n't mean any harm, Pawnee. Maybe you don't know it, but the boy is
a thief just the same. We just caught him riding my horse--this bay. My
comrades can prove it."

"It's true," said Ross.

"True as gospel," added Skimmy, the third cavalryman. "We caught him
less than half an hour ago."

Without answering to this, Pawnee Brown turned to the youth.

"Tell me your yarn, Dick. I know there is some mistake here."

"There is not much to tell, Major. When the lariat broke up at the
Devil's Chimney and I couldn't make you reply to my calls I ran off to
get help and a rope. I intended to ride your mare back to camp, but when
I got to where the mare had been tethered I found her gone and this bay
loafing around in her place. I got on the bay, but, instead of riding to
camp, the animal ran away with me and brought me here. These fellows
were mighty rough on me, and that man was going to split my head open
when you came along in the nick of time."

"That's a neat fairy tale," sneered Tucker. "This horse was stolen four
hours ago. More than likely the boy couldn't manage him and lost his way
and the horse tried to get back to where he belonged."

"That doesn't connect with what I know," answered Pawnee Brown, quietly.
"My mare was tethered where he went to look for her. I might as well
accuse you of riding down there, taking Bonnie Bird and leaving this nag
in her place."

"Do you mean to insinuate we are horse thieves?" cried Ross hotly.

"I'm giving you as good as you send, that's all. Dick, have you any idea
where Bonnie Bird is?"

"Not the slightest, sir."

The great scout heaved a sigh. The little racing mare was the very apple
of his eye.

"I'll not give up the hunt until I have found her." He turned again to
the cavalrymen. "If the finest little black mare, with a white blaze,
that you ever saw strays into your camp remember she belongs to me," he
went on. "I want her returned at once, and if anybody attempts to keep
her there will be a hotter time than this Territory has seen for many a
day. Dick, hop up behind me," and he turned to his horse.

"That boy is to remain here," blustered Tucker, growing red in the face.

"Hardly, my bantam. Hop up, Dick, and we'll strike back for camp before
the sun comes up and see if the others who are on the search have seen
anything of your father. I saw nothing of him at the bottom of the
Devil's Chimney."

"I'm not going to have a lazy, good-for-nothing boomer lay it over