ow many Indians and half-breeds do you think there are with
rifles?" He set in a row sticks to represent a thousand men. "See," he
cried, "so many." Then he added another similar row. "Perhaps, if all
the Indians gathered, so many with rifles. No more. Now look," he said,
"no big guns, only a few bullets, a little powder, a little food. Ha,
ha!" he laughed contemptuously. "The Sioux snake is a fool. His tongue
must be stopped. My Indian brothers here will not listen to him, but
there are others whose hearts are like the hearts of little children who
may listen to his lying words. The Sioux snake must be caught and put in
a cage, and this I do now."

As he uttered the words Cameron sprang for the Sioux, but quicker than
his leap the Sioux darted through the crowding Indians who, perceiving
Cameron's intent, thrust themselves in his path and enabled the Sioux to
get away into the brush behind.

"Head him off, Jerry," yelled Cameron, whistling sharply at the same
time for his men, while he darted for his horse and threw himself upon
it. The whole camp was in a seething uproar.

"Back!" yelled Cameron, drawing his gun. The Indians fell away from him
like waves from a speeding vessel. On the other side of the little bluff
he caught sight of a mounted Indian flying toward the mountains and with
a cry he started in pursuit. It took only a few minutes for Cameron to
discover that he was gaining rapidly upon his man. But the rough rocky
country was not far away in front of them, and here was abundant chance
for hiding. Closer and closer he drew to his flying enemy--a hundred
yards--seventy-five yards--fifty yards only separated them.

"Halt!" cried Cameron, "or I shoot."

But the Indian, throwing himself on the far side of his pony, urged him
to his topmost speed.

Cameron steadied himself for a moment, took careful aim and fired. The
flying pony stumbled, recovered himself, stumbled again and fell. But
even before he reached the earth his rider had leaped free, and, still
some thirty yards in advance, sped onward. Half a dozen strides and
Cameron's horse was upon him, and, giving him the shoulder, hurled the
Indian senseless to earth. In a flash Cameron was at his side, turned
him over and discovered not the Sioux Chief but another Indian quite
unknown to him.

His rage and disappointment were almost beyond his control. For an
instant he held his gun poised as if to strike, but the blow did not
fall. His self command ca