he war crazy."

Rasco had discovered the German boomer sweeping up a side trail.
Humpendinck had made out Rasco but a second before and now shouted for
the man of the plains to halt.

"What is it, Dutchy?" called out Rasco, when they were within speaking
distance.

"Vot ist it? Donner und blitzen, Rasco, it vos der vorst news vot efer
you heard!" burst from Carl Humpendinck's lips. "I chust here him apout
quarter of an hour ago, und I ride der horse's legs off ter told yer."

"But what is it--out with it?"

"It's apout dot girl you vos lookin' for. Rosy Delaney, dot Irish vomans
vot haf such a long tongue got, she tole me der sthory. Gott im himmel!
it vos dreadful!"

"But tell me what it is, Dutchy!" exploded Rasco. "Wot is dreadful?"

"Der sthory she tole--I can's most believe him."

"See here, out with the whole thing, or I'll swat yer one on the
cocoanut, Humpendinck!" roared Rasco. "Yer as long-winded ez a mule
thet's gone blind."

"Gracious, Rasco, you vouldn't hit me, afther I ride me dree miles und
more ter tole you?" wailed the German, reproachfully. "I dink me you vos
mine pest friend, next to Pawnee Prown, ain't it?"

"There'll be a dead Dutchman here in another minute if yer don't open up
clear down ter the bottom!" howled Rasco, who had never before suffered
such exasperation.

"Tell us the exact trouble," put in Dick, calmly. He saw that exciting
Humpendinck still more would do no good.

"Der Indian haf carried dot girl avay!" exploded Humpendinck.

"Carried the girl away!" ejaculated Dick.

"My Nellie?" yelled Rasco.

"Dot's it, Rasco. Ain't it awful! Dot Irish vomans seen dot Indian mit
dot girl in his arms, flying der trail ofer like a biece of baber pefore
a cyclone alretty!"

"Humpendinck, are you telling the truth?"

"I vos tole you vot dot Irish vomans tole me. Mike Delaney und dree
udder mans vos lookin' for you."

On the instant Louis Vorlange was forgotten, not only by Rasco, ut
also by Dick. It made both shudder to think that Nellie had been carried
off by a redskin. They turned into the trail from which Humpendinck had
emerged, and were soon on their way to the camp.

Here Rosy Delaney was found very much disturbed. She came up to Rasco
wringing her hands.

"To think o' the red rascal a-takin' thet young leddy off!" she cried.
"I know her by thet photygraph! Och, the villain! An' it moight have
been Rosy Delaney, bad cess to him!"

"Show me the exact trail he followe