which would you rather do--ride on Saladin
with me or let Red Feather carry you?"

[Illustration: "A riderless horse came out of the gloom."]

"It's a good deal nicer to have him carry me; take me, Red Feather," she
added, reaching out her arms.

Melville was glad to hear this answer, for he knew it would touch the
chieftain, whose heart had become wrapped up in the sweet little one.

Before he could lift her, however, he paused, and, saying "Wait," again
knelt down with his ear to the ground.

The result was satisfactory, and, remarking that he heard nothing more,
he stood upon his feet, stooped over, and lifted the little one to her
old place. Then the flight was taken up as before.

Melville held Saladin back, so as to follow the leader, who reached the
side of the stream a few minutes later. Objects were indistinct, but the
youth was so familiar with the spot that he recognized it as the Upper
Crossing. When the lad would have lost himself the Sioux had gone as
unerringly to the spot as though the sun were shining overhead to guide
him.

"Now," said Melville, as they waited a minute or two on the brink,
"there is no need for you to wade across, and wet your leggings to the
knees; it can be easily fixed."

"Oogh! heap big load for hoss--carry all."

The lad laughed.

"That isn't what I mean; the pony is strong enough to bear us, but it
isn't necessary; I'll ride him over, and then send him back after you."

This was a sensible course, for, though an Indian cares little for the
inconvenience of wading through water of considerable depth, yet he will
not do so when there in any practicable means of avoiding it.

"You must be careful," added Melville, as he was about to ride into the
current, "for there are some deep places which the horse will have to
skirt closely. If he steps into one, he will go over his depth, and that
will make it bad for you and Dot; I think I had better carry her over
with me."

"Oogh! Red Feather know holes, 'cause he fall in 'em--mebbe you fall in
wid pappoose--how den, eh?"

"All right," replied the youth with a smile, as he gave the word to
Saladin, who began wading with the same snuffing and care that his kind
always show when entering a body of water.

His rider was wise enough to decide that the safest course was to leave
everything to him, for he had travelled that way often enough to be
familiar with its dangers.

He narrowly missed plunging into a hole near the othe