"Talk to the boy, there!" he said, pointing to Harvey Catlett. "He was
on guard when _it_ happened. What he says will be done."

All eyes fell upon the youthful scout.

"I will save her if I can," he said quickly, and with determination.
"Wolf Cap must remain. You may need him. Pursue the journey; it may be
death to tarry here."

"And worse than that to proceed;" Mrs. Merriweather said.

"I think not, madam. Keep stout hearts in your bosoms. Mr. Parton, will
you follow me?"

"On the trail?" inquired the young man, to whom the question was
unexpected.

"Certainly, sir. I see that you have been thinking pretty hard of me
to-night."

Oscar Parton blushed.

"Forgive me," he said, putting out his hand. "We are apt to think
unadvisedly on the spur of the moment. I trust we shall be friends, and
work together in all things."

Catlett took the extended hand in a pledge of friendship, and pressed it
heartily.

"Come!" he said; "we must cross the river."

Parton turned to press the hands of his friends.

"No time for that," said Wayne's scout. "In these times we must say
farewell with our lips. We have lost time already."

He turned to the water's edge, and Kate's lover dropped Carl's hand to
follow.

"Can you swim?" asked Catlett.

"Certainly."

"Then here we go. Keep alongside of me and swim noiselessly."

A moment later the twain glided into the water, leaving an anxious group
on the shadowy shore.

Silently, so far as the form of swimming was concerned, the friends kept
together and approached the northern bank of the Maumee.

"Do you know who took the girl?" Catlett asked his companion.

"How should I?" was the question that met his.

Wayne's scout smiled.

"I thought that you might have formed an opinion," he said.

"No;" and then came the question, "what do you know about it?"

"Not much; but if she escapes us, the terror of these woods will see
her."

Oscar Parton's face became pale.

"Do you mean----"

He paused, as if afraid to utter the name.

"I mean that man!" said Catlett, as if his companion had finished his
sentence. "Jim Girty has caused more anguish in this part of the world
than the tomahawks and fire brands of a whole red nation. I believe that
John Darknight was here to-night, and he and the White Whirlwind have
been friends."

The whispered conversation grew still, for the gloomy shore was
discernible, and the thought of Kate Merriweather in the hands of the
greatest