re."

"But whar is Nellie?" asked Rasco, impatiently, looking around with a
falling face.

"She ran away when the other Indians came to Yellow Elk's assistance,"
answered Pawnee Brown, and in a few hurried words he told his story.

"Then she can't be far off."

"Let us hunt for her at once," cried Dick, and his enthusiasm made the
men laugh, at which the boy blushed furiously.

"Never mind, Dick, yer don't think no more of her nor I do," said Rasco.
"Which way, Pawnee?"

"This way, boys." The scout turned to the Indian who had been wounded.
"Dead as a door nail. Pity it wasn't Yellow Elk."

"So say I," answered Rasco. "But we'll git him yet, mark my words!"

With all possible speed they ran out of the cave and to the spot where
they had left their horses. Here a disagreeable surprise awaited them.
Every animal was gone, including the one Pawnee Brown had ridden.

"More of Yellow Elk's work!" muttered the boomer. "I'll tell you, men,
that red is a corker, and as a dead Indian he couldn't be beat."

"I declar' this most stumps me!" growled Dan Gilbert. "Here's the trail
plain enough, but it's all out of the question ter follow on shank's own
mare."

"Let us hunt up Clemmer and the others," suggested Jack Rasco.

"We must be cautious--the cavalry may be somewhere in the vicinity,"
added Pawnee Brown. "How the redskins escaped them is a mystery to me."

"They are evidently as sly as their forefathers," said Dick. "But,
really, something ought to be done. If we--hullo, there's a horse down
in yonder clearing!"

"Bonnie Bird!" shouted Pawnee Brown, in great delight. It was indeed the
beautiful mare. A second cry and the steed came bounding up to her
master.

"Now I can follow even if the others can't," said the scout. "Rasco,
it's a pity you haven't a mount. It is no more than right that you
should follow up your niece. If you insist upon it I'll let you have
Bonnie Bird. I wonder if Nellie or the redskin had her?"

"I won't take yer horse, Pawnee--it's askin' too much," answered Rasco.
"Supposin' we both mount her? If Bonnie Bird got away from Yellow Elk
it's more'n likely one of the other hosses got away, too."

"That's so. Well, get up, Jack, and let us lose no time."

Soon both men were mounted. A few words all around followed, and it was
agreed that Dick and Gilbert should try to hunt up Clemmer and the
others, and then away went Pawnee Brown and Rasco upon Yellow Elk's
trail.

Suddenly Jack Rasco