not help reflecting upon the peculiar
turn matters had taken. He failed to under
stand 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
135
136 THE YOUNG EA1STCHERS.
beside their animals, hardly daring to speak
in the most guarded whispers.
It must have been that the ponies under
stood 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 re
mained 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 ut
most 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
THKOUGH THE WOOD. 137
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 any
thing?"
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 hold
ing his bit, started forward. The mare fol-
owed 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
138 THE YOUNG KANCHERS.
they continued straight forward, they would
have stepped into the blaze.
This was cause for astonishment, and sug
gested 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 work
ing 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
THROUGH THE WOOD. 139
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, grasp
ing the Winchester, to open the way in front.
They could do nothing more, listening mean
while for the sounds of danger which they
expected to hear every moment.
But lo 1 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
140 THE YOUNG EANCIIERS.
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, "lam going to use my authority as a
husband over you."
"Have I not always been an obedient
wife?" she asked, with mock humility.
"]STo 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.
THROUGH THE WOOD. 141
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 di
rected. 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
142 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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
thoughtf ulness 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. Occa
sionally 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
143
144 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 cer
tainty that we are not journeying toward the
fort."
"I have thought much of that," replied
NIGHT AND MOKNING. 145
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
10
146 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
speak ; at such times I trust much to the in
stinct 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.
NIGHT AND MORNING. 147
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
148 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 antici
pated. 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, u 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
NIGHT AND MORNING. 149
abounded with so many bowlders and rocks
that, after penetrating it a short way, it
became too dangerous for the ponies to per
severe. They were liable at any moment to
break a limb.
" Remain here a few minutes while I inves
tigate," 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 pro
jected 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
150 THE YOUNG KANCHEKS.
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 hud
dled 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 pos
sible 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 Bropliy have an impor
tant 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 awak
ened by the frenzied cry of the young Irish
man 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.
151
152 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
"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 previ
ously," 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, accom
panied 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 i "
"He has been killed by the spalpeens, for if
A STARTLING SURPRISE. 153
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 sun
light, 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 prob-
154 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
ably 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 scan
ning the wooded ridge, as it rose more dis
tinctly 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 conspic
uous objects to whatever Sioux were there.
"Tim," said Warren, as they rode easily
A STARTLING SURPRISE. 155
beside each other, " unless I am much mis
taken, 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
156 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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, vibrat
ing 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 where
abouts was unknown to the whites.
u Do ye moind," said Tim, "that two
months since, whin we were hunting along the
A STARTLING SURPRISE. 157
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 cer
tainty 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
158 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
life, forgot to keep watch of the rear, while
giving so much attention to the front. Sin
gular 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 pre
caution ; 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 posi
tion without the youths once dreaming of the
fact until, as may be said, the hostiles were
literally upon them.
CHAPTER XX.
A EUN 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 con
scious 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 rav
ening wolves. The boys shouted to their
159
160 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
animals, who flew across the plain as though
the snow did not discommode them in the
least. They did not separate, for the instinc
tive resolve thrilled them that they would fall
or escape together.
Each was provided with a repeating Win
chester, 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 sig
nal fire, but they had not gone far before dis
covering 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
A RUN FOR LIFE. 161
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 mis
take, 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.
u 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.
"Ibelave we re riding faster than the spal
peens," 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
11
162 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 reck
less 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 dis
covered 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 fugi
tives. 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
.
A EUN FOR LIFE. 163
much occupied with the act he had in mind.
Furthermore, he rioted 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.
Warren glanced around at the moment the
gun was discharged and could hardly believe
his own eyes. He knew the success was acci
dental, 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 out-
164 THE YOUNG EANCIIERS.
cry 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 out
running 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 situa
tion, he begged him to give no further thought
to firing upon their foes.
"I ll let the spalpeens alone if they ll do
A EUN FOE LIFE. 165
the same wid me," was his reply, spoken in a
low voice, for the two were separated by only
a few feet.
4 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, coniident
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 com
panion 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 con
tinued 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.
166 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 draw
ing away, the rifles of the pursuers were cer
tain 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 Irish
man, 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.
167
168 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
"Look out! they re going to shoot again,"
said Tim.
Throwing himself forward, Warren hugged
his pony closer than ever, his companion do
ing 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, moan
ing 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."
