ike a hunted deer.

The young man pursued, but he evidently did not try to overtake her--
only to keep her in sight. The maniac did not choose her course, but
ran straight before her, leaping over fallen trees and obstructions with
a degree of agility and power that seemed marvellous. Sometimes she
shrieked as she ran, sometimes she laughed fiercely, but she never
looked back. At last she came to a small lake--about a quarter of a
mile wide. She did not attempt to skirt it, but went straight in with a
wild rush, and, being well able to swim, struck out for the opposite
shore. The young man followed without hesitation, but could not
overtake her, and when he landed she had disappeared in the woods
beyond.

Skilled to follow a trail, however, the youth soon recovered sight of
her, but still did not try to overtake her--only to keep her in view.

At length the fire which had sustained the poor creature seemed to have
burned itself out. In attempting to leap over a low bush Rising Sun
stumbled, fell, and lay as if dead.

The Indian youth came up and, raising her in his arms, looked very sadly
into her face. She still breathed, but gave no other sign of life. The
youth, therefore, lifted her from the ground. He was tall and strong.
She was small in person, and reduced almost to skin and bone. He
carried her in his arms as though she had been but a little child, and,
an hour later, bore her into the Indian camp, for which for many days
past she had been making--straight as the arrow flies from the bow.

He carried her at once to the chief's tent and laid his burden softly
down, at the same time explaining how and where he had found her.

Bearpaw sprang up with an air of excitement which an Indian seldom
displays. Evidently his feelings were deeply touched, as he knelt and
raised the girl's head. Then he ordered his chief squaw to supply
Rising Sun with some warm food.

It was evening when this occurred. Most of the people were supping in
their tents. No one was with the chief save his own family and two of
his braves.

When the poor maniac revived under the influence of the warm food, she
started up with wild looks and sought again to fly, but was forcibly
detained by one of the braves.

"Oh, let me go--let me go!--to his mother!" she wailed piteously, for
she felt herself to be helpless in the youth's strong grasp.

"Has Rising Sun forgotten Bearpaw?" said the chief tenderly, as he stood
before her.