left. Now he knelt down and prayed to God, Who rules the storms,
asking Him to send him help and keep him safe, and he felt comforted in
his fear. Soon the rain began to come down in torrents, and Jack was
quickly drenched to the skin. The rain, however, broke the power of
the storm, and before long the thunder-clouds rolled away and the sky
began to clear.

Chilled to the bone and tired out, Jack rose from his crouching
position and moved on again, not knowing whither he was going. He had
wandered off the road, and was aimlessly walking on over the prairie.

He began to feel very queer. First he shivered, and his teeth
chattered with cold, and a few minutes after he was burning hot all
over. His head ached and throbbed as if it would burst, and at times a
feeling of giddiness came over him. He tried to think what direction
he ought to move in, but everything was buzzing and humming in his
brain. He thought he heard people shouting after him, and suddenly
imagined he could distinguish his Uncle Mat's harsh voice calling him.
How it seemed to ring through his head! It struck terror into his
weak, over-strained mind, and he rushed on wildly into the gathering
darkness. Poor Jack! It was only the fatigue and hunger, combined
with the soaking he had endured, that was bringing on an attack of
fever, and all these pursuing noises were purely imaginary. He ran on,
trying to get away from the mocking sounds, which seemed to grow louder
and nearer every minute.

'They'll catch me, I'm feared,' he moaned in an agony of mind as he
tore on, but suddenly his headlong career was stopped. His foot
tripped, and he fell heavily, knocking his head against a stone.

'Oh! Mother, Mother, save me!' he shrieked; 'he'll get me and take me
back!' And the next moment he lost all consciousness.

In the meantime our readers may wonder how it came to pass that Jeff
had deserted his little friend, and in order to tell you I must go back
to the time when Jack left the camp to look for the horse. Soon after
he had set out for the clump of trees, Lem had saddled Yankee Boy, and
after riding a few miles, came upon Nigger, whom he at once secured and
brought back to camp. He then harnessed up the four horses ready to
start, and as Jack did not return, he grew very impatient, and while
idling about doing nothing an evil thought took possession of him.
What a good opportunity he had now to pay off an old score against
Steve Byrne b