m his left struck
upon his ears. As he gazed in the direction he beheld a number of
soldiers swooping down upon him. These were the men who had Jack Rasco a
prisoner, the cavalrymen having turned the man of the plains over to
them. In a moment Dick was surrounded.

"Jack!" cried the youth, and rushed up to Rasco. "What does this mean?"

"It means I'm a prisoner," answered Rasco, sadly. "Have you seen
anything of Nellie?"

In a moment Dick had told his story, to which the soldiers as well as
Rasco listened closely. At once several of the guard were sent off to
hunt up the redskin, if it were possible to do so. Rasco wanted to go
along, but his request was refused.

"You'll slip us if you get the chance," said the officer in charge.
"You'll go to the fort. And I fancy the boy will go, too, since he seems
to belong to the boomers."

And against his earnest protestations Dick was made to accompany the
soldiers, being bound hand to hand with the man of the plains.

An hour later the soldiers' camp was reached, and Rasco and Dick were
placed in a temporary guard house. They had been there but a short while
when a visitor entered. It was--Louis Vorlange!

"So they have you safe, I see," began Vorlange, when Rasco sprang at him
and knocked him down.

"Will you make my niece a prisoner," he cried, wrathfully, for Dick had
told him the story. "You dirty spy!"

"Hold up," gasped Vorlange, his face growing white. "Rasco, don't be a
fool. I--I--made her a prisoner because I have orders to arrest anybody
found roaming around----"

"I won't argy the p'int!" roared Rasco. "I know you, Vorlange, and so
does Dick here. You robbed and nearly murdered thet boy's father!"

At these words Vorlange staggered back as though struck a blow.

"Who says I--I did that?" he faltered.

"I say so."

"And so do I," put in Dick, boldly. "We'll have a nice story to tell
when we are brought out for examination, I'll tell you that."

Vorlange breathed hard and glared from one to the other. Then of a
sudden he caught Dick by the arm and turned him to one side.

"Boy, beware how you cross me," he hissed into Dick's ears. "Beware, I
say! I have known your father for years, and I have the knowledge in my
possession which can send your father to the gallows."

CHAPTER XXIV.

CHASED BY CAVALRY.

"Checkmated! By Jove, but this is too bad."

Such were the words which issued from Pawnee Brown's lip as he swung
around and saw the ca