Indian turned, and, motioning for Lowell and Helen to follow,
disappeared in the undergrowth along the trail which he and the agent
had made while Plenty Buffalo was attracting the attention of Talpers
and the half-breed. Helen tried to rise, but the sudden ending of the
mental strain proved unnerving. She leaned against the rock with her
eyes closed and her body limp. Lowell lifted her to her feet, almost
roughly. For a moment she stood with Lowell's arms about her and his
kisses on her face. Her whiteness alarmed him.

"Tell me you haven't been harmed," he cried. "If you have--"

"Just these scratches and a good riding-suit in tatters," she answered,
as she drew away from him with a reassuring smile.

Lowell's brow cleared, and he laughed gleefully, as he picked up his
rifle.

"Well, there's just one more hard scramble ahead," he replied, "and
perhaps some more tatters to add to what both of us have. I'd carry you,
but the best I can do is to help you over some of the more difficult
places. Fire Bear has started. Have you strength enough to try to
follow?"

He led her along the trail taken by Fire Bear--a trail in name only. The
Indian had waited for them a few yards away. How much he had seen and
heard when Lowell held her in his arms Helen could only surmise, but the
thought sent the blood into her cheeks with a rush.

It was as Lowell had said--another scramble. At times it seemed as if
she could not go on, but always at the right time Lowell gave the
necessary help that enabled her to surmount some seemingly impassable
obstacle. As for Fire Bear, he made his way over huge rocks and along
steep pitches of shale with the ease of a serpent. At last the way
became somewhat less difficult to traverse, and, when they came out on
the trail by the stream, Helen realized that the tax on her physical
resources was ended.

A short distance down the trail they met Plenty Buffalo with two Indian
policemen. One of the police had been wounded in the arm by a shot from
Talpers. The trader and McFann had hurriedly packed and made their
escape, leaving the white horse, which Plenty Buffalo had brought for
Helen.

After a hasty examination of the Indian's arm it was decided to hurry
back to the agency for aid.

"I've sent out a call for more of the Indian police," said Lowell.
"They'll probably be there when we get back to the agency. We just
picked up what help we could find when we got word of your
disappearance."

W