rrand.

The probabilities were against this supposition. He knew of no rancher
in the neighborhood of his old home, and it would seem that no white man
would ride with such desperation unless pursued by a relentless enemy,
and he saw no evidence of such a contest of speed.

True, the pursuers might have been farther out on the prairie, but their
trail would have joined that of the fugitive ere long, so as to make the
line more direct; but though the young rancher trotted a full half mile
before checking himself and looking around, he discovered no signs of
others.

The last advance of Warren brought him close to the precipitous section
which, knowing well, he had feared would prove too difficult for his
pony. Raising his eyes to survey it and fix upon the best line to
follow, he caught sight of the horseman he had been following.

His animal was on a deliberate walk, and coming directly toward him. The
youth stopped short. As he did so he perceived that he was an Indian
warrior. Warren brought his rifle round in front, with no intention of
running from him or taking advantage of the cover near at hand.

The Indian raised his hand, and oscillated it as a signal of comity. As
he did so the two were so near that the youth perceived that the arm was
bandaged. Something familiar in the appearance of the horseman struck
him at the same moment, and the young rancher lowered his weapon with
the exclamation:

"Starcus!"

It was he, and as he rode forward he had a strange story to tell Warren
Starr.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

BREAD CAST UPON THE WATERS.

When the Sioux who had rushed out on the open plain to the help of the
wounded Starcus gathered around him they were quick to perceive that his
life was due to the mercy of his conqueror, but their hostility toward
the latter was not diminished one whit by the discovery; they were as
eager for his life as ever, and proved it by firing several shots after
him as he rode away.

The wounded arm was bandaged in a piece of the lining of Warren Starr's
coat. The crimson stain showed through the cloth, though the flow of
blood was checked. Sound and unhurt as was Starcus in all other
respects, he was unable to use the injured limb, and was therefore as
useless in any impending hostilities as if out of existence.

As the party moved back toward the base of the ridge there was a
consultation among them as to what was best to do. Starcus expressed a
more venomous rancor than