AWAY WE GO ! 169
" 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 giv
ing out. He struggled gamely, but it was evi
dent 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 plead
ings of his friend. Two discoveries, however,
led him to yield.
They were now heading straight for the
170 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 carne within a hair of tumbling headlong
to the ground.
AWAY WE GO ! 171
Quickly as it was done, it was not a moment
too soon. The mortally wounded Billy sud
denly 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 re
lax 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, hold
ing 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.
172 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 any
thing 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
lie 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 to
ward 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.
AWAY WE GO ! 173
The leaders naturally supposed they were
the ones intended to serve as targets, and
they ducked their heads with such sudden
ness that the Irishman grinned. Not only
that, but one of them caused his pony prob
ably 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 glee
fully told Warren of what had taken place.
The advantage to the fugitives will be un
derstood 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, nnless the body of Jack should
be used as a breastwork.
The confusion of the bucks was only tern-
174 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
porary. 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 hit
ting 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 con
vinced 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.
ri THE fugitives were now so close to the
J- ridge that Warren Starr, from his posi
tion 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 to
gether, the ascent was steep, and the bowlders
and rocks, plainly discernible, since all leaf
age 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
175
176 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 sev
eral 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 re
membered, were scattered at varying dis-
ON FOOT. 177
tances, 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 under
stood, 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 con
sidered, of attracting the greater attention.
For a few moments Warren devoted his en
ergies 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 hun
dred yards in this furious fashion that he ven
tured 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
12
178 THE YOUNG KANCHEKS.
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 prov
idence, 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 for
ward 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 fol
lowed.
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,
ON FOOT. 179
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.
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.
180 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 match
less 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
ON FOOT. 181
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 im
agination had nothing to do with it.
The reports of his own Winchester and the
Sioux s rifle were all that had broken the still
ness 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 per
plexed over the fact.
Could it be that equally good fortune had
befallen Tim Brophy ? Had he been able to
throw his pursuers oif the track for the time.
It seemed impossible that two such provi
dences should come simultaneously to the
fugitives. The Irishman was by no means as
fleet of foot as Warren, and with the majority
182 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
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 re
main, 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 danger
ous 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 begin
ning of his last flight, could be readily run
down, if the Sioux preferred that to "wing
ing" him while in full flight..
CHAPTER XXIIL
DOWN !
MEANWHILE Tim Brophy found him
self 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
183
184 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 back
ward 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 oppor
tunity 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.
DOWN ! 185
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 medi
tated 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 recog-
186 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
nized 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, per
haps it was not so curious after all) which
DOWN ! 187
was evident to the captured youth. The
Sioux admired the brave fight he had made
for himself. Trained for ages to regard phys
ical 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 ap
pearance.
He assumed the upright posture, and stand
ing uncertainly for a few seconds, fixed his
eyes on the prisoner.
Then grasping the situation, and recog
nizing 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 him
self into a pugilistic attitude, and no doubt
would have given a good account of himself
had he been permitted, for he was skilled in
188 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
the art of self-defence, and such a person
always has the advantage over a foe, no mat
ter 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
DOWN ! 189
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, there
fore, 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 counte
nances closely, and was surprised a minute or
two later by the appearance of the last mem
ber 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
190 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 injur
ing 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, w T hen his better nature
would resume control ? Could he forget that
DOWN ! 191
he had eaten salt with this hapless fellow, and
stand by, without raising hand or voice, when
his extremity should come, as corne 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.
TTTHILE these lively scenes were taking
V V 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,
192
THE FRIEND IN NEED. 193
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 be-
13
194 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
friend 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 dis
tress, 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 doub
ling 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 des
perate haste, stretching out before him for
many miles.
THE FRIEND IN NEED. 195
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 vary
ing 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, War-
196 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
ren 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 sev
eral 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
THE FRIEND IN NEED. 197
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 bad sought first to
catch, closely watched him as he slowly ap
proached, 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.
198 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 lie would be greeted by a volley, or that
THE FKIEND IN NEED. 199
the Sioux would throw themselves across his
track to shut off all chance of escape.
That they did not do so was not only unac
countable 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. De
spite 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 amaze
ment, he recognized his own pony, Jack, striv
ing hard to keep him company.
