t that.' And so, old man, I've come back."

"And haven't delayed none in droppin' inter your old ways," added
Gideon. "Hadn't been back in camp ten minutes 'fore you was at your
old graft of shootin' law-breakin' Injuns."

"Did you recover your ponies?" Kiddie asked.

"Some," Gideon nodded. "But not the Arab mare--the best of the bunch.
She's took."

"Oh, but the Arab is all right," smiled Kiddie. "You'll find her in
the old stable back of the timber stack."

"Eh? You captured her? Then what about Broken Feather--the Injun that
rode her? Did he give you the slip, or----?"

"Oh, he's captured, too," said Kiddie. "I towed him along in the loop
of my lariat, and fixed him up in one of your lean-to sheds. He's in
need of some sticking plaster for a cut on his leg. If you'll come
along, we'll go and attend to him, while Mee-Mee gets ready the
breakfast."

They went out to the shed. Kiddie loosened the padlock, flung open the
door and looked within. The place was empty. Broken Feather had
escaped.

CHAPTER III

A DANGEROUS ENEMY

Broken Feather had certainly made his escape. There could be no
doubting it. With a quick glance Kiddie searched within the empty
shed; he even exercised his sense of smell, sniffing inquiringly.

"Seems he's bunked," he said, turning round to Gideon. "I'm puzzled to
know just how he managed it. The door was securely padlocked on the
outside. There's no other exit." He looked at the ground for new
tracks of the Indian's moccasined feet, but saw no sign.

"That's kind o' queer," reflected Gideon. "It's a strong shed. You
helped ter build it yourself, years ago, as a storehouse for pelts and
ammunition. Thar's no chimney, no winder; only the door. You may well
ask how did he quit? Say"--the old man clutched Kiddie's arm in
consternation--"d'you reckon he's vamoosed on th' Arab mare?"

Kiddie shook his head decisively.

"That's not possible," he averred. "For one thing, he could hardly
have mounted her with that bullet wound in his leg. For another thing,
the mare's still safe in the stable where I locked her. I heard her
snorting as we passed, a minute ago. Here's the key, if you like to go
and have a look at her."

"Then you figure he's gone away on foot?" pursued Gideon, ignoring the
proffered key. "In that case he sure ain't very far off. We c'n
foller on his tracks. Don't you worry 'bout the way he escaped."

"That is just what I am worrying