e direction in which he thought John and Tom Fish must
be. He had not taken forty steps, however, when a dark figure loomed up
suddenly before him, and with exceeding quickness and quietness glided
behind a tree.

It was well indeed for Return Kingdom that his quick eye saw this
movement. Turning again, he ran, but instantly the dark figure darted in
pursuit. Discovering that he was in danger of being driven into the very
arms of the Indians he had so recently eluded, Ree changed his tactics.
Certain that but a single savage was behind him, he wheeled and ran
toward the Indian at full speed.

They were not far apart. Before the Redskin had made out what the boy was
doing, the latter had hurled himself upon him and thrown him to the
ground.

Fiercely the savage struggled; with tremendous energy Ree retained the
upper hold, his grip secure on his opponent's throat. Neither spoke. The
Indian could not, and Ree had no wish to add to the noise made by their
thrashing about among the leaves and dry twigs. He knew that he could
kill the savage warrior but he dreaded to do that. It would mean trouble
with the Indians for a long time to come, upsetting his most cherished
plans. And yet his own life was in danger, and--he dared not relax his
hold.

Yet something must be done, and quickly, for soon the other Indians would
be returning, and more than this he could not hold out long against the
greater strength of his red antagonist. Ree resolved, therefore, to make
the Indian understand that he did not wish to kill him, then let go and
take his chances in a foot race.

But at this instant, the Redskin, by a mighty effort raised himself
partially upon his feet, secured the release of his right arm, on which
Ree's knee had been, and clutched the boy's throat with a vise-like grip.
Never had the venturesome Connecticut lad been so near death as he was at
that moment. Steadily the Indian continued to gain the upper hand, and as
he tightened his grasp on Ree's throat the boy's tongue seemed to be
forced from his mouth.

Then it was that Return Kingdom's grim, unyielding determination which
meant victory or death--a determination which, once formed, would have
stopped for nothing though it swayed the earth, asserted itself. With the
power of an unbending purpose, Ree raised to his feet, dragging the
savage with him. He grasped the Indian's body and with strength most
extraordinary, lifted him from the ground, then suddenly he cast