CHAPTER XXV.
THE PRAIRIE DUEL.
"TTTARREN STARR, could have hugged
V V 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 at
tempted 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,
200
THE PKAIRIE DUEL. 201
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 fol
low 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. Remember
ing 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
202 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
acted as if lie 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 pur
suit. 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 dis
cipline when their masters were astride of
them, but they showed anything but obedi
ence now that they were free from their con
trol. 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 war-
THE PEAIKIE DUEL. 203
rior nearest him, he strove to catch sight of
Tirn 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 under
stand those people well, and thought he knew
how to take care of himself. No, he would
fight him ; and now opened a most extraor
dinary 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
204 THE YOUNG KANCHEKS.
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 swing
ing 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 sta
tionary 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 situa
tion, and was competent to do his part.
The Sioux at the base of the ridge had
THE PRAIRIE DUEL. 205
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 mean
while 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 move
ment, 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.
206 THE YOUNG KANCHERS.
"It is no more than fair to return the com
pliment," thought Warren, raising his Win
chester, 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 proceed
ing was more than his antagonist could con
jecture.
The advantage during the performance
possibly was with young Starr ; for, by keep
ing 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," re
flected 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
THE PKAIRIE DUEL. 207
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 exhi
bition. 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 GKOUND.
ri THE aim of the warrior was better than
-L 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 antag
onist from the back of his horse.
The Sioux resumed his circling course, grad
ually drawing nearer the young man, who
continued as alert as at the first ; ready to
take advantage of any opening that pre
sented itself.
ON THE GEOUND. 209
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 dis
mounted he would be at a great disadvantage,
though likely still to use the body of his ani
mal 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
14
210 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 horse-
ON THE GROUND. 211
man, 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 nat
ural 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
212 THE YOUNG KANCIIEKS.
own pony, to drive a ball through the mis
creant, 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 hos
tile 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 wait-
ON THE GROUND. 213
ing 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
tipper part of his body, so that it was sup
ported 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
214 THE YOUNG KANCHEKS.
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 de
ceiving him ?
The truth must show itself soon ; but be it
what it might, Warren Starr had the comfort
ing belief that he was master of the situation.
He was unharmed, with his ready Winchester
ON THE GROUND. 215
in such position that he could use it like a
flash. As yet the Sioux had not brought him
self to the point of aiming, and Warren was
watching him so closely that he could antici
pate 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 XXVIL
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 Chris
tian, he could not withhold his sympathy, nor
could he forget that simple but sublime role
of the good Samaritan.
216
A GOOD SAMAKITAN. 217
Touching his heels against the ribs of Jack,
the pony increased his pace, but had not yet
reached the prostrate figure when Warren ex
perienced 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, reso
lutely compressing his thin lips; "go away
and leave me alone."
218 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
" I shall not; lam 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 shat
tered 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 inde-
A GOOD SAMARITAN. 219
scribable 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 ? "
220 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
" 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 signifi
cant 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
A GOOD SAMARITAN. 221
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 await
ing 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 re
pentance were gone.
Still, although this particular Sioux might
222 THE YOUNG RANCHEKS.
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 riot
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, accom
panied by a shake of the head.
A GOOD SAMARITAN. 223
"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."
" Bat 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 HOKSEMAN.
ri 1HE young rancher had calculated matters
-L 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
224
THE LONE HORSEMAN. 225
the wounded Starcus, evidently in conversa
tion. 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 man
aged matters with such skill that they soon
coaxed a couple of the fleetest back to cap
tivity. With the aid of these they soon cor
ralled 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
15
226 THE YOUNG KANCHERS.
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 noth
ing 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 per
ilous 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 In
dian s declaration that it was beyond his
THE LONE HORSEMAN. 227
power. He was wounded himself, and at the
first move to interfere in behalf of the cap
tive, who had killed one of their best war
riors 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 ac
cepted 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 tak
ing into account the force that would insure
safety instantly on such discovery.
228 THE YOUNG KANCHEKS.
But this plan involved considerable time,
with the certainty that his folks must spend
another night in imminent peril a night that
lie 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.
