l glances. In the end it was our own
tender-hearted Aggie who baked pancakes for them and, loosening their
hands while I stood guard, saw that they had not only food but the
gentle refreshment of fresh tea. Tish it was, however, who, not to be
outdone in magnanimity, permitted them to go, one by one, to the stream
to wash. Escape, without horses or weapons, was impossible, and they
realized it.

By nine o'clock we were ready to return. And here a difficulty presented
itself. There were six prisoners and only three of us. The men, fed now,
were looking less subdued, although they pretended to obey Tish's
commands with alacrity.

Aggie overheard a scrap of conversation, too, which seemed to indicate
that they had not given up hope. Had Tish not set her heart on leading
them into the great hotel at Many Glaciers, and there exposing them to
the taunts of angry tourists, it would have been simpler for one of us
to ride for assistance, leaving the others there.

In this emergency Tish, putting her hand into her pocket for her
scissors to trim a hangnail, happened to come across the policeman's
whistle.

"My gracious!" she said. "I forgot my promise to that young man!"

She immediately put it to her lips and blew three shrill blasts. To our
surprise they were answered by a halloo, and a moment later the young
gentleman himself appeared on the trail. He was no longer afoot, but was
mounted on a pinto pony, which we knew at once for Bill's.

He sat on his horse, staring as if he could not believe his eyes. Then
he made his way across the stream toward us.

"Good Heavens!" he said. "What in the name of--" Here his eyes fell on
the girl, and he stiffened.

"Jim!" cried the girl, and looked at him with what Aggie afterward
characterized as a most touching expression.

But he ignored her. "Looks as though you folks have been pretty busy,"
he observed, glancing at our scowling captives. "I'm a trifle surprised.
You don't mind my being rather breathless, do you?"

"My only regret," Tish said loftily, "is that we have not secured the
Indians. They too should be taught a lesson. I am sure that the red man
is noble until led away by civilized people who might know better."

It was at this point that Mr. Bell's eyes fell on Mr. Oliver, who with
his hands tied behind him was crouching over the fire.

"Well!" he said. "So you're here too! But of course you would be." This
he said bitterly.

"For the love of Heaven, Bell," Mr