y, his eyes glowing with excitement.

'Gaining? Thar never was a red-skin that had such a chase in all the
world. Ef they don't git out the way mighty soon, we'll run over 'em
all.'

They were, in truth, rapidly overhauling the red-skins, who were about
as much terrified as it was possible for a mortal to be, and still
live.

To increase their fears, the boy kept up a constant shrieking of his
whistle. If there had been any other contrivance or means at his
command, it is possible the red-skins would have tumbled off their
horses and died; for they were bearing almost all the fright, terror
and horror that can possibly be concentrated into a single person.

Finding there was no escape by means of the speed of their horses, the
Indians sensibly did what the trapper had prophesied they would do at
first.

They 'scattered,' all diverging over the prairie. As it was impossible
for the steam man to overtake all of these, of course, this expedient
secured the safety of the majority.

Neither Baldy nor the boy were disposed to give up the sport in this
manner; so, they singled out a single 'noble red-man,' who was
pursuing nearly the same direction as they were, and they headed
straight for him.

The poor wretch, when he saw that he was the object of the monster's
pursuit, seemed to become frantic with terror. Rising on his horse's
back, he leaned forward until it looked as though there was danger of
going over his head altogether. Then, whooping and shrieking to his
terrified horse, that was already straining every nerve, he pounded
his heels in its sides, vainly urging it to still greater speed.

In the mean time, the steam man was gaining steadily upon him, while
to add variety to the scene, Johnny kept up the unearthly shrieking of
the nose-whistle of the giant. It was difficult to tell which sounded
the most hideously in this strange chase.

The remaining Indians had improved their advantage to the utmost.
Fearful that their dreadful enemy might change its mind and single
them out, they kept up their tearing light, all regardless of the
great extremity to which their companion was reduced, until finally
they disappeared in the distance.

A short distance only separated pursuer and pursued, when the latter,
realizing that there was no escape in flight, headed toward the river,
which was a short distance on the right.

This saved him. When with a bowl, horse and rider thundered over the
bank and disappeared,