THE LONE HORSEMAN. 229
He did not forge fc, 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 oppo
site 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 ex
pressed 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
230 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 to
ward 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
THE LONE HOESEMAN. 231
sharp lookout to detect the Sioux, if they hap
pened 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, dismount
ing, penetrate nigh enough to learn the mean
ing of the smoke which was such an inter
esting 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 cer
tainly 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.
A CCUSTOMED as are the Sioux to scenes
-llJL of violence, it is not probable that any
members of the party to whom we have been
referring ever looked upon a sight so remark
able 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 them
selves 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
A BREAK FOR FREEDOM. 233
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 misgiv
ing 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 Cau
casian 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 unob
structed, leaving but a solitary warrior guard-
234 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
ing 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 com
mitting the same rashness for which he had
often eluded him.
The view from the rocks through the inter
vening 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, lean
ing forward, and peering as best he could be
tween 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 oppor
tunity had or was about to come to him. The
A BREAK FOR FREEDOM. 235
warrior seemed to forget him entirely, though,
like all his people, he would be recalled with
lightning quickness on hearing or seeing any
thing 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 excite
ment 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 oppor
tunity. 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 for-
gitful spalpeen is Tim Brophy ! "
236 THE YOUNG EANCIIERS.
He had no rifle. That would never do,
when pursuit was inevitable in a short time.
Accordingly, he turned about, ran to the pros
trate 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, with
out 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 war
rior 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
A BKEAK FOE FREEDOM. 237
with a sigh he hurried forward, for not a mo
ment was to be lost.
It was remarkable that, after having cap
tured the young man with so much difficulty,
they should have invited him to escape, as
they virtually did by their action, but the cir
cumstances 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 start
ing 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
238 THE YOUNG EANCHERS.
rush, to his assistance. The return was slow,
being retarded by the efforts of several to cap
ture their wandering ponies. When they suc
ceeded 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 awak
ened 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
A BREAK FOR FREEDOM. 239
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.
A CTUATED by his resolution to learn the
-LJL 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 be
yond 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 un
dertaking which could not be avoided.
240
COMRADES AGAIN. 241
"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 Win
chester 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 twink
ling.
"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
16
242 THE YOUNG KANCHEES.
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 for
ward as a decoy, and that his captors were
immediately behind him. But that dread
was removed the next moment by the appear
ance of the young Irishman, who, advancing
jauntily, called out in his cheery voice :
"It s all roight, me boy ! None of the spal
peens 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.
COMRADES AGAIN. 243
Then he saw how a marvellous combination of
circumstances had helped him, and how clev
erly the quick-witted youth had turned them
to account.
"I must shake hands with you again," re
sponded the delighted Warren. " I never
knew of anything more remarkable."
u Ye didn t think ye could give me any
hilp," chuckled Tim, " but ye did it all
the same."
"Howl"
" 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
244 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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.
6 1 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,
COMRADES AGAIN. 245
but it was so nearly so that it give no smoke.
Looking around it did not take me long to
Tarn 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 no
ticed 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."
4 Then they have passed nigh this spot?"
asked the startled son.
Tim partly turned and pointed behind him.
246 THE YOUNG EANCIIEKS.
" 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 War
ren 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 along
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 over
taking us."
COMRADES AGAIN". 247
" 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 thriving occurrences that have
been going on this day."
"Take me to the spot where you left their
trail," added Warren, with unusual excite
ment, "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.
young ranchers had to go but a short
-L 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 conscious
ness 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
THE LAST HOPE. 249
he left home, and he is hardly a quarter of the
way to Fort Meade."
4 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 agi
tation 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 to
ward the open prairie, left by Warren but a
short time before. It was evident that Mr.
250 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
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, turn
ing 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 LAST HOPE. 251
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 re
volver 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
252 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 hur
riedly 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 hur-
THE LAST HOPE. 253
rying to the fort. We went astray in the
darkness, and after a number of narrow
escapes, as I have just related, found our
selves 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 muti
lated 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
254 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 con
fident 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 direc
tion 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 pisto]-ball
through her brain."
THE LAST HOPE. 255
"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 ex
changed awakened the ranchers to the fact
that they were still in imminent peril, for the
Sioux were certain to follow Tim Brophy vig
orously, 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 indispen-
266 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
sable, and we would make a sorry show in
our crippled condition. We would be abso
lutely 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 com
pels 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."
