oike, do ye moind
thot? Swat the Dootchman wan, quick!"

And Mike "swatted" with an end of a fence rail he was chopping up for
firewood. But Humpendinck dodged, and Rosy caught the blow, and there
followed a lively row between her and Mike, in the midst of which the
German boomer sneaked away.

"Dot Irishmans vos so fiery as der hair mit his head," he muttered to
himself. "I dink I vos keep out of sight bis he vos cool off, and
den--Mine gracious, Bumpkin, var did you come from? I dinks you vos left
behind py Arkansas City."

For there had suddenly appeared before Humpendinck the form of the
dunce, hatless and with his black hair tumbled over his face in all
directions.

"Ha, ha! where have I been?" cried Pumpkin. "Where haven't I been you
had better ask. I've been everywhere--among the soldiers and the boomers
and the Indians." He stopped short. "Where is Pawnee Brown?"

"Ofer py Clemmer's vagon. But he ton't vont ter pother mit you now."

"He will bother with me," and so speaking Pumpkin ran off, to reach the
great scout's side and pluck him by the coat sleeve.

"At your service, sir," he said, bowing low, for with all of his
peculiarities Pumpkin had a great respect for Pawnee Brown.

"What is it, lad?"

"I have to report, sir, that your pard is captured--Jack Rasco; he had a
fearful fight and the soldiers have him. Ha! ha! they will shoot
Jack--if you let 'em, but I know you won't--will you now?"

"You are certain Jack is captured?"

"Dead sure--saw him with my own eyes. Ha! ha! they tried to catch
Pumpkin, but they might as well try to catch a ghost. Ha! ha! but I give
'em a fine run."

It took a good deal of talking to get a straight story from the
half-witted youth, but at last Pawnee Brown was in full possession of
the facts. Pumpkin had seen Rasco on the march just before Dick was
taken.

Immediately after this the boomer held a short consultation with
Clemmer.

"I feel it my duty to help Rasco to escape, if it can be done," he said.
"Besides, it is high time for me to return to Dick Arbuckle and to find
out, if possible, what has become of Jack's niece."

"Shall I go along?" questioned Clemmer, "I wouldn't like anything
better."

"All right, come on," answered the great scout.

He had scarcely spoken when a loud cry rang out, coming from the lower
end of the camp.

"Buckley's bull has broken loose! Look out for yourself, the beast has
gone mad!"

"Buckley's bull!" muttered Pawnee Bro