When George Starr announced his decision to any member of his family no
one presumed to question it. Had the son been disposed to do so in this
instance he would have refrained, for he believed, with his parent, that
he had made known their last and only hope.

"I will go, father!"

He was in the act of rising to his feet, when Tim Brophy discharged his
rifle.

"I plugged him," was his comment, as he peered through between the
bowlders; "the spalpeen wasn't ixpicting the same, but that one won't
bother us any more."

Being in the act of rising at this moment, Warren shrank back again,
undecided for the moment what to do, but hesitation was fatal, as his
father saw.

"Go," he said; "don't lose an instant; they are not on that side; you
can slip off without being seen."

The youth saw the force of the words. Crouching as low as possible, with
the Sioux rifle in his hand, he passed between the bowlders opposite to
the point at which Tim had fired, and which, therefore, was in the
direction of the open prairie.

The move was one of those in which success depends wholly upon
promptness. The Sioux would speedily dispose themselves so as to prevent
anyone leaving, as soon as they found that the parties whom they were
seeking were at bay among the bowlders. Fortunate, therefore, was it
that no delay took place in the flight of young Starr, even though, when
he started, the enemy was at the gate.

It required no very skilful woodcraft for him to get away, since it was
not anticipated by the Sioux, and he had the best means for concealing
himself.

There had been one idea in the mind of the rancher, which he would have
carried out but for the sudden appearance of the Indians; that was for
his son to take the remaining pony with him. The fugitives could make no
use of him, and should it prove that Jack was gone, his owner would not
be without the means of pushing to Fort Meade for help. Circumstances,
however, prevented that precaution. It never would have done to attempt
to take the remaining pony. Warren quickly vanished among the trees and
bowlders, and the Rubicon was crossed.

But Jack was found just where he had been left, patiently awaiting the
return of his master. The pursuit of Tim Brophy by the Sioux had led
them in a different direction, though, had the flight of Warren been
postponed for a short time, the steed must have fallen into the hands of
the enemy.

The heart of the youth gave a bound of del