, now that he had somebody
besides himself to protect. It is said that nature fits the back to the
burden, and it must have been so in this case. For himself, he might
have feared to face Yellow Elk single-handed; defending Nellie he would,
if called upon, have faced a dozen redskins.

On and on they went, as silently as possible. The trees overhung the
brook from both sides, making it pitch dark beneath.

A distance of fifty yards had been covered, when they heard a loud
exclamation of rage, followed by an Indian grunt.

"The white man and the Indian have met and both have discovered our
flight," whispered Dick. "Come, we will leave the stream and take to
yonder woods. Surely among those trees we can find some safe hiding
place."

They turned in toward shore. As they were about to step to dry land
Nellie's foot slipped on a round stone, making a loud splash. At the
same time the girl gave a faint cry.

"My ankle--it's twisted!"

"Quick! let me carry you!" returned Dick, and, seeing the ankle must
pain her not a little, he picked her up in his arms and dove in among
the trees.

They were not a moment too soon, for the ready ears of Yellow Elk had
heard the splash and the cry, and now he came bounding in the direction,
with Louis Vorlange at his heels.

CHAPTER XXII.

DICK HITS HIS MARK.

"They are coming closer, Dick! What shall we do?"

It was Nellie Winthrop who asked the question. Boy and girl had entered
the woods a distance of fifty feet from the bank of the brook, and both
rested where several large rocks and some overhanging bushes afforded a
convenient hiding place.

"Keep quiet, Nellie," he said in a murmur, with his lips close to her
shell-like ears. And he gripped her arm to show her that he would stand
by her no matter what danger might befall them.

It would have been foolhardy to say more, for Yellow Elk and Louis
Vorlange were now within hearing distance, and the ears of the Indian
chief were more than ever on the alert. The government spy had lighted a
torch, which he swung low to the brook bank, while Yellow Elk made an
examination of the ground.

"Here footmarks!" grunted the redskin, a minute later, and pointed them
out. "They go this way--cannot be far off."

"Then after them," muttered Vorlange. "It was through your stupidity
that the girl got away. Yellow Elk, I always put you down for being
smarter than that."

"Yellow Elk smart enough!" growled the Indian chief.

"