valrymen sitting on their horses at attention.

His disappointment was keen. In speaking of it afterwards he said:

"I never felt so bad in my life. I had promised to take the boomers
through and I felt that I had disappointed nearly four thousand people
who were looking to me with utmost confidence."

But disappointment was not the worst of it. Hardly had the command to
halt been issued than the captain of the troops advanced toward the
scout.

"Pawnee Brown!" he ejaculated, in surprise, and a smile of satisfaction
crossed his face. "This is a great pleasure."

"Is it?" answered the great scout, coldly.

"It is indeed. Do you intend to throw up your hands?"

For the scout's hands had not yet been lifted skyward.

"This looks as if you meant to arrest me, captain."

"Why shouldn't I? You are at the head of the Kansas boomers, are you
not?"

"I have that honor, yes."

"It's a question to me if it is an honor. You are transgressing the laws
of the United States when you try to get into Oklahoma for homestead
purposes."

"Say rather that we transgress the laws of the cattle kings, captain.
Under the U. S. Homestead Law we have a perfect right to this land, if
we can get in and stake our claims, and you know it."

"I know nothing of the sort. This talk about the cattle kings is all
nonsense!" roared the cavalry officer. He knew Pawnee Brown was more
than half right, but felt he must obey the orders he had received from
his superiors. "I'll have to take you to the fort."

"All right, take me--if you can, captain," came the quick answer. "Don't
you dare fire on me, for you know I am a crack shot and I promise I'll
fire on you in return and lay you low!"

Thus speaking, the boomer wheeled about and sent Bonnie Bird off like a
shot along the trail he had come.

The movement was so quick that for the moment the cavalry officer was
paralyzed and knew not what to do. He raised his long pistol, but
Pawnee Brown's stern threat rang in his ears and he hesitated about
using the weapon, having no desire to be laid low.

"After him, men!" he roared, upon recovering his wits. "We must capture
him!"

"Shall we fire, cap'n?" came from several, and a number of shining
pistol barrels were leveled toward the great scout.

"N--no, capture him alive," came the hesitating reply; and away went the
calvary men at a breakneck speed in pursuit.

Looking back over his shoulder, Pawnee saw them coming. To lessen the
chances o