lations toward them. The next instant Kent's rifle uttered its
sharp report, and the Indian, with a yell, sprung several feet in the
air, and fell to the ground.

"That was a good shot," remarked Leslie, gazing at the fallen body.

"Yes, and it's done just what I wanted it to," replied Kent, heading the
boat toward shore.

"They are going to pursue us, are they not?" asked Leslie.

"Yes, and we'll have fun," added the ranger, as the boat touched the
shore, and he sprung out.

"Come along and make up yer mind for a long run," said he, glancing
furtively toward the savages.

Leslie sprung after him, and they darted away into the forest.

When Whiteman had fired his fatal shot the Indians were so infuriated,
that, setting up their demoniac yells, they plunged down the banks of
the stream, determined to revenge their fallen companion.

This was what Kent desired. He exulted as he saw that he was being
gratified. "If there isn't fun pretty shortly it won't be my fault,"
said he, as he plunged onward into the forest.

In a short time the pursuers gained the opposite shore, and followed
with renewed ardor into the wilderness. Kent and Leslie, however, had
gained a good start. Both being rapid runners, they had not much to
fear. Had nothing unusual occurred, they would easily have distanced
their pursuers. But Leslie, following Kent in a leap across a rocky
gorge, struck in his comrade's footsteps in the earth upon its edge. The
earth had become loosened and started by the shock, and ere Leslie could
recover his footing, he fell some fifteen or twenty feet to the bottom.
The fall bruised him so much that he was unable to rise, or in fact
hardly to stir.

"Hurt?" asked the ranger, gazing over at him.

"Yes," groaned Leslie. "I can't get up. Don't wait for me, for it's no
use. Go on and save yourself."

"I hate to leave you, but it's got to be done. Lay down there; crawl in
under that rock. Perhaps they won't see you. Quick, for I hear 'em
comin'."

With these words the hunter turned and disappeared, and succeeded in
getting beyond the gorge without being seen by his pursuers; but this
delay had given them time to gain a great deal upon him, and when he
started their hurried tramp could be distinctly heard.

His words had roused Leslie to a sense of his peril. By struggling and
laboring for a few minutes he succeeded in disengaging himself and
managed to crawl beneath a projecting ridge of rock. This effectually