e
to leave at a short notice.

Johnny Brainerd was soon sound asleep, and the trapper followed, but
it was with that light, restless slumber which is disturbed by the
slightest noise.

So it came about that, but a few hours had passed, when he was aroused
by some slight disturbance in the grove. Raising his head he
endeavored to peer into the darkness, but he could detect nothing.

But he was certain that something was there, and he gently aroused the
boy beside him.

'What is it?' queried the latter in a whisper, but fully wide-awake.

'I think thar ar Ingins among the trees.' 'Good heavens! what shall we
do?'

'Keep still and don't git skeart! sh!' At this juncture he heard a
slight noise, and cautiously raising his head, he caught the outlines
of an Indian, in a crouching position, stealing along in front of the
wagon, as though examining the curious contrivance. He undoubtedly was
greatly puzzled, but he remained only a few minutes, when he withdrew
as silently as he had come.

'Stay yer, while I take a look around!' whispered Baldy, as he slid
softly out the wagon, while the boy did the same, waiting; until sure
that the trapper would not see him.

Baldy spent a half-hour in making his reconnoissance. The result of it
was that he found there were fully twenty Indians, thoroughly
wide-awake, who were moving stealthily through the grove.

When he came back, it was with the conviction that their only safety
lay in getting away without delay.

'We've got to learn,' said he, 'how long it will take yer to git up
steam, youngster?'

'There is a full head on now. I fired up the minute you left
the-wagon.'

'Good!' exclaimed Baldy, who in his excitement did not observe that
the steam man was seething, and apparently ready to explode with the
tremendous power pent up in its vitals.

CHAPTER IX. THE STEAM MAN AS A HUNTER.

AT this juncture the trapper whispered that the Indians were again
stealing around them. Johnny's first proceeding was to pull the
whistle wide open, awaking the stillness of the night by a hideous,
prolonged screech.

Then, letting on the steam, the man made a bound forward, and the next
moment was careering over the prairie like a demon of darkness, its
horrid whistle giving forth almost one continual yell, such as no
American Indian has ever been able to imitate.

When they had gone a few hundred yards, Johnny again slackened the
speed, for there was great risk