e bad men tried to steal Wonota."

"Tell me how it happened," Ruth put in, hoping to change his trend of
thought and determination.

"I will tell you, my friend," said the Indian girl. "A little fat man
came in a car when Chief Totantora and I were walking in the road. He got
us to sit down yonder and talk to him. He is one of those who have tried
to get Chief Totantora and me to go away from you to make pictures. He
offers much money. And while we talked, those other two men crept up
behind us and they all seized Chief Totantora and me. We were bound and
our mouths closed before we knew how many, or how few, our enemies were.
Then my father was left in the wood and I was carried to the boat. I do
not know what became of the little fat man."

"I saw him drive away," Ruth said. "It made me suspicious. I had already
seen and talked with the fat man, whose name is Bilby. Don't forget that
name, Wonota."

"I will remember," said the Indian girl, composedly.

"He may make some other attempt to get possession of you. Some attempt by
aid of the courts."

"The white man's law is very strange," muttered Totantora.

"But we will get ahead of Bilby before he can do anything else," Ruth
went on. "Miss Cameron's car is outside in the road. Go to the hotel and
change your clothes, Totantora, and I will take both you and Wonota back
to the Red Mill. Until we get away for the North I shall not want you out
of my sight."

The Indian shook himself much as a dog might. A lighter expression
flickered over his dark face.

"I shall not suffer cold from a wetting," he said. "It is nothing. I have
nothing at the hotel. We will go now."

"Come on, then," rejoined Ruth, promptly. "It is best that we get away
before Bilby can learn that his plan to make Wonota a captive miscarried.
Hurry!"

She swept them in her earnestness out to the road where Helen and Aunt
Alvirah saw them with considerable surprise--particularly because of the
saturated condition of the Indian.

"I declare, Ruth!" cried Helen, "you do manage to get into such perfectly
lovely rows. What is the matter?"

But Ruth postponed all explanation for a later time. On their way back to
the Red Mill she did explain to Helen, however, that she intended to take
the two Indians to Cheslow and get a train for Albany that evening.

"I will fool Bilby and whoever is aiding him. We will get away."

"If you go to-night, so do I!" exclaimed her chum. "You can't lose me,
Ruth F