THE LAST HOPE. 257
"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 ar
range 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 to
gether 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 unre
sisting 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 con
sidered it no unimportant advantage. The
pursuers would advance at a speed that must
bring them into sight before they could sur
prise the fugitives.
A glance around showed that the rancher
17
258 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
could not have selected a better place for de
fence. 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 hold
ing 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 be
tween 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 irreg
ular circle of bowlders without a suspicion of
who were within it.
" I have but the one proposition to make,"
THE LAST HOPE. 259
said Warren, seeing that his father was wait
ing 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 re
course left to us."
"I do not agree with either of you," re
marked 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 be
hind with us to help fight. The time for dis
cussion is past ; we must act. Warren, make
ready to leave this minute."
CHAPTER XXXII.
AWAY ! AWAY !
~YTTHEN George Starr announced his de-
V V cision 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
260
AWAY ! AWAY ! 261
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 bowl
ders opposite to the point at which Tim had
fired, and which, therefore, was in the direc
tion 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 seek
ing were at bay among the bowlders. For
tunate, 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 ;
262 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 pre
caution. It never would have done to at
tempt to take the remaining pony. Warren
quickly vanished among the trees and bowl
ders, 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 post
poned for a short time, the steed must have
fallen into the hands of the enemy.
The heart of the youth gave a bound of de
light 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,
AWAY! AWAY! 263
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
264 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 bis
familiarity with the country and the daylight
ensured him against going astray ; he was cer
tain 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 consterna
tion 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 gal
lantry 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
AWAY ! AWAY ! 265
put an end to his hope of reaching the fort
that day. True, he could continue the ad
vance 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 be
leaguered fugitives until late on the following
day.
" Can they hold out until then 1 "
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 excel
lent magazine rifle, for it will be remembered
that he had exchanged weapons with his
young friend, but there was not only a for
midable 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 sum
moned to the spot.
266 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
Darkness is the favorite time with the red
men when moving against an enemy, and they
would probably make no determined demon
stration until the night was well advanced.
Then, when they should rush over the bowl
ders, 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 evi
dently 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."
AWAY! AWAY! 267
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 for
get 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 fol
lowed 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 se
cured it in place.
268 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
"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 im
pressively, 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 mas
ter, 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 sur
prise. In the snow directly in front appeared
the footprints of a single horse that had
AWAY ! AWAY ! 269
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 supposi-
270 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
tion. He knew of no rancher in the neighbor
hood of his old home, and it would seem that
no white man would ride with such despera
tion 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 dis
covered no signs of others.
The last advance of Warren brought him
close to the precipitous section which, know
ing well, he had feared would prove too diffi
cult 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
AWAY! AWAY! 271
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 fa
miliar 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.
BKEAD 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 hos
tility 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 re
spects, 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
272
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATEKS. 273
them as to what was best to do. Stare us ex
pressed 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 will
ing 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 unas
sisted 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, head*
ing 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
18
274 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS. 275
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 con
fronted him. They numbered nearly twenty,
tinder 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 cav
alry. 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
276 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 jour
neying alone in the direction of the fort
constituting the strongest evidence.
He explained that the ridge where he be
lieved the whites were doing their best to
escape the Sioux was much more approach-
able 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
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS. 277
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 In
dian, who was now eager to prove his grati
tude by any act in his power. He unhesitat
ingly 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
278 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
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 hope
ful that we shall be in time to save them."
Accordingly Starcus parted from the cav
alry, and was on his return to join his people
and to attempt to carry out the wise sugges
tion 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 de
light. 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.
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS. 279
" 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 for
sook me, but they have come back, and," he
said, with a meaning smile, " I think they
will stay."
280 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
" I am sure of that, and you will do much
good."
"Well, good-by," said Starcus, reaching
down his un wounded 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 disadvan
tage, 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
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATEKS. 281
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 foot-prints 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 misgiv
ing. 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 happi-
282 THE YOUNG EANCHEES.
ness 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 undoubt
edly 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.
BREAD CAST UPON THE WATEES. 283
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 ar
rangements 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.
284 THE YOUNG RANCHERS.
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 troiifcle. 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 mer
cifully extricated our friends from the danger
which threatened more than once the ruin
of all.
THE END.
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