wn. "I ordered him to slaughter
that vicious beast. Why, he's as fierce as those the Mexicans use in
their bull fights!"

"He's a terror," answered Clemmer. "If he--By gum, here he comes,
Pawnee!"

As he spoke Clemmer turned to one side and started to run. Looking
forward the great scout saw the bull bearing down upon him. The eyes of
the creature were bloodshot and the foam was dripping from the corners
of his mouth, showing that he was clearly beyond control.

The bull, which was of extra large size, had Clemmer in view, and made
after the cowboy, who happened to be unarmed. Away went man and beast in
something of a circle, to fetch up near Pawnee Brown less than a minute
later. As they came close, Clemmer fell and went sprawling almost at the
scout's feet.

"Save me!" he panted. "Save me, Pawnee!"

Pawnee Brown did not answer. Leaping over the cowboy's prostrate form,
he pulled out his pistol and his hunting knife and stood ready to
receive the bull, who came tearing along, with lowered horns, ready to
charge the scout to the death.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE BOOMER AND THE BULL.

For the moment it looked as if Pawnee Brown meant to let the mad bull
gore him to pieces.

On and on came the beast until less than two yards separated him and the
great scout.

Crack! came the report of the boomer's pistol, and the bull fell back a
pace, clipped between the horns. A lucky swerve downward had saved him
from a bullet wound through the eye.

There was no time for another shot. With a bellow the bull leaped the
intervening space and landed almost on top of Pawnee Brown!

A yell went up from those who saw the movement.

"Pawnee is done fur. The bull will rip him inside out."

"Buckley ought to have killed that bull long ago--that's the second time
he's gone on a rampage."

"Somebody shoot him and save Pawnee!"

The last was a well meant cry, but a shot could not be thought of, for
man and beast were too close together.

But Pawnee Brown was not yet defeated. He still held his trusty hunting
knife, and he was not terrorized as some of the onlookers imagined.

A few words will explain the cause. In his day the scout had visited
Mexico more than once, and while there had participated in more than one
bull fight, on one occasion defeating a celebrated Mexican fighter and
gaining a handsome prize.

As the mad bull charged, the scout leaped like lightning to one side,
and drove the hunting knife up to the h