y which he thought the worst, the tomahawking or the carrying
off of the girl for whom he entertained such a high regard.

The top of the hill reached, they saw before them a broad stretch of
open prairie, flanked to the north and the south by the woods from which
they had just emerged.

"I'll be thrashed if I know where we are," he said. "Have you any idea?"

"No, Dick, I am completely bewildered."

"I wonder if it is safe to attempt to cross this prairie? It is pretty
dark, but that redskin has mighty sharp eyes."

"Let us go down to the edge of the woods first and rest a bit. I am sure
you are pretty well out of breath, and if I can bathe my ankle in some
cold water perhaps I'll be able to walk on it before long."

"Don't try it, Nellie; I'll carry you," and again the youth picked her
up.

It was not long before they reached a convenient hollow, where there was
a small pool. Here Nellie made herself comfortable and took off the shoe
which hurt her so much. Bathed, the ankle which had been twisted felt
much better. It was still, however, much swollen, and to walk far on
that foot was as yet out of the question.

An hour went by, a quiet hour, in which only the cries of the night
birds and the occasional hoot of an owl disturbed them. They conversed
in whispers and Dick's ears were ever on the alert, for he felt certain
that Vorlange or Yellow Elk would sooner or later continue the search
for them.

Nellie was very sleepy and at last her eyes closed and she dropped into
a slumber upon Dick's shoulder, forming such a pretty picture the youth
could do nothing but admire her. "I'll save her--I must do it!" he
murmured, and kissed her wavy tresses softly.

It wanted still two hours to sunrise when he awakened her. She leaped up
with a start.

"I have been asleep! Oh, Dick, why did you let me drop off?"

"I knew how tired you must be after going through all you did. But we
must be on our way now, before it grows lighter. How is the foot?"

"It is stiff, but much better. Which way shall we go?"

"Let us strike across the prairie and to the north. That is bound to
bring us into Kansas sooner or later, and once there we'll be sure to
locate the boomers without much trouble."

Both were hungry, but, as there was no food at hand, neither said a word
on that point. Getting a drink at a running brook close by, they started
off, Dick holding Nellie's hand, that she might not go down on the ankle
that was still wea