h the
purpose of giving him his quietus, disregarding his own safety until a
bullet through the body should apprise him of his fatal oversight. It
was this fear that checked Warren in the very nick of time.

The one great obstacle in the way of the Sioux successfully playing this
ruse was that he was in open view, where no movement on his part could
be concealed. Were it in the wood, with rocks and trees at his command,
the chances would have been far better for him.

Warren Starr kept his eye fixed on him. It would have been easy, while
seated on his own pony, to drive a ball through the miscreant, who was
fully exposed to his fire, but it might be after all that he was badly
wounded and unable to defend himself. If such were the case he could not
commit the cruelty of firing at him again, even though the Sioux would
have eagerly seized such a chance against a foe.

It was for the purpose of learning the truth in the matter that Warren
watched him with the utmost closeness, holding his own weapon ready to
use the instant the other made a hostile demonstration.

The action or rather inaction of the other Sioux at the base of the
ridge was suggestive, and increased the suspicion of the young rancher.
They were in a direct line with the one on the ground, so that Warren
readily saw them without withdrawing his attention from his immediate
antagonist.

Instead of rushing out to the help of the latter they remained where
they were, and continued the role of spectators. This looked as if they
did not believe the fellow was in need of assistance, and they were
simply waiting with confidence in the result of the piece of treacherous
cunning.

The warrior with his left hand drew his rifle round to the front. The
weapon was a magazine one like Warren's, and it was one, therefore, of
which it would not do to lose sight.

The gun being in position for use, the owner, apparently with
difficulty, raised the upper part of his body, so that it was supported
on the left elbow. Then he essayed to call the right hand into play, but
appeared to find a difficulty in doing so.

Up to this moment Warren Starr had been trying to learn in what manner
the fellow was wounded. The motion of his lower limbs showed no
weakness, though it might have been there without appearing, so long as
he held his prone position and did not call them into use.

The action now indicated that his right arm was the one that had
suffered, since it